Columnist Victoria Sun: Thanks, Tiger! Junior golf booming in popularity here

Victoria Sun

Wednesday, May 9, 2001 | 10:37 a.m.

Victoria Sun's golf column appears Wednesday. Reach her at 259-4078 or by e-mail at victoria@lasvegassun.com.

Over the last five years, Jane Schlosser estimates the number of juniors who belong to the Southern Nevada Junior Golf Association has grown from 350 to over 600.

Schlosser, executive director of the SNJGA, expects those numbers to increase in the near future, reflecting the increased popularity of the sport.

"More kids are getting involved in golf," Schlosser said. "We're getting better, more competitive golfers at a younger age.

"It's probably because of Tiger Woods. I'm sure that he has had a lot of influence in kids getting into golf. He's a great draw at tournaments. People want to watch him and kids look up to him."

Since Woods' rookie season on the PGA Tour, he has helped take golf from the country clubs to the inner city, making it cool to play golf, the same way Venus and Serena Williams have helped changed the perception of tennis in the eyes of many urban youths.

"We've got a stronger inner city program now," Schlosser said. "And a lot more kids are getting involved in golf that wouldn't have before.

"At the high school level, Rancho High has been able to field a full boys and girls team because of the Southern Nevada Inner City Youth Golf Association.

"They had a team, but they've always had to forfeit matches, and I'd say within the last two years they've been able to field a full team."

It's taken some time, but Southern Nevada, renowned for its first-class golf courses, is starting to produce its share of talented junior golfers.

Three-time All-American Stanford golfer Stephanie Keever, BYU's Billy Harvey and Arizona's Christina Monteiro are just three SNJGA members who have gone onto to play college golf.

PGA Tour professionals Craig Barlow, Eddie Fryatt and Robert Gamez also got their start through the SNJGA.

More stars are on their way.

"They're starting earlier and earlier," Schlosser said. "I'm getting phone calls from parents of kids five and six that want to get in.

"In my six to eight year old division, those kids are getting more competitive. Those kids strive to get better, go out and practice more."

These kids include Christian Garcia, Sean Kim and Brad Thompson, who Schlosser said should be very good high school golfers in the future.

Because of the growing interest in the sport, the SNJGA is working hard with the Las Vegas Founders Club to bring a First Tee program to Southern Nevada.

The goal of the nationwide program is to give all kids a chance to learn how to play golf, and give them access to course time, practice time, and lesson time at a reasonable cost.

"Hopefully, we will be able to allow 4,000 kids to learn the lifelong skills golf teaches," Schlosser said. "Honesty, integrity and self discipline. ... learning how to become an individual."

Senior PGA Tour professional Jim Colbert, who has a home in Las Vegas, started the chapter of the First Tee program in his hometown of Kansas City two years ago and brought the idea to the Founders Club.

"Through the program we want to introduce golf to kids in the middle schools," Schlosser said. "Part of the project is starting at a facility with three holes, a par-3, a par-4 and par-5 so that kids can learn course management.

"Our goal in Las Vegas is eventually to have our own golf course for kids."

One day soon, they may need it.

Knight selected senior Scott Lander, freshman James Oh and Calvin Kupeyan to represent the Rebels. Joining them will be freshman Travis Whisman and junior college transfer Clark Corbett, who emerged from a three-way qualifying for the final two spots.