DATE: Wednesday, August 13, 1997            TAG: 9708131263

SECTION: SPORTS                  PAGE: C8   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: FORE! YOUR WEEKLY LOCAL GOLF REPORT 

SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER

DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                        LENGTH:   45 lines

GETTING KIDS INTO THE GAME

Marques Wilson has a golf bag with a mixed set of clubs slung over one shoulder, is wearing a bright yellow golf shirt and a Nike hat that looks like one worn by his favorite player.

``Tiger Woods,'' Wilson said.

The 10-year-old is one of the 63 kids enrolled in the Tidewater Youth Golf Association's summer program. TYGA was formed by a group of mostly retired men who wanted to impart the knowledge and skills of golf to disadvantaged children who might otherwise have no access to the game.

``It's fun,'' Wilson said. ``It's real educational.''

That's what Al Hatten and Billie Thompson had in mind when they began in 1990 with seven kids. The program has grown steadily ever since - and boomed since Tiger burst onto the scene.

``We were concerned with the fact that certain segments of our community were denied the opportunity to play,'' Hatten said.

This program takes care of all the barriers, like the cost to play and acquire equipment, or just the lack of someone to teach the kids.

Portsmouth City Park and Bide-A-Wee have allowed them time on the course. Several golf courses, equipment shops and individuals have donated equipment such as range balls and used clubs, which Hatten cuts down to fit the children ages 4-18. The only cost for children - who come from all over Hampton Roads - is to have the clubs regripped at just over $2 per club, and a golf bag for first-time participants.

Then Hatten, a 10-handicapper who is a retired Army sergeant, Thompson, a 7-handicapper who is a retired fireman, and some of others provide almost 60 hours of free instruction. Almost half that time is spent on the grass field behind Crestwood Intermediate school, which is their driving range.

``We wanted to create a situation where some of the disadvantaged inner-city children could be introduced to golf,'' said Hatten.

They started when school let out in June and will conclude with a nine-hole tournament and picnic Aug. 23 at Bide-A-Wee. The kids are taught everything from chipping and putting to long irons and woods, from golf etiquette to proper course attire. MEMO: To donate time, money or equipment to the TYGA, contact Hatten

(465-0658) or Thompson (487-8108).

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