Golf

Shooting at another goal

Blowing out his knee playing hockey takes a Shorecrest High senior down a golf path.

By RODNEY PAGE
Published August 30, 2007

ST. PETERSBURG - Michael Holmes can remember the moment that led to his passion for golf, and it's nota pleasant memory.

He was an eighth-grade hockey player when he was cut down by two defenders and hit the ice with his left knee. While Holmes describes the incident in more gruesome detail, let's just say it was a dislocated knee cap.

He missed the rest of the season, and when he tried to play the next year it was too painful. So golf, his part-time hobby, became his full-time sport.

"Hockey was my main thing and golf was only something I did for fun in the summer," Holmes said. "Then I blew my knee out."

Now a 17-year-old senior at Shorecrest, Holmes is an accomplished, year-round player with a 1-handicap. He is also a member of the First Tee of St. Petersburg program, which offers instruction and tournaments for youngsters of all backgrounds.

That's how he ended up in California this week.

Passing the test

Since 2004, the First Tee Program of America has coupled with the PGA's Champions Tour to offer participants a chance to play in the Wal-Mart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach. There was a qualifying event for First Tee members in July at Kansas State University, where 40 boys and 20 girls advanced to the tournament that begins Friday.

Holmes was one of this year's qualifiers, but not just because of his 36-hole score. He had to go through an interview process with First Tee board members, pass a life skills curriculum test, write an essay and have good chapter involvement.

Holmes is the first First Tee of St. Petersburg member to qualify. He will be paired with Champions Tour member Massy Kuramoto, 51, of Hiroshima, Japan, and two amateurs.

"The thing about Michael is that he's really matured in the program," First Tee of St. Petersburg city courses director Jeff Hollis said. "He's excelled in a lot of different areas. He's willing to give back his time. Whatever we ask him to do he doesn't hesitate."

Holmes represented First Tee of St. Petersburg last year, but did not qualify for Pebble Beach. His application was returned without a handicap, so the handicap he was given was lower than normal. He missed Pebble Beach by a shot.

"I kind of got ripped out of that," Holmes said.

Playing with big boys

Holmes, an only child, left for California with his mom, dad and longtime teacher Rick Waltman on Tuesday. He will get in some practice rounds before teeing off Friday.

"I've been to Canada a lot for hockey, but never California," Holmes said. "It's going to be great playing on a course like that."

There are two criteria during the tournament. Holmes and his Champions Tour partner count as one team, and all four members of the group count as another team.

When the tournament ends, Holmes will return to Shorecrest and continue playing with his team at Feather Sound Country Club.

He would like to continue playing in college, though he has not picked a school. He would like to let golf take him as far as it can.

"I want to do all I can with golf," Holmes said. "I have the same drive in golf that I did in hockey. It works out well."

Waltman agrees with his pupil's assessment.

"He has that desire that most kids don't have," Waltman said. "You can send a kid to the range and they'll hit half a bucket and be done. But Michael will hit the whole bucket and want to hit more."

Rodney Page can be reached at golf@sptimes.com page@sptimes.com 727 893-8123 or by fax at (727) 893-8782.

FAST FACTS 

First Tee program

Purpose: To introduce youth to golf regardless of age, gender, race or socio-economic status. There are summer programs, tournaments and year-round instruction, as well as a life skills curriculum. It is a fee-based program, but financial aid is available.

Members: Hollis said there are about 1,200 participants in the program.

Contact: First Tee of St. Petersburg (727) 551-3300 or www.firstteestpetersburg.org.

[Last modified August 30, 2007, 00:18:26]