Remember those days of throwing a football or baseball around in the yard, or shooting hoops in the driveway? That’s how many young athletes were introduced to those sports, because it’s fun and easy to do at home.
Golf, on the other hand, is not so easy to teach at home. Fortunately for Plant City-area parents and their children, that’s where the Recreation and Parks Department comes in with its Start Smart Golf program.
It’s now that time of year, right between spring and summer, when Planteen Recreation Center Supervisor Jason Hargrove breaks out the SNAG equipment and sets up about a dozen learning areas by the department’s administration building. His goal is to help the kids ages 5 to 7 learn the basic fundamentals of golf in a fun, friendly atmosphere.
“Teaching techniques to younger kids in that age level where they want to get involved in sports,” Hargrove says. “Then, they know what they’re getting into, and they further their education on that sport.”
Although the children are all there to learn the game for the first time, the parents in attendance also will soak up some knowledge.
“What’s unique is, we not only teach children basic fundamentals, but we get the parents involved,” Hargrove says. “We demonstrate techniques, and the parents learn, and then they teach their kids. It’s an activity that they do together.”
Through step-by-step demonstrations, Hargrove teaches putting, driving and pitching, and also gives tips for improving one’s swing — hitting the ball for both distance and accuracy. All of the game’s basic fundamentals are covered in these hour-long classes, and the parents get to work with their children when it’s time to put what they’ve learned to test.
Many people may only have one question for Hargrove: how does one teach golf without taking everybody to Walden Lake? The answer is simple: These kids don’t need a big golf course to use their equipment.
Start Smart Golf uses equipment from SNAG Golf — short for “Starting New at Golf.” While one can use SNAG equipment on a real course, for the experience, it’s not necessary.
“We hold it at the admin building, where the stadium’s outfield used to be,” Hargrove says. “We basically spread out our stations and go from one station to the next. Putting, to pitching, to driving and, toward the end of the program, we simulate three holes.”
The SNAG equipment is designed for kids to be able to use anywhere. Perhaps its most useful asset is that the clubs make some kind of noise when swung properly: a snap or a whistle lets the golfer, the parent and Hargrove know that things are going well.
“It helps parents and kids pick up on things,” Hargrove says. “If the kids aren’t grasping it, we’ll step in and help them out.”
The first five classes lead up to that three-hole simulation, which Hargrove says is the highlight of the program. That’s where he designs a mock golf course with the space that he has, and asks the kids to go out there and give it a shot — without any competition or fear of failure.
“Seeing them go out there and drive, pitch and putt is fun,” he says. “It’s fun when one kid gets really close to a hole-in-one, they get excited, they tap it in and go high-five their parents.”
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
REGISTRATION
Although the Recreation & Parks Department originally made April 25 the deadline to register, it’s not too late —according to Jason Hargrove, parents have until May 2.
Each parent-child duo will cost $35 and can be registered with Hargrove at the Planteen Recreation Center, 301 Dort St. Classes will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursdays through June 5.
For more information, call Hargrove at (813) 659-4256, or email him at jhargrove@plantcitygov.com.