Golf is truly special and the Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission Family Junior Fall season ended on a strong note with a nice and simple quote.

“I think I surprised myself, too,” described the widesmiling new golfer Tristin Fender.

He continued.

“I get to play more if I get here early”, is how the 12 year old responded to the fact that for six consecutive weeks, he, along with his granddad, would arrive at the golf facility 30 minutes before start time.

When I asked his granddad if he was trying to help him by teaching him about preparation, Billy Fender or “Granddaddy” smiled and replied “Heck no.”

“Tristen wakes me up early from my nap every Sunday afternoon so we can get there early,” Fender said with a smile. “So he’s cutting my nap time short.”

The LCRAC Family Junior is a multigenerational recreational golf option that focuses on motor swing and playing skills for new and beginning golfers. The program emphasis is on a fast pace style of golf.

When asked the benefits of playing fast, Tristin quickly responded “I get to play more.”

All lesson question answers for this week - “Play more golf”.

Since the topic is playing, congratulations to several local schools. Chapin won the Class 5A Lower State girls high school golf tournament while defending state champion Lexington placed third.

River Bluff placed 6th and all three teams advanced to the state tournament.

Dutch Fork was represented by Joy Outhous in the state tournament as she qualified as an individual.

Defending Class 3A champion Gilbert held off Chesnee to take the Lower State for the second consecutive year.

Meredith and Donald Taylor teamed up to win the WSCGA-SCGA mixedteam championship this past week at Dataw Island Golf Club. The siblings have both been playing well recently. They teamed up to lead their scramble team to victory in the Oliver Gospel Mission Fund Raiser two weeks ago. That team also included Mike Ross and father Don Taylor and they shot 18-under-par.

Donald recently competed in the USGA Mid-Amateur championship. Both Donald and Meredith grew up playing golf at the Country Club of Lexington.

Chris Miller, who was the managing director for the SCJGA for 18 years, will start November as the new head golf Professional at Timberlake Country Club on Nov. 1.

Miller got his start in the golf business at Timberlake back in 1992. In a sense, it’s like coming home. He was everyone’s favorite and loved by all. He was lured away from running a golf club by his heart for juniors.

“I had the best job in golf ever,” Miller said. “After 20 years of travel it was time to stay closer to home.”

Next week, we will elaborate so stay tuned.

Speaking of Timberlake Country Club, it served as the host course for the first Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission Winter Youth Tour.

Chris Miller, along with “E” Rutherford, were on the the original administrative “Winter Tour” team. The 30th season registration is underway.

This program features parents and grandparents caddying for their children. There are also more winter golf recreational developmental options.

In fact, each of our local recreation entities offer family golf developmental programs. These programs are fun and multi-generational. The greatest aspect of golf is the fact it lends itself to different generations playing and learning together.

Visit these websites for more intel: http://richlandcountyrecreation.com/fall-golf-programs-at-linrickgolf-course/, https://www.icrc.net and https://sports.bluesombrero.com/lcra .