Golf

Tiger started this way

By RODNEY PAGE, Times Staff Writer
Published December 13, 2007

Most have seen the video of a 2-year-old Tiger Woods on the Mike Douglas Show in 1978 whacking a golf ball into a net if not, here it is: http://youtube.com/watch?v=_wHkA_983_s. He goes on to become the best golfer in the world, so parents everywhere put a club in their child's hands almost before that child can walk.

Sometimes that isn't a bad idea, but let's face it, not every child is Tiger Woods. Sometimes it's a good idea to let a child grow up a bit before taking him or her to the driving range.

"Generally, 6 years old is a good age to start," said St. Petersburg's director of golf, Jeff Hollis, who also oversees the First Tee of St. Petersburg. "Some are younger, some are older. It just depends on the attention span and if a kid is ready or not."

This much is certain: Once a child is ready and willing to give golf a try, there are no shortage of activities in Florida. There are things to do around the house, clinics at area courses and driving ranges and tournaments in the winter and summer.

The key, according to PGA teaching pro Matt Mitchell, is exposing a youngster to golf and letting the child play the game at his or her pace.

"The whole thing is about letting them have fun," said Mitchell, who teaches at the Tampa Bay Downs driving range and works with the LPGA's Brittany Lincicome. "Let them hit balls, let them putt. Make it something they want to do on their own. Never make it about work. Never put pressure on the kid to play."

Where to practice

Driving ranges are an excellent place to start. Most courses have their own driving ranges and putting greens. There are also several ranges in the area open late for night practices. Here are some:

- Missing Links Driving Range, Largo, (727) 584-8088.

- Countryside Golf Practice Center, Clearwater, (727) 726-8481.

- Tampa Bay Downs Driving Range, Oldsmar, (813) 854-4946.

- Ridge Road Golf Center, New Port Richey, (727) 847-0672.

- Blue Tees International, Brooksville, (352) 796-3197.

Where to play

There are more executive courses (shorter and lower par) than the ones listed below, but this a good sampling to try once your junior player is ready to tee it up:

Cypress Links Golf Course, St. Petersburg: Next to Mangrove Bay Golf Course on 62nd Avenue N, Cypress Links is run by the city of St. Petersburg and welcomes junior golfers. It is a nine-hole par 27 with both short and challenging holes.

Twin Brooks Golf Course, St. Petersburg: Definitely junior friendly. Also a city of St. Petersburg course, it is shorter than Cypress Links but offers 18 holes. It also has a driving range and putting green.

Treasure Island Golf Center: A very short, nine-hole, par-27 course that is perfect for juniors, especially those just starting out. It is on Boca Ciega Bay, so it also provides a nice view.

Terrace Hill Golf Course, Tampa: It is a basic par-3 course, but what makes it unique is that it's lighted. The last tee time is 8:45 p.m. and the lights go off at 10:30 p.m. It's always good to get a tee time for night rounds, they fill up fast.

Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club Executive Course, San Antonio: There are four sets of tees that make this a challenging par-3 course. It is a nine-hole course, but with the different tee boxes it can be played twice from different yardages.

Forest Hills Golf Course, Holiday: A nine-hole course, but it has some par 4s to make it a par 35. There are three sets of tees on each hole, so yardage depends on the golfer's skill.

Quarry Golf Course, Brooksville: It is a nine-hole, par-29 course adjacent to Bud McKethan Park. It is operated by the city of Brooksville. There are three sets of tees, and there is also a driving range. A perfect place to take children learning how to play.

Cool things

Golf net: There are plenty to choose from, but most are $60-$100. There is one, the Birdie Golf Net, that is designed for indoor and outdoor use. Check it out at actionsportscompany.com.

Izzo Backyard Driving Range: It includes three targets and three flags that can be set up throughout the yard. Use real or plastic balls to aim at the target. It retails for about $30 at most golf shops.

Tour Links personal putting greens: These greens are assembled in pieces and have two holes at each end. Perfect for practicing putting in a room or patio. The cost is generally $250. You can get a six-hole set for around $1,500 at most major golf retailers.

Golf swing simulators: Okay, these can be pricey - $1,000-$4,000 - but most come with their own screen or hook up to your television. They analyze club speed and contact points to help hit the ball straighter. Also, some have features that allow you to play different holes.

Almost Golf practice balls: They come in different colors, which kids love, and they don't fly as far as regular balls. Perfect to take to a park, or in your back yard as long as there are no windows nearby. Sold at most Sports Authority stores.

Links

girlsgolfonline.org: This site provides tournament and clinic information for girls around the country. It also provides tips and news about the LPGA Tour.

juniorlinks.com: It calls itself the ultimate junior golf Web site, and it does have a lot of stuff. There are feature stories, instructions, places to get junior equipment, rules and etiquette and online games. It also has stuff about the American Junior Golf Association and the United States Golf Association.

ajga.org: This is the official site of the American Junior Golf Association. It has information about the organization as well as links to other sites. The first tournament of the 2008 AJGA season is March 20-23 at Innisbrook in Palm Harbor, by the way.

Tournaments

Greater Tampa Junior Golf Association: This tour is going on right now. The next tournament is Jan. 7 at Avila. It costs $45 for membership and $25 per tournament. Tournaments are played on courses throughout Tampa Bay. It is open to junior boys and girls ages 6-18. Yardages are different for each age group, and 18-hole tournaments begin with 13-year-olds. Visit gtjga.com.

First Tee Program: There are programs in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Tampa and Brooksville. They provide instruction year-round and also offer tournaments in the summer. For information, check out thefirsttee.org.

U.S. Kids Golf Tour: This tour is held during the summer on some of the best courses in Tampa Bay, including Belleview Biltmore, Plantation Palms, Fox Hollow and Avila Golf and Country Club. Tournaments cost $35-$50 and are open to juniors ages 8-12.

Florida State Golf Association's Florida Junior Tour: This tour is open to junior boys and girls ages 13-18. Florida residency is not required to sign up for tournaments. Tournaments, which are played on courses throughout the state, are $95 for 36 holes and $145 for 54 holes. It is $115 for 36 holes or $165 for 54 holes for nonmembers. The next tournament is Saturday and Sunday at the MetroWest Golf Course in Orlando. For more information, go to floridajuniortour.org.

Hurricane Junior Golf Tour: A new tour that begins in January, this is for junior golfers who have parents willing to travel ... and pay. There are four divisions, boys and girls ages 12-14 and boys and girls ages 15-18. Each tournament is $170, and there are currently 14 dates set for the 2008 season. Courses in Florida, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina will be used, culminating in the Junior Classic at TPC of Tampa Bay in July. For information, go to hjgt.org.

Premier Junior Tour: Most of the events for 2008 are in the Orlando area. It is open to junior players up to 19 years old. Membership is free, but there is an entry fee for each tournament. The first tournament is Jan. 12-13 in Orlando. For information, go to premierjuniortour.com.

Rodney Page can be reached at page@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8123.

[Last modified December 12, 2007, 21:31:56]