Meehan: Junior League gives kids positive experience with golf

Derek Siesser was a proponent of the PGA Junior League program long before he saw one of those indelible images only a kid can produce on a golf course.

The Siesser-captained Qualchan team was playing against Avondale. Qualchan’s two-player scramble team was comfortably ahead in the match – not that the score is the end-all in Junior League – as the foursome approached a green at Avondale.

Qualchan’s team awaited a makable birdie putt. Their counterparts, several years younger and less experienced, faced a chip shot.

“This little guy chips in for birdie and he’s fist-pumping and running around the green,” Siesser said. “The parents around the green are going crazy, my kids are going crazy. You could see that was the moment that kid was hooked and going to love golf for a long time.”

It’s nice to know there’s twice as much chance of something similar happening this year. The Junior League debuted regionally last year with eight teams. Siesser expects that to double this year and a few courses have added second teams. Registration is still open at certain courses (visit PGAJLG.com for information).

Participation numbers have been shrinking nationally for years, to the tune of 30.6 million golfers in 2003 dropping to 24.7 million in 2014, according to the National Golf Foundation. It’s refreshing that Inland Northwest junior golf is going in the opposite direction.

The Junior League is helping nurture that growth and its kid-friendly format appears to be reaching quality players and beginners. Players at both ends of the experience scale are often paired together on scramble teams to ease newcomers into the game.

“We sent out some feelers three years ago and didn’t get enough interest,” said Chris Curran, MeadowWood assistant pro and junior league captain. “It was so popular last year and Derek’s team did so well and got some attention in the press that enough people came to us and said we have to do it.

“The concept of the team format isn’t just directed for experienced juniors that want to play in individual tournaments. This is for kids that want to participate, be part of a team and have fun playing golf. It’s not as serious of an event.”

Teams generally play four nine-hole matches. The national rules are for kids 13 and younger.

“We’re 7 to 14 to include some of the kids we had last year,” said Siesser, who helped launch the program along with Michelle Grafos, Gordon Corder and Steve Prugh. “But if a kid wants to come out and play and learn, we’re going to find a spot for them.”

Golf faces stout competition for youngsters’ attention from other sports, summer activities, camping, video games, you name it. As Twin Lakes pro Darin Vaughan mentioned, getting a soccer ball airborne is easier than a golf ball for a 5-year-old.

“I had a chance to go a Junior League event at Liberty Lake and I took my (6-year-old) son out and we watched them play a hole,” said Vaughan, who is optimistic Twin Lakes will field a team. “My son was like, ‘Hey, I can do this.’ Next thing I know he was like, ‘Hey dad, let’s go to the range.’

“It’s the perfect format for getting kids out there and being on the course. That’s one of the challenges. Kids want to play golf, they don’t just want to hit balls on the range or putt on the putting green. This gets them out on the course.”

Another boost to youth golf: The city and county have brought back junior passes at a reasonable rate ($199 county, $250 city) for unlimited play.

“I actually bought my daughter one,” Curran said.

At the end of the Junior League last season an all-star team was selected with at least one member from each team. The Inland Empire team reached the Western regionals before losing to the eventual national champions.

Curran isn’t sure of exact figures, but his eyes tell him more kids are playing golf.

“I’ve just noticed on the driving range it’s probably triple the amount of kids practicing and going out and playing nine in the afternoon,” he said. “It’s awesome to sit here and see that many kids.”