Donya Rouzbehi
Sports Editor
The University’s Campus Activities Board hosted a “Golf’d Up” event Tuesday at Citrus Lawn, complete with a virtual golf simulator experience for students, mini putt, free sub sandwiches and chips.
The event was a needed break between classes. Students got to compete for prizes and spend time with friends before finals week.
About 30 students in all lined up to try the simulator and mini-putt activities, which challenged them to hit a virtual golf shot at least 75 yards to win prizes like free ULV merchandise.
Organizers said the simulator was not something the group normally offers for campus events, making it a new and fresh activity for students to experience together.
Junior business major and CAB organizer, Kaitlyn Pamintuan, enjoyed putting.
“Honestly, we never had an event really similar to this,” junior business major and CAB organizer, Kaitlyn Pamintuan said. “I think it’s really cool that everyone’s trying out the simulator, trying out new things. I don’t think I’ve ever seen people come out and actually be involved in an activity like this before.”
CAB brought in several vendors for the event, including food and activity providers, to create a larger campus experience for students.
Students said the free food was a big incentive for them to attend the event. Freshman business major and soccer player Kai Garza felt encouraged to come to the event for the free lunch and opportunity to try out a new activity.
“To be honest, the food brought me out here,” Garza said. “I got an Italian sub and chips. My (soccer) team wanted to play golf, there’s good vibes.”
Students took turns swinging the golf club in front of the virtual screen while friends watched and reacted to each shot. Other students competed in mini putt while friend groups gathered on the lawn to talk and listen to music.
Some participants celebrated successful shots while others laughed at missed shots, creating a fun and relaxed atmosphere on the lawn for students to de-stress. CAB members and vendors arrived about two hours before the event began to prepare the whole setup.
Junior digital media major and CAB organizer Artemis Statler explained how the CAB organizers brought this event to life.
“We set up all the different tablecloths for everything,” Statler said. “We set up the canopies to make sure the vendors know where they’re going to be setting up and have enough time to set up everything they need. If they need power or electrical kits or anything, we get that stuff sent to them.”
The event was designed to give students a fun and social activity between their classes, providing them with a moment to pause and relax with friends. Several students said the interactive games made the event feel different from many other campus programs.
Freshman accounting major Damian Lopez attended right after his class with some friends. Lopez expressed his feelings about the event and thought it brought positive vibes to campus.
“The energy was there,” Lopez said. “The music was there. The virtual golf definitely caught everybody’s attention. It’s very interesting and a lot of fun.”
Donya Rouzbehi can be reached at donya.rouzbehi@laverne.edu.
Donya Rouzbehi is a senior journalism major with a concentration in print/online journalism, and staff photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine. She has previously served as sports editor and a staff writer for the Campus Times, and is co-editor-in-chief of La Verne Magazine. Her other writing can be found at trillmag.com/author/donya-rouzbehi
Stephanie Amaya is a senior communications major with a concentration in public relations and a staff photographer for the Campus Times. She has previously served as a staff writer.
