GOLF

The Winter Tour visited 6 courses this past week including Charwood Country Club, Columbia Country Club, Country Club of Lexington, LinRick Golf Club, Oak Hills Golf Club and Ponderosa Country Club.

Clemson Friends of Junior Golf, Palmetto Pediatric & Adolescent Clinic and Pitner Orthodontics divisions was held by Oak Hills. Despite cloudy skies, cold temperatures and the peak of cold and flu season, 9 players participated.

Youth and families participating together continues to intrigue me. I visited the Country Club of Lexington yesterday and spoke with Beth Ervin, whose son, Alexander, participates while she spectates.

“Alexander seems to enjoy playing different golf courses in this program and I agree with him,” Ervin said.

‘E’ Rutherford, Chris Miller and a number of other golf experts were part of the foundation of this program. The ‘tour of courses’ in the Midlands has been 1 of the main attractions for the juniors.

The Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission is holding a brand-new golf program beginning in March.

This offering is unique for several reasons in comparison to other junior programs:

1) It targets 4-7-year olds, but does not exclude 8-12-year-olds.

2) Many junior golf programs start at 7 or 8 years old.

3) the parents are on the actual playing field with the children and can participate with them.

There are more unique features, but a 4th is there will be motor skill building or swing technique instruction in addition to playing lessons.

To find out more, go to the Lexington County Recreation and Aging website, and find “Athletics.”

Then in the opening paragraph at the bottom, click The Youth and Family Golf.

B.J. Belville is the assistant athletic director in charge of the program and his phone number is (803) 359-4048, extension 240 or email him at bj@lcrac.com .

In closing today, I am quite inspired after watching 49-year-old Phil Mickelson contend playing against the best young golf athletes in the world.

Golf is an extraordinary game. So, if you don’t play, give it a try. If you already play, dream big and play more.