How to get kids interested in golf
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Thursday, May 08, 2008
By Rick Cassano
Staff Writer
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The long-term growth of golf depends on its appeal to kids, and it's not an easy sell these days.
Tiger Woods helps. Younger players on the PGA Tour help. Yet fast-paced sports are logically more likely to attract young athletes than a leisurely sport like golf.
"It's got to be a full-force (marketing) effort," said Tom Barnhart, the professional at Heatherwoode Golf Club in Springboro. "Tiger has definitely helped the game a lot. So has Nike coming on board and being strong. But it's tough competing against soccer, basketball, baseball. Golf is seen as not quite as fun because of the lack of activity when you're really young.
"I always tell kids, 'When you get older, you'll be really happy you learned how to play golf,' " he added. "You don't see many old guys playing soccer."
The national leader in promoting the game to kids is The First Tee. The organization's mission is to provide facilities and instruction while emphasizing character development and life-enhancing values.
The First Tee is branching out across the country and will begin working through Twin Run Golf Course in Hamilton this year.
"The key is actually getting clubs in kids' hands," Twin Run professional John Small said. "I think people in general don't think about golf until it's too late. If you don't keep golf moving, it's going to disappear at some point."
Dave Hartman, the professional at Fairfield Greens South Trace in Fairfield, said his course conducts an annual REACH program for kids. It attracts several dozen new golfers each year.
"I think too many people have lost that personal touch," Hartman said. "Even our Southern Ohio PGA, they try to put everything on the Internet. That's all fine and dandy, but with kids, there's still that intimidation factor of having to go to a website and go through the process.
"The recommendation I would give to any golf course is to have a little area for junior golf, pamphlets, entry forms," he continued. "I think parents just wish there were more faces. If you give them options, you reach out to them more."
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2194 or rcassano@coxohio.com.
