WESTFIELD – Local golf pros are making a pitch to the area’s next generation of golfers. For many city youths, it may just result in a hole-in-one.
Area golf clubs, along with the Greater Westfield YMCA and Boys & Girls Club, are in the final steps of registration for the 2013 PGA Junior Golf League designed for youths 13-and-under.
“If you have children between the ages of 8 to 13 that you want to get involved in the game, this is a great way to get them started,” Tekoa Country Club golf pro E.J. Altobello said.
Being referred to as the “Little League of golf,” the PGA Junior Golf League has been designed to better socialize the sport of golf for boys and girls 13-years-of-age and under. The program features a team-versus-team competition in structured leagues that provide a popular, less stressful scramble format as opposed to stroke-play competition.
“A lot of kids want to play golf and just have fun – there are a lot of adults who don’t want to play competitively – and who may be a little shy of the competition,” said East Mountain Country Club golf pro Ted Perez. “The scramble format takes a little bit of the edge off, and it hopefully breaks down that barrier.”
Perez has also been involved in trying to educate city youths on the sport in the classrooms of Westfield public schools.
“Once kids get that confidence,” he added, “hopefully they will become golfers.”
The league, which lasts approximately six weeks and begins in early May, costs about $100 per child, depending on the host team, and includes practices and matches.
“It should be a blast,” Altobello said.
Perez agreed.
“It’s an intro to golf for the most part to get kids involved in a fun manner just like Little League baseball,” the East Mountain Country golf pro said.
According to the PGA Junior League Golf League, there were more than 120 “teams” across the country and more than 1,800 junior golfers.
Local businesses or individuals are also welcome to provide sponsorship for the city’s youths. For more information, contact Ted Perez at East Mountain Country Club (575-0793), or E.J. Altobello at the Tekoa Country Club Pro Shop (568-1636).
Shaker Farms Country Club is also accepting first-time junior members. To join, call 568-4087.
More information on the PGA Junior League Golf program is available on the web at www.pgajrleaguegolf.com.
