Teeing off

Coral Wilson

Holding oversized plastic golf clubs, launching pads and tennis

balls, 8-year-old buddies Gregory Welker and Michael Walters

discussed their golfing expertise.

“I thought you’ve only played for two years,” Greg said.

“No, I’ve played since kindergarten,” Michael answered.

Velcro made the difficult sport a little easier for the small

group of 5 to 8-year-old children participating in the Skyhawks

beginning golf camp at the Edison Community Center in Huntington

Beach.

“With golf, you have to have a lot of patience,” coach Ryan

Schneider said. “Kids don’t have a lot of patience so I try to make

it as fun as possible.”

Children perfected their stance, grip, backswing, finish and

putting stroke. The camp teaches real golfing techniques in a simpler

format, Schneider said.

In an effort to keep their attention, Schneider broke up the

morning with snack and bathroom breaks. He even engaged them in some

nontraditional golfing games such as “hit the coach.”

Putting on a Velcro jacket, Schneider awarded the six children 50

points for hitting his chest and 25 points for his arm. Fearless of

the pint-size putters, he even helped out by jumping in front of the

balls.

“Ready, aim, fire.”

And a storm of balls, an occasional launching pad and chunks of

grass flew into the air. A few balls stuck to Schneider’s jacket and

Michael kept score.

“What’s 75 plus 50?” he asked.

Each swinging frenzy ended with an Easter egg-like hunt as the

children raced to collect the colored tennis balls from the field.

The group kept track of their lucky balls, lucky launching pads

and even lucky spots on the grass.

Next, they tackled a four-hole course where Velcro flagsticks

stood in place of holes. By the end of the five-day camp, and after a

lot of practice and repetition, Schneider said children often

surprise him with their newfound abilities.

Avid golfer John Mastright, 56, of Huntington Beach said he

enrolled his 5-year-old grandson Ryan Moore in the camp, hoping it

might be something that they could share together in the future. The

camp sparked Ryan’s enthusiasm, he said.

“All too often when golf gets too serious, the little ones lose

interest,” Mastright said.

Gregory and Michael said they already have years of experience

behind them. The two often go golfing together with their fathers on

local courses.

“It takes a lot of practice, and it’s challenging,” Gregory said.

Not an easy sport for any age level, Michael said after more than

three years on the golf course, he has yet to score a hole-in-one.

“I have only once -- in miniature golf,” he said.

* CORAL WILSON is a news assistant.