By Mary Kathryn Craft, The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, S.C. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News
Apr. 20--Golf is not just a stuffy sport for grownups, a group of fourth- graders learned Thursday.
It's a learning tool, too.
The roomful of nine- and 10-year- olds at Lakewood Elementary laughed and clapped while classmates and teachers sank 20-foot putts.
The Golf Channel visited two Lakewood Elementary and Myrtle Beach Intermediate on Thursday to introduce its golf curriculum. The colorful workbook helps teachers use golf examples to illustrate concepts in science (how ecosystems work together on a golf course), math (measuring ball distances and shot angles), history (where and how the sport began) and art (designing golf holes).
Along the way they hope to also attract youngsters to the sport.
With more than 100 golf courses along the Grand Strand, it's only natural that the Golf Channel should target this area.
Brett Dabbs, 10, said he enjoys golf and often practices his putting techniques.
The fourth-grader effortlessly hit a shot during the demonstration in the school's cafeteria Thursday.
'A lot of people think golf is boring and is for old people that wear funny-looking clothes,' said Geoff Lynch, coordinator of the Golf Channel's junior golf programs.
The Golf Channel has introduced the GOLF curriculum to about 60 schools around the country this year, and plans to reach 100, said Mark Oldham, vice president for tournaments and new business development. California, Alabama, South Carolina and Texas are among the many stops on the Golf Channel's school tour, he said.
The channel's Drive, Chip and Putt Junior Golf Skills Competition where children are able to take part in a series of golf events is its third year. A competition will be held locally Saturday at Whispering Pines Golf Course.
The golf education curriculum is a spin-off from the competition.
'One of our purposes is to expose kids to golf that have never experienced it before,' said Lynch, who demonstrated skills to Lakewood pupils Thursday. 'Some groups have a lot of golf knowledge. Some have never picked up a club. That's what we look for, a great spectrum.'
Lynch and his partner J.P. Burlington taught pupils how to identify the driver, chipper and putter.
The children also learned golf etiquette tips such as being quiet when someone is about to hit the ball.
'We teach different life skills like sportsmanship, honor and integrity,' Oldham said. 'Those are things you learn in the game that hopefully carry over in life. Like the idea of calling a penalty on yourself. It takes a pretty strong character to call penalties on yourself.'
IF YOU GO:
What -- The Golf Channel's Drive, Chip and Putt Junior Golf Skills Competition
When -- 10:30 a.m. Saturday
Where -- Whispering Pines Golf Course, 31st Avenue South and Kings Highway, Myrtle Beach
How Much -- The event is free and open to children ages 7 to 12
For more information call 918-2305Story Filed By The SUN NEWS, MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.
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(c) 2001, The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, S.C. Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
