Youth Golf Programs Thriving Locally
Tiger's Popularity Leading Junior Golf Out Of The Woods
By Stephen Flinn

Many professional athletes began playing their sport of choice as a child. Golf is no different. If junior golfers learn the mechanics and build a solid swing early on as a foundation, they have a better chance of excelling at a later age.

Many golf courses and driving ranges in the Pittsburgh area offer special programs for children and teens. For example, the Island Sports Center on Neville Island offers a junior golf academy beginning next month for boys and girls ages 9-16.

"We try to teach the students the basic fundamentals of the game," said Jim Cichra, golf director. "It's not as intimidating for youngsters and teens to practice in an indoor facility as it may be on a full scale golf course, and we even offer sand traps and putting greens as well."

Cichra, who has been playing golf for more than 30 years and is Class A PGA certified, believes golf offers young players more than the ability to play a sport when they get older.

"I can honestly say that I have never known a junior golfer that grew up to be a really bad person," Cichra said. "Some juniors also develop out of the caddy ranks, which offer them an even greater appreciation and knowledge base for the game."

Golf almost always has been popular, but more youngsters seem to be attracted to the game nowadays. Ugenia Galviz, the 18-year old receptionist at Island Sports Center, sees kids her age and younger visit the Sports Center often.

"I think people my age are looking for something different to do and are sick of the same old thing," Galviz said. "I see a lot of kids come in, both with groups and with other family members."

The phenomenal popularity of Tiger Woods also has been a boon for golf, sparking interest in the game in general and with juniors in particular. Scally's Golf Center is one of the largest and oldest golf training and practice facilities in the tri-state area. Carl Silvestri of Scally's has noticed golf interest increasing among junior players during the past several years.

"I actually think the game has been increasing in popularity amongst youngsters for the past 5 to 10 years, but Tiger Woods has definitely impacted the sport," Silvestri said. "We've been in business since 1952 and one of our founders, Phil Scully Sr. always promoted junior golf because he thought it was important for the game and for the community."

Scally's offers Nike golf camps during the summer as well as various clinics for boys and girls of all ages. They also sponsor a junior league every year in which participation may number almost 100 youths.

One local golf pro has been involved with junior golf for almost 20 years. Matt Kluck of the Mt. Lebanon Municipal Golf Course feels golf has been popular with teens in the area for at least that long. He offers golf tutelage to inner-city and at-risk youths as part of his aim to increase the sport's reach.

"I conducted a free junior clinic in 1984 and was swamped with over 100 kids," Kluck said. "Golf at one time might not have been considered as much of a sport as baseball, basketball, or football, but I don't think any kid would be considered a sissy today for playing golf."

Kluck feels the ideal action plan for adults teaching youngsters the game is to begin by simply exposing them to the game. If the kids take an interest in the game, adults can expand the lessons. When the day comes when the youngster is still asking advice but the mentor no longer has the answers, help from a teaching pro should be sought.

One of the Pittsburgh area's top youth golfers is 18-year-old Bobby MacWhinnie of Upper Saint Clair. He is one of Kluck's students and is a scratch golfer who won the Western Pennsylvania Golf Association Junior Championships in 1999 and 2000 and is the state's reigning junior champion.

MacWhinnie found an interest in golf through his father at age 7 and still golfs with his family.

"I think the game of golf has taught me patience, focus, and motivation, plus I was always competitive and golf is a very competitive game," MacWhinnie said. "I played other sports as a kid too, but took golf more seriously during my freshman and sophomore years in high school."

He will play at Maryland next fall and is focusing on one year at a time. He is careful not to look too far ahead in the future when considering if he may be able to play golf professionally later in life.

"Right now I am just focusing on playing some tournaments this summer and getting ready to attend Maryland in the fall," MacWhinnie said. "I felt playing golf at an ACC school was the best opportunity for me to take my game to the next level and I thought Maryland was a good fit for me."

Kluck's client base numbers more than 600, an indication that golf is more popular in western Pennsylvania than ever before. He would like to see more females take an interest to golf and hopes an LPGA member will become as popular as Woods to help promote the sport to young females.

Several local and national foundations promote and sponsor junior golf programs. In Pittsburgh, including the Pittsburgh Youth Golf Foundation, which raises funds from local businesses and sponsors. Woods promotes a similar national foundation.

"I love watching youngsters hit a golf ball and seeing the excitement in their eyes," Kluck said. "I think the area of junior golf is thriving and I only see it becoming more popular in the future."

Stephen Flinn is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh.