Junior Golf Program
In partnership with Junior Golf Preparatory Academy (JGPA), Lake Nona’s junior golf program utilizes a game-based methodology to introduce and engage young players to the sport, while elevating each players’ skills and experience. Led by Nicolas Otero, who will coach alongside Lake Nona’s team of golf professionals, the program features two divisions:
Learn 2 Play – Group skills and on-course clinics for beginners
Learn to Compete – Designed for juniors that are advancing in the game and beginning competition
LEARN 2 PLAY METHODOLOGY
The Learn 2 Play program is a unique approach to junior golf. JGPA coaches excel at creating high-energy training stations that allow juniors to develop skills naturally through golf-centric games, while building a passion for the sport. Through a structured play methodology, students will develop the three fundamental golf competencies: putting, chipping, and full swing. By focusing on long-term development in place of short-term results, the program successfully transitions children into active golfers.
JUNIOR GOLF SCHEDULE:
TUESDAYS
4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Learn 2 Play Clinic
6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Learn 2 Play On-Course Clinic
SUNDAYS
9:00 – 10:00 a.m. Learn 2 Play Clinic
10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Learn 2 Play Clinic
12:00 – 1:30 p.m. Learn 2 Compete Clinic (Advanced)
All juniors (ages 4 – 10) welcome! No experience or equipment required.
ABOUT JGPA FOUNDER & INSTRUCTOR, NICOLAS OTERO
After working as a junior golf program director for five years, Nicolas Otero, founder of the Junior Golf Preparatory Academy (JGPA) noticed a lack of great golf programming available for young children. This led to the creation of JGPA’s Learn 2 Play program – built around utilizing game-based learning to teach the fundamentals of golf. Since launching in May 2022, the academy has rapidly expanded to become one of the largest junior programs for kids ages 2 – 8 in the state with over 260 weekly junior participants and over 200 coaches certified in the JGPA methodology.
Nicolas has an M.B.A. from Crummer Graduate School of Business and extensive experience in the world of junior coaching. He is certified with U.S. Kids Golf, Positive Coaching Alliance, and in Child Psychology from Yale. He is also the official junior coaching consultant for the Colombian Golf Federation, where he certifies coaches, audits classes to ensure junior engagement, and consult with clubs on how to build successful junior programs.
He is excited to coach alongside Lake Nona’s team of golf professionals as we continue to elevate the junior coaching and training experience for our Member families.