South Dakota- an Intro to Lance Christensen
Lance Christensen, a junior golfer at New Mexico State, became the first South Dakota high school state champion from the Pine Ridge reservation, the poorest area in the U.S.
As depicted in a 2020 Golf Digest feature, Lance’s difficult rehab from a broken collar bone in the fall of 2018 left him determined to grow the game of golf for local reservation youths. Successfully petitioning the reservation’s council, Lance started his own youth golf clinic during the following spring.
This past summer, SDPB Radio’s Nate Wek caught up with Lance and chronicled his latest youth clinics before returning to New Mexico State. One day, Lance would also love to bring a golf course to his own Pine Ridge reservation.
North Dakota- Fargo Park District
I’m pleased to also highlight the Fargo Park District and its associated Foundation. Through an extensive roster of inclusive youth sports programs, Fargo Park is a wonderful community model.
Founded in 2018, the foundation is making a tangible difference through developing modernized facilities and quality recreation services. Noteworthy projects include the Sanford Sports Complex (formerly called the Fargo Parks Sports Center), the Island Park Pool, and the Youth Scholarship Program.