Little tigers

Eric Stephens

VENICE -- Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia, one 23 years old and the other

still a teenager at 19, went neck-and-neck on the final round of the PGA

Championship Sunday.

Jeff DeLarme was watching closely. Perhaps he was dreaming as well.

“I know I can definitely go somewhere in this sport,” said the

13-year-old DeLarme, dressed for success in a cap, polo-style shirt and

khaki slacks.

For most of his childhood, DeLarme played a number of sports. He was even

a member of North Venice Little League’s all-star team. But he, like a

number of other local youngsters, has turned his attention to fairways

and greens.

DeLarme is one of 35 players from ages 9 to 14 that head out to Penmar

Golf Course each week to take part in the Los Angeles City Recreation and

Parks’ junior golf program. It concludes its nine-week summer session on

Monday with the hopes that it achieved its two goals: providing access

and availability to a sport rising in popularity among young people and

identifying potential new talent.

L.A. City Recreation and Parks initiated the junior golf program a decade

ago at Hansen Dam Golf Course in Sunland. Since then, the program has

spread to courses throughout greater Los Angeles, according to Harbor

Park Golf Course manager Beverly Cox.

The program at Penmar has been a huge success since it began. It is one

of the few courses in Los Angeles whose program is taught by an official

PGA teaching pro, John Landers. At $30 for nine weeks, it is a virtual

bargain as youngsters have access to one of the busiest nine-hole courses

in the United States.

With greater access to quality courses and better equipment, Landers said

it is no surprise that young golfers are much better at their age than in

previous years.

“When this began, [the program] was one-fourth the size of what it is

now,” Landers said. “It’s going to be like gymnastics. These kids don’t

have to be 30 to 35 years old to become good. It just lengthens the

duration of being in your prime [as a golfer].”

Not only does Penmar introduce youngsters to golf, but it often provides

financial assistance to those who show great promise.

DeLarme, whose best 18-hole score is an 80, recently received a new set

of woods through the efforts of several working members at Penmar. Each

chipped in money to help purchase the woods, which often run into

hundreds of dollars. It only reinforced DeLarme’s new passion for golf.

That isn’t surprising, says the junior program’s director, Vance

Schaefer.

“If there’s a kid who absolutely shows or even has a semblance of ability

and desire, we want to help him or her get to that next level,” Schaefer

said.

While competition is emphasized, sportsmanship is valued more than

anything. At Harbor, Cox said the largest trophy goes to the player who

exhibited the best sportsmanship at the end of the nine-week program.

That is also echoed at Penmar.

Schaefer said the sport helps instill traits that are often carried over

to daily life.

“It gives you self-discipline, which is required for this game,” he said.

“Here, it all starts with etiquette. You must play by the rules.”

“It’s a game where you’re all by yourself against the golf course,” added

Jim Hookstratten, the course manager at Penmar. “You can’t blame anyone

else for your failure. The more successful kids are the ones with even

temperament.”

Hookstratten said while Woods’ success was an immediate drawing card,

other young players like Garcia are helping sustain the interest of kids.

Golf, he says, is no longer just a sport for older men.

“Kids relate to guys like Sergio and Tiger because they are so close in

age to them,” Hookstratten said. “Because of the closeness in age, they

see the potential in themselves. It’s important for kids to see that.”

One shining example was when former Santa Monica High and current UCLA

golfer Leilani Bagby spoke to the students at a recent practice session.

When Bagby introduced herself, a young golfer immediately spoke up.

“The kid said, ‘If she can do it, so can I,”’ Hookstratten said. “That

said it all right there.”

That kind of confidence matched with ability is bringing about a new

generation of youngsters who are making golf a major sport right

alongside baseball, basketball, football and hockey.

“Some of these kids are dead serious about golf,” Schaefer said. “They’ve

got some game too.”