Summer 2016 | Sea Island Life Magazine Spring/Summer 2016 | Page 43

FAMILY
PLAY TIME

In PGA Junior League Golf, those age 13 and under learn the game while playing on teams with peers.

percent retention rate,” Whaley says. “You
get five lessons and on-course opportunities
with PGA or LPGA professionals.”

TOP PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PGA OF AMERICA

TOP LEFT PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PGA OF AMERICA; BOTTOM PHOTO BY LAUREN DEMARY/COURTESY OF THE PGA OF AMERICA

The Right Clubs
As families begin to play more and more as
a group, it’s important not to let kids get distracted with too many tools. “A child learning the game doesn’t need 14 clubs. It causes
too much confusion,” Whaley advises. “Take
a putter, pitching wedge, 7-iron and something to get off the tee.”
At first, beginners of all ages can use
rental clubs. When they’re ready to buy
their own, Whaley recommends going to a
club fitter. “I hear people say ‘I’m not good
enough to be fit,’ ” she says. “It should be the
opposite: Get fitted for clubs because it will
help you perform better. There are so many
options now for women, men and juniors.
Youngsters need junior clubs that get the
ball up in the air, not cut-down adult clubs
that are too stiff.”
Whaley also cautions parents against
coaching all the time, which can be exhausting and create apprehension for the child.
“It’s OK to tell children they can hit their
7-irons all the way to the green,” she says.
“With fewer club choices, kids figure out
pretty quickly how to work the clubface and
how to make the ball go low and high. As
they get better, they’ll want more choices,
but when they’re learning I’d rather they
have more fun and less angst.
“Sometimes we make golf far harder than
it needs to be,” Whaley continues. “Players

should set goals, such as trying to make a
6 on a par 3. When they can do that, let’s
move back and try to make a 5. For some
reason we’ve placed a high standard on the
game, so we feel terrible if we don’t shoot
par. … I wish we had double par on score
cards so people could feel great about shooting under it.”
No matter the score or skill levels, the
world of golf has grown to accommodate
players of all kinds. “It’s all about finding
a place ... where the atmosphere is warm
and welcoming and you can find a game and
get lessons,” Whaley says. “The First Tee
and some nonprofits offer golf programs in
school physical education classes. In many
areas of the country, kids play free with
parents. There are a multitude of options
for everyone, and golf has never been more
accessible or welcoming.”
If junior or family tees don’t exist on a
course, Whaley encourages families to play
from distances that allow all participants
to have fun without bogging down the pace
of play. “At first, I have families tee off
at the 200-yard marker,” Whaley says.
“When everyone can break double par on
every hole, I have them move back to the
250-yard marker.”
“I tell experienced adults playing with
beginners that they should enjoy it, but
it can’t be about scoring their best
round,” Felton adds. “It’s about new golfers learning etiquette, how to keep score
and what’s appropriate—all in a fun way,
without intimidation.” m

Sea Island welcomes players of
all ages to its golf courses. “We’ve
placed family tees on the Retreat and
Plantation courses with their own
scorecards,” says John Wade, head
golf pro at Sea Island, explaining that
families can also choose to play nine
holes instead of all 18. Golfers under
the age of 19 also don’t pay green fees
at Sea Island.
“A couples’ event is held one Sunday
a month to encourage spouses to play
together,” adds Chrissy Felton, an
instructor and group golf professional at
the Sea Island Golf Performance Center.
“We also have a Sea Island Junior Tour
and PGA Junior League teams.”
Assistant instructor Lindy LaBauve
is a third-generation golfer who grew
up playing with her family on
Sea Island. Her grandfather, Jack
Lumpkin, and father, Mike LaBauve,
are two of Golf Digest’s top 50 instructors and her mother, Sandy LaBauve,
is a top 100 instructor.
“Sea Island is the ultimate place
to learn golf and play with family,”
says the youngest LaBauve. “We
offer clinics for juniors and adults
throughout the week, and a family
clinic on Sundays. ... Our family tees
make challenging cour