Student Spotlight – De’ja McLetchie

By Ricky Campbell, USGTF Master Teaching Professional, Trinidad & Tobago

After teaching for 17 years, last year Mr. Sheppard, a very good friend, ask why not start an academy so I can share my gift and knowledge with the children on the little island most people call Tobago, but I call home. So, I started the Ricky Campbell Golf Academy (RCGA), with seven children at first, and to date it has grown to 60 children ages 5 to 14. My goal is to expose them to the game at the age I was, but with a certified instructor, which I most thank the USGTF.

It’s not a year yet, and I have four students who are very promising, so I chose to feature the female for this article. When De’ja McLetchie started, no one was as shy as she was, and I’ve watched as she has grown into someone very positive. As for golf, with her parents’ support and instructions and yours truly, I can see a bright future. I’ve even got about 15 of the parents involved, and they are loving it, too.

I cannot end without saying thanks to Jim (Mr. Hollywood) Perez and his wife Marci for the golf clubs donated to the RCGA, of which De’ja is one of the recipients.