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  • Zane Morris, center, watches his ball fly away at the Duncan Golf & Tennis Club driving range on June 12 during the Tewell Time Golf clinic. The club has offered a number of programs to get kids to pick up the sport. A little over a week ago the course added “Family Tees” that earned the course the designation of PGA Family Course. Greg Crews/The Duncan Banner

    Zane Morris
July 8, 2012

DG&T gives kids avenue to learn golf

Greg Crews The Duncan Banner

DUNCAN — What are kids into these days?

If one area club has it’s say: golf.

The Duncan Golf & Tennis Club has put an emphasis on exposing kids to the sport this summer, through a variety of clinics and programs.

And after a recent addition to the course, young golfers should have yet another reason to go hit the links at the club which is now recognized as a “PGA Family Course.”

As of June 29, the course features “Family Tees,” designed to shorten the course for young golfers and make the game a little easier.

“It’s an extremely difficult sport to learn and to enjoy for kids,” club professional Mike Hansen said. “It’s frustrating, and a lot of kids give it up and then they don’t pick it back up until college or later.

“These (tees) will give us an opportunity to introduce kids at a younger age, and give them a chance to enjoy the game.”

The Family Tees, which were paid for with funds from the Bill Shelton Junior Golf Tournament back in April, are markers next to the cart paths, designating tee locations for kids.

There are two sets of junior tees: blue and gold.

The blue tees are 60 percent of the distance from the green to the red (ladies) tees. So, while hole No. 1 generally plays 514 yards from the white tees and 409 yards from the red tees, it would be a 254-yard par 5 for kids playing from the junior blue tees.

Once a kid gets comfortable at the blue tees, he or she can move back to the gold and then to the red tees and so on.

“What I’ve been saying is that once you shoot a 45 or better for nine holes, move back to the gold tees and then go back to the red once you are shoot 45 or better there,” Hansen said.

With the designation as a PGA Family Course, the club will be able to host U.S. Kids tournaments as early as next year.

The U.S. Kids label is already abundant in the club’s pro shop, though, as they are stocked with U.S. Kids irons and putters that are available to kids at no charge.

The clubs were part of the Tewell Time Golf clinic at the Golf & Tennis Club last month. Along with receiving instruction from former PGA professional Doug Tewell, kids were given T-shirts which, when worn, give them free access to the driving range. The children-sized golf clubs were left at the pro shop for kids to use free of charge.

“We have seen a lot of those white Tewell Time shirts,” Hansen said. “What I like seeing is kids coming out without their parents. Instead of parents coming out and bringing their kids along with them, I’m seeing kids come out without mom or dad.

“You’ll see a group of four or five friends on the putting green or hitting balls on the driving range, and that’s something we want to see 100 percent.”

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