The Paint Creek Country Club’s golf course was recently home to some diminutive drivers and pint-sized pitchers and putters.
The club’s junior golf program wrapped up their season with a scramble of about 80 youngsters ages 7-17.
The junior golf program started May 30 and ran until August 28. There were three clinics covering golf etiquette, rules, putting, chipping and full swing instruction.
For eight weeks, the kids got the course all to themselves during the program.
The junior golf program is directed by Jeremy Lathwell, one of the club’s golf pros, and Jake Tarzia.
Lathwell said the program instills a love of the game early on in the kids who participate, and helps teach them things like sportsmanship and etiquette.
‘Golf is a social environment,? he said. ‘It also demands integrity. The most important thing is attitude.?
Having a good golf game when the youngsters grow up will also benefit them in the business world where many meetings and deals are made on the course.
‘It’s something they can continue for the rest of their life,? Lathwell said.
It builds social skills, he added.
On the morning of August 28, the young golfers braved threatening rain to hit the links for the scramble, where they were allowed to bring a guest along with them.
While the basic concept is the same, the rules are a little different. The set-up of the hole is different for varying skill levels and age groups.
The Green group (beginner/5-hole) and Yellow group (intermediate/6-hole) tee markers are placed on the edge of the fairways consistent with US Kids Golf Design Standards. This allows every golfer an opportunity for an achievable par. Nine-hole golfers play from the red tee markers and 9-hole advanced play from the white tee markers.
The Wolanin sisters, Kate, 17, and Claire, 15, have been playing in the junior golf program since they were around nine and seven-years-old.
‘It’s taught me the rules of the game,? Claire said. ‘It’s a good game to know how to play.?
Kate said it’s helped improve her game.
‘I got better as the year’s went on,? she said.
They said it’s good to know the game because it’s something fun to do on vacations. They also echoed Lathwell by saying having a good golf game could come in handy.
‘You can use it later in life,? Kate said. ‘It’s a game played during business.?