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Local golf academy aims to bring in youths

Courtesy photo iRN Golf Academy

There’s a new player in the golf business here in central Pennsylvania.

The iRN Golf Academy, located along the 600 block of Sixth Avenue in Altoona, opened its doors earlier this year and is a one-stop shop for young boys and girls looking to learn the game and improve their overall golfing skills.

The iRN Academy’s mission is to work with aspiring golfers through camps, clinics and various training sessions at their Altoona facility.

In addition, iRN has initiated a summer-long competitive junior tour at various local golf clubs in order to give young golfers the experience of tournament competition.

This new iRN Academy is the brainchild of Altoona businessman Mark Moschella.

Moschella has experience in the golf industry, having been the owner of the former Ravine driving range in Lakemont. But the idea for a golf academy came about after spending time with Mark Scalice, Bishop Guilfoyle’s golf coach, who passed away last year.

“I was working with Mark to help create interest for a junior high program,” Moschella said. “We were making some good progress, and as we got the ball rolling I was amazed at the number of kids that seemed to be interested.”

Moschella, whose son A.J. was entering junior high at the time, was so intrigued he began bouncing ideas around about what it would take to create a program designed to prepare young kids for their high school golf team.

Soon, the idea of opening a youth golf academy began to form.

At about that time, Moschella was introduced to Josh Leibfreid, a Bedford native and former mini-tour player, who had more recently been in charge of the Allegheny College golf management program.

As soon as they met, the two men realized they shared a passion for youth golf. Creating a youth academy became their goal, and a business plan was soon put together.

It wasn’t long before a location for the academy was decided upon and renovations began last fall.

As work progressed, a blueprint for the facility began to develop.

The iRN Academy would have two full-screen golf simulators (capable of tracking ball-speed, club-head speed and spin, etc.) and a 1,000 square-foot indoor putting green. In addition, the facility would house an attached lounge area, the iRN Wildbrew Pub, where the public could come for food and drinks.

Rental manager Brett Miller will be coordinating reservations of the entire facility for large groups and special functions as the restaurant section swings into full gear this summer.

The main focus for iRN right now is the golf academy. The facility had a soft opening in April, and right from the start iRN was signing up area boys and girls for golf camps and clinics under the tutelage of their golf instructor, Leibreid.

The academy’s focus is to develop the skills necessary for youngsters to become successful high school golfers, with more-experienced and older golfers graduating to higher level instruction.

The academy has a goal to develop a full-fledged points program that will be recognized by college programs looking to award golf scholarships.

In addition to the iRN Academy’s focus on teaching and training, they have also developed a well-run, local junior golf tour.

The iRN Junior Tournament Series began just last month with their first event at Sinking Valley Country Club. The tour will continue through the summer with tournaments at many of the area’s best courses (information about the tour can be found at the iRN website or iRN Facebook page).

All events are open to interested local youths, and the tournaments are conducted in a very professional manner. Every player’s name is announced on the first tee, prominent scoreboards are maintained and galleries consisting of parents and friends are encouraged at each event.

Though just a few months in, Moschella is encouraged so far.

“I’m excited for all of the kids who are getting a chance to learn the game and develop their golfing skills,” Moschella said. “We’re hoping the iRN Academy will continue to grow.”

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