Summer is going to be short and quick, so advance planning is important so get your golf calendars ready.

At the top of the list could be a generational family program offered through the Lexington County Department of Recreation and Aging and Richland County Recreation Commissions. More on this at the close of this article. Now some local golf news. Caleb Proveaux recently turned pro and made his debut in a Mountain Tour event at the Country Club of Lexington where he shot 4-under-par for a 5th place tie.

“I’m going to play Monday qualifiers for the summer and mix in some ‘G-Pro’ events,” explained the Batesburg-Leesville resident.

His brother, Cody, played at Clemson and is the Middle Tennessee State assistant golf coach.

Caleb, who’s nickname is “KK” plays frequently at the CC of Lexington and got his competitive start in the Tri-County Chapter of the SCJ-GA just as Dustin Johnson, Wesley Bryan, and George Bryan IV did.

Wesley Bryan actually caddied during the Mountain Tour event for his big brother, George IV. His role could have played a role in victory.

“I hadn’t played competitively in 2 years and was a bit surprised at how excited I was,” Bryan said. “I was even nervous. I also had fun playing golf and it was pretty cool to have Wesley with me.”

Justin Moose a former runner -up in the World Long Drive Championship placed 8th at Lexington and is chasing stroke play professional competition while the Long Drive Tour is in a covid-19 inspired pause.

“The Long Drive Tour will be back in 2022 and I’ll resume but for now, I’m enjoying a completely different training regiment and I love it,” Moose said.

Stay tuned for more on pursuing golf club speed through the perspective of Moose. The Long Drive champion had this to say when one of the competitors asked him if he made any long drive swings at Lexington during the stroke play competition.

“No, I don’t go to high gear when competing in stroke play,” he said. “I stay in low and slow gear. I did hit one drive on a 340 yard par 4 pin high though.”

And that’s low and slow gear? Wow.

Moose has recorded long drives of over 480 yards.

Number 12 is the above mentioned hole and it is an uphill 340 yard Par 4.

When I asked Moose to compare and qualify this drive verses a Long Drive Competition drive he humbly and quietly answered, “Mr Bryan, I only use low gear and I play a fade off the tee in Stroke Play competition.”

A 340 uphill with a fade is quite impressive and it will be fun doing our “Summer Speed Series” we will tee it up in the Chronicle in few weeks.

The 1st golf lesson today is very short and sweet and it’s on increasing golf club speed. Mike Gravely, head pro at Coldstream Country Club which is now closed, said this to me in about 1981.

“When you really want to hit it further, grip lighter,” he said.

Johnson and Bryan both got their competitive starts on the Tri-County chapter of the SCJGA, which opens summer season June 24 at the Ponderosa Club. The general public is invited and strongly recommend so this is your chance to attend.

Tee times start at 8 am and admission is free.

The Family Junior series, which offers a “generational education component”, opens the weekend of June 18-19. The LRAC & RCRC both encourage grand, great grands and parents to both attend and participate with their juniors. Both programs begin with skill building and end with playing on the course.