DATE: Monday, July 7, 1997                  TAG: 9707070159

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY JIM DUCIBELLA, STAFF WRITER 

                                            LENGTH:   86 lines

BLACK GOLFERS SPREAD LOVE OF THE GAME

What began as an annual trek to the Grand Strand in Myrtle Beach has evolved into a grand plan for the Commonwealth Golf Association.

The association's 42 members - all black - do the same things as their counterparts in other such groups. They pay dues - $60 a year. They have a weekly nine-hole outing Thursdays after work, a monthly 18-hole outing, and the annual getaway to test Myrtle's seemingly endless layouts. They collect dues, form friendships, bet the same couple of bucks back and forth week after week, and talk about attracting new members.

Then then there's the ``other'' mission, one that lurked as an idea before Tiger Woods burst onto the pro scene.

``Promote and develop golf among the youth in our community'' is how they wrote it in Article II, Section II of the association's constitution in June 1996.

And that's how 22 kids wound up at Honey Bee Golf Club in Virginia Beach on June 21 for a free clinic hosted by the Honey Bee staff and sponsored by association members and McDonald's restaurants, which gave each participant a commemorative golf shirt.

``We kept it word-of-mouth the first year because we wanted to make sure we had the fundamentals in place to do it right,'' says J.R. Locke, who made the suggestion that a group of golf buddies turn themselves into an association and add a purpose other than reducing their handicaps.

``As a one-time shot, it was good. But instead of making it an annual affair, the association is looking to do something more regularly so there can be some follow-up on what we've started.''

Locke is an accounts executive for a health-care organization. Other charter members include a judge, doctors, ministers, active and retired military officers, bankers and educators.

``It's a great way to find people to play golf with, but there's more to it than that for me,'' said Charles Tate, an assistant principal at a Virginia Beach middle school. ``Being an educator, the purpose for me is to expose kids to good role models. Golf gives them that.

``You look at Tiger Woods. The Afro-American community needed reinforcement like him. A lot of learning isn't self-taught, but transferred from one person to another. That's the position we've taken at the CGA. Tiger, and others, are role models for the kids. We can make sure they're taught the lessons they need to get more enjoyment from the game and its best players.''

Some members see the association as an extension of the area's first black golf association - the old Seaside Golf Club. ``That was `the' black club in Tidewater 20 or so years ago,'' says charter member Walt Lawson, a banker. ``My understanding is there'd be a golf outing at Stumpy Lake every week and every once in a while, Lee Elder would come by.''

It's only natural for the Commonwealth Golf Association to do most of its missionary work in the black community. But there were a couple of white children at the first free clinic at Honey Bee.

``We're not a segregated golf association,'' Lawson said. ``We're trying to capitalize on what Tiger is doing to bring the game to more people. The game doesn't see something like Tiger every day - and he just happens to be a man of color.''

When charter member Charles Atterberry talks about the impact of golf's superstars on generating new players, he includes British Open champion Tom Lehman and 20-something shot-maker Phil Mickelson in the same sentence with Woods.

``They have brought golf to a new level of awareness and we want to help keep it there,'' said Atterberry, who was at sea the day of the clinic but paid to sponsor two youngsters.''

It isn't race, says Lawson, that keeps people from joining golf associations like the CGA.

``People are embarrassed because they shoot in the 100s,'' he said. ``We've got guys who are scratch, guys who are 10s, and guys who shoot in the 100s. We match players with those of equal skill. The worst thing you can do is not come out because you're not comfortable with your skill level.''

Lost on no one is that golf associations are supposed to provide fun for their members. That part of the charter is renewed every Thursday at Bow Creek.

``My profession had taken up so much of my time that I got away from taking care of myself,'' Lawson said. ``That's easy to do. This helps. Golf is a healthy vice.'' ILLUSTRATION: [Color Photo]

NHAT MEYER/The Virginian-Pilot

Tiger Woods was still an amateur when Edward Sparks of Chesapeake

and fellow association members set out to promote golf among the

area's youth.

J.R. Locke, president of the Commonwealth Golf Association,

suggested that the association have a purpose other than reducing

handicaps.

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