The 2021 PGA Championship is on Kiawah Island this week just outside of Charleston.

It will be the second of 3 events attracting the world’s best male golfers.

Harbor Town was the first, and the 3rd will be next month in June in Ridgeland for the Palmetto Championship at Congaree.

When I checked last, tickets were available for the June event and you can go to the PGA Tour website for tickets.

I have had the privilege of playing Congaree. It offers a low country expression with such natural beauty that I am looking forward to just walking around the property again.

Kiawah Island’s Ocean Course also has a unique beauty.

It’s America’s version of links golf with a course meandering through rolling sand dunes, braced against the Atlantic Ocean.

What many don’t realize is how influential weather can be on these seaside links venues.

High winds and firm conditions make for tough scoring conditions. Projected mild temperatures and light winds makes for great spectating. Low to no rain chances also make for easy watching.

However, many contestants may be praying for rain. The reason is soft conditions makes scoring easier. Dry and firm could mean a bouncing ball.

The tumbling ball on this style golf course means ball control can be exponentially more difficult.

There has been mention about the extraordinary length combined with narrow fairways. The width of the fairways and the length of the rough in the landing zones will be interesting. PGA of America officials could make this course unplayable, but I’m guessing and hoping the set up stays on the fun side of challenging.

Speaking of fun, a game changer for me was watching very young children learn to play.

Dr. Bob Rotella suggested I study this process closely because he said “children young and new in the game get it right.”

He further went on with specifics and, following his suggestion, I was able to play just well enough to play in the 1999 PGA Championship at Medinah. With each caddy I had through the each stage of the qualifying, I asked them to say one basic line before I hit every single shot, “have fun with this shot.”

For whatever reason, these words had an extremely settling effect. What I tried to do in addition to their words was picture a kids form with certain shots, especially near and on the green.

I pretended to be George 4th, my oldest, out of thick rough and bunkers close to the greens.

On putts I pretended to be Wesley, who was a couple of years behind G4. They were 6 and 4 years old when I started modeling them.

Sounds very odd I know but I had been chasing my professional goals and dreams for over 10 years and could not break through.

So why not try a fresh new approach?

To me, children learn quickly how to play games and fun comes easy.

Speaking of fun, last week, Cameron Mazzie placed 3rd the age 10-11 division of the Drive Chip and Putt at Par Tee Golf Center. He advanced with his finish and this is what he had to say when I asked him what he liked best about this event;

“I liked the driving the most because I could hit it as hard as I want and I’m good at it,” Mazzie said.

I think I need to go watch Cameron hit driver and learn from him.

In the same division, Charles Fowler placed 2nd and Dhruv Mereddy first in the boys 10-11.

In the girls 10-11, it was Nina Santiago, Zoey Meldrum, and Kinley Brazel placing 3rd, 2nd and 1st.

In the Girls 7-9, it was Cecilia Ondrus William, Makenzie Vorlker and Carleigh Crawley placing 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

In the Boys 7-9 it was Blake Thatcher, Brice LaBruyere, Ethan Lyons placing 1st, 2nd and 3rd.

Each age group advanced 3 competitors to Regionals which will be at The Spur @ Northwoods in August.

These young players are in a year long series of competitions to make the finals at Augusta National which is held the Sunday before the 2022 Masters Week.

In high school golf, Lexington and Chapin were 9th and 11th, respectively, in the 1st round aof the SC High School League Class 5A final held at Country Club of South Carolina in Florence.

Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commision, Richland County Recreation Commision, and Irmo Chapin Recreation Commision all have numerous summer golf options. The Family Junior Program is the newest and there are Junior Camps, Clinics, ladies only and adult options. Here are the websites: http://richlandcountyrecreation.com/fall-golf-programs-at-linrick-golf-course/ .