LPGA, Dover teach youth golf

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class James Bolinger
  • 436th AW Public Affairs
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. --  The Ladies Professional Golf Association Urban Youth Golf League took Eagle Creek Golf Course by storm Wednesday during the third week of a six-week golf camp.

Approximately 65 children attended the weekly event to learn about the sport from LPGA instructors and Dover Team members.

Patrick Keefe, Eagle Creek Golf Course assistant golf professional, is one of the instructors teaching the course, which began July 7 and will end Aug. 16.

The children who participate in the camp are between the ages of six and 16, with the level of difficulty increasing as age increases.

The younger children participating in the league hit large velcro-like balls similar to tennis balls toward velcro targets using clubs with larger heads.

"The reason the younger kids use larger balls and clubs is to give them confidence in hitting the ball," said Mr. Keefe. "They will realize that, ‘Hey, if I can hit this tennis ball, I can hit a golf ball, too.'"

After being taught the correct way to hold a golf club, older children spend time at the driving range, chipping and putting green, next to the old club house, before playing a three-hole scramble on the front nine.

Students also learn course etiquette according the Mr. Keefe.

"We teach the children to watch how they walk on the green while putting so they don't walk through someone else's line," he said. "I also show them how to correctly repair ball marks (on the green) and what happens to a green when ball marks aren't fixed."

Another rule of etiquette emphasized is the wearing of collared shirts while playing at any golf course, he said.

The program, which has been held at Dover Air Force Base since 2001, provides an introduction to the game of golf and develops the concepts of safe, fast and courteous play, said Judy Stout, LPGA Urban Golf program director.

"We hope that each child takes the respect they demonstrate on the golf course and continues it in their everyday life," she said.