Page 42 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2021

SPORTS & OUTDOORS
story by Tommy Snell
photo courtesy of Hoppy Smith Golf
42 | April 2021
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
Not all junior golf programs are created equal, but most mold 3-foot bag-toters into teenagers who appreciate the game and everything golf teaches them. Nothing warms the heart more than a 11-year-old dragging golf clubs to the practice tee or green, especially when that young girl/ boy tows a parent along.
From Diamondhead to Shell Landing, junior golf is ourishing. Over 60 kids from Bayou Vista, Whispering Pines, Sunkist and Diamondhead compete in the PGA’s Gulf Coast Junior Golf League. The Oaks, Windance and Shell Landing compete in another league. The Coast golf professionals have bought into the PGA’s shag bag of junior golf programs.
The Golf Academy of Diamondhead knows golf’s signi cance. Top 50 U. S. Kids instructor Hoppy Smith has taught the game for 25 years, and he loves helping juniors reach their potential. He’s willing to kneel to “get onto their level.”
Director of Golf Chris Altese knows rst-hand the importance of introducing the game to young boys and girls. His daughter Katelynn has just signed a healthy scholarship at Troy University, and sister Karstyn is headed to Augusta National for the Drive, Chip and Putt this month. Chris and Amy will be in the stands; Grandpa Greg will tote the bag.
Tour Tempo Level 1 and 2 Certi ed Instructor Jim Simmons takes a lot of pride in teaching young people
how to coach themselves. The former computer guru has now added the OLA Girls Golf Team to his list of pupils, and he’s having a ball teaching them the game from the Bermuda grass up. His emphasis: “teaching kids to focus on the shot at hand and to forget the last shot.”
According to Adam Schupak of the National Golf Foundation, 2.9 million juniors play golf in the U.S. He added, “Four out of ve junior golfers had their rst golf experience with a parent, and almost as many – roughly 75 percent – say they typically play with mom or dad. Both numbers stand in stark contrast to other sports.”
Mother Teresa once said, “The family that prays together, stays together.” Those parents who play golf will probably agree and add that playing together is almost as important.