They’re not Tiger Woods -- yet

Danette Goulet

* SCHOOL’S OUT is a weekly feature in which Daily Pilot education

writer Danette Goulet visits a summer camp within the Newport-Mesa area

and writes about her experience.

A row of 3- and 4-foot-tall golfers stood poised and ready.

At a shout of “Tiger Woods!” they swung clubs nearly as long as they

were tall. They aimed at small, plastic balls at their feet on green

mats.

The balls flew in all directions -- except for those that didn’t move

at all.

Monday marked the first day of a weeklong Seahawks golf camp for

children at Bob Henry Park in Newport Beach. The Seahawks program offers

various sports camps through city recreation departments.

This week, the popular golf camp is teaching 22 youngsters ranging in

age from 7 to 14 years.

The students may be undersized, but this was no miniature golf course

with clowns and windmills. These were future weekend hackers and country

club regulars -- with the remote possibility of another Tiger Woods in

the mix.

Some children were there for fun, some because their parents signed

them up, and others to emulate their idols.

“My dad takes lessons and he’s really good,” said 9-year-old Alyssa

Kelly. “And I wanted to be as good as him.”

On the first day of golf camp, children learned about the different

clubs, the proper grip and stance and how to swing it.

The lively group was split into two groups -- the 7- and 8-year-olds,

a.k.a., the “Great Googly Mooglies,” and the 9- to 14-year-olds, who

called themselves the “Crazy Nutty Wackos.”

Coaches used games and contests to keep children interested in

learning the fundamentals of the intense sport. A favorite game among the

group was “kill the coach,” in which students aimed their shots at their

instructor.

The ploy prompted the young golfers to work on their aim more

diligently than they may have otherwise. The campers lined up and waited

their turn.

“You’ve got to get ready when he’s at the man in front of you,” said

8-year-old Michael Lial, sharing his secret of success.

In other words, Michael learned to take his time lining up his shot.

They may not walk away from golf camp playing like pros, said coach

Henry Nakajima, 18, but they would learn safety and have fun.

“Our main goal is fun,” Nakajima said. “If they can learn something,

that’s great.”

FYI

Who: Future golfers ages 6 to 14

What: Weeklong golf camp

Where: Bob Henry Park, Newport Beach

Information: (949) 644-3151