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LOCAL GOLF NEWS by Alan Hoskins
Watson ’ s Golf is Grounded but His Watson Links Program is Soaring
Hall of Famer won ’ t play but will attend
Watson Challenge June 7-9 .
Update on Kansas City ’ s greatest golfer , eight-time major winner and multiple Hall of Famer Tom Watson .
● Health – Making excellent progress recuperating from three surgeries following a go-kart accident in 2022 .
● Golf – He ’ s back playing but , unfortunately , will not be able to play in the 17th Annual Watson Challenge June 7-9 at Mission Hills Country Club .
● Community – The Watson Links TM youth golf mentoring program founded by Watson three years ago is soaring , not only in Kansas City but in five other cities nationwide .
While he won ’ t play in the Watson Challenge , he will be on hand all three days for the tournament loaded with top area talent . At least three former champions are in the field : Robert Russell ( 2023 ), Chase Cooper ( 2022 ) and Andy Spencer ( 2018 and 2021 ). Other top pros include Michael Leitzig , Joe Winslow , and Sean Dougherty , as well as amateurs Michael Winslow , Bryan Norton , and Chance Rinkol , a Blue Valley senior who has been excelling as a junior golfer . There is no admission charge ; however , a daily $ 25 donation is encouraged .
The Watson Links program , if you ’ re not aware , is an innovative free program that pairs adult mentors with kids who might not otherwise be introduced to the game or have access to a golf course .
“ They [ adult mentors ] meet the kids , get acquainted , and go out and play nine holes ,” says Watson . “ It gives kids a chance to access a course and someone to play with who can help teach skills or help in situations in which a youngster may have no knowledge . First Tee teaches kids how to play ; Watson Links is the vehicle to get them on the course and play more golf . About 40 percent of our kids were not in the First Tee program .”
Adults who wish to be mentors register and go through training with Safe Sports . Once approved , the mentors are paired with kids who have also signed up , meeting with them 20 minutes before a tee time at an assigned course .
Nine Kansas City public courses are participating in the Watson Links program –– Heart of America , Fred Arbanas , Ironhorse , Shamrock Hills , Hodge Park , and Minor Park in Missouri and Sunflower Hills , Dub ’ s Dread , and Overland Park ’ s Sykes-Lady in Kansas .
“ I want to give the Watson Links program a big shout-out ,” said the father of one of last year ’ s participants . “ My son did Watson Links last summer , and it has paid off so much . It gave him the confidence to try out for his high school team his freshman year , and he made the team . I give credit to Watson Links for giving him the confidence and availability to play as much as possible . It is an awesome program .”
“ In Kansas City , we anticipate approximately 100 juniors and 35 mentors to participate in the program playing 385 rounds of golf ,” says Pauly Hart , the executive director for Watson Links with an office in Leawood .
Tom
Watson enjoying time with a few of the junior golfers in the Watson Links program that is designed to get more kids with mentors on the golf course . ( Photo by Hilary Fuller Images LLC .)
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8 June 2024 TEE TIMES GOLF GUIDE