THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 10, 1994 TAG: 9407080240
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 63 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER
CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: ELIZABETH CITY LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
It is not unusual to hear about a junior golf program at your local country club. Many kids between the ages of 8 and 18 participate in these groups every year. But Guy Thompson, the pro at Pine Lakes Country Club, has taken his junior program one step further. He includes 3- and 4-year-olds.
On Mondays and Fridays during the hot summer afternoons, a group of youngsters can be seen with Thompson, whacking away at golf balls, like the next Jack Nicklaus.
``They are hitting real golf balls with real clubs,'' Thompson said. ``They are not using whiffle balls and plastic clubs. They're using clubs I have cut down for them.''
Thompson, who started Pine Lakes' first-ever junior program in 1992, founded the largest junior program in New England in Newport, Vt. When he took the pro job at Pine Lakes, Thompson began working with the Northeastern High School team. The junior program blossomed from that point.
``The parents of the 4-year-olds asked if they could try it,'' Thompson said. ``Now we have seven young boys - six righties and a lefty. We also have another class with about 20 kids ranging from 7 to 18, both boys and girls.''
Thompson, who has earned the title of Vermont Junior PGA Promoter of the Year, said despite the youngsters' seven-minute attention span, he is able to keep the 3- and 4-year-olds interested.
``I swing and they imitate me. I started off with putting so they would get a sensation of the club hitting the ball,'' he said. ``Then we'll do little shots on the green and then on the tee.
``The parents say that the children really felt like they're playing golf,'' he added. ``They say that when golf was on TV, they would change the channels. Now they want to watch and actually tell them what is going on.''
There are no heavy lessons with Thompson. He just wants his young students to be able to hit the ball. ``I'm not like a Little League coach,'' he said. ``I tell them it's fun and I'm their buddy and we're going to have a good time.''
While some of the other players at the country club have resorted to club throwing and worse after a bad shot, Thompson said his students are content to just hit the ball.
``They hit the ball and it's like Christmas. They just love to hit a golf ball - it's instant feedback,'' he said.
The junior program will run until the third week of August, then will end with a tournament. For the 3- and 4-year-olds, Thompson will have them play the 16th, 17th, and 18th holes from 40 yards out.
``I think it's been successful because this is the first time somebody's worked with them,'' he said. by CNB