JUNIOR GOLF- Making a name for itself in New
Jersey
By Tom Flynn
The biggest thing in golf today may not be what’s the
hottest driver or putter, but it’s about having youngsters
involved in junior golf.
A casual walk around the floor of the recent PGA
Merchandise Show in Orlando was enough evidence that
junior golf is the latest hot topic, with the focus of many
companies being on the junior golfer from age 5-17.
“The idea is to teach the kids to play and to have proper
etiquette,” said Greg Chapleski, President of eDimples.
com, a company that teaches golf etiquette to youngsters
through various games and cartoons. “The idea is to
build the game and the future of the game is the kids. In
the scenario where the husband plays golf, but his wife
and kids has other interests, he is more likely to quit or
scale back his interest in golf.”
Chapleski estimates that one million kids are playing or
learning the game today, but those estimates vary
widely. Julie Wang of Hippo Golf, which makes junior
golf equipment, thinks approximately 800,000 kids play,
while William Ehman of US Kids Golf, thought as many
as 3 million may be playing.
Chris Hunt, who runs the Junior Golf programs for the
New Jersey PGA office, is working on raising funds to
bring golf into schools through the NJ Golf Foundation.
His ambition is to get club professionals into the school
gymnasiums and to provide in-school training for
teachers. His goal is to integrate golf into the physical
education curriculum of each school.
Jersey
By Tom Flynn
The biggest thing in golf today may not be what’s the
hottest driver or putter, but it’s about having youngsters
involved in junior golf.
A casual walk around the floor of the recent PGA
Merchandise Show in Orlando was enough evidence that
junior golf is the latest hot topic, with the focus of many
companies being on the junior golfer from age 5-17.
“The idea is to teach the kids to play and to have proper
etiquette,” said Greg Chapleski, President of eDimples.
com, a company that teaches golf etiquette to youngsters
through various games and cartoons. “The idea is to
build the game and the future of the game is the kids. In
the scenario where the husband plays golf, but his wife
and kids has other interests, he is more likely to quit or
scale back his interest in golf.”
Chapleski estimates that one million kids are playing or
learning the game today, but those estimates vary
widely. Julie Wang of Hippo Golf, which makes junior
golf equipment, thinks approximately 800,000 kids play,
while William Ehman of US Kids Golf, thought as many
as 3 million may be playing.
Chris Hunt, who runs the Junior Golf programs for the
New Jersey PGA office, is working on raising funds to
bring golf into schools through the NJ Golf Foundation.
His ambition is to get club professionals into the school
gymnasiums and to provide in-school training for
teachers. His goal is to integrate golf into the physical
education curriculum of each school.
Hunt says there are nearly 650 kids in the NJ/PGA and US Kids golf programs in New Jersey, but there is room to
accommodate more. There are many juniors who participate in golf programs at the individual golf facilities throughout the
state, yet do not participate in the NJPGA tournaments. He fears that some parents do not know about the tournaments
offered by the PGA sections, and doesn’t quite understand why parents take their kids to tournaments hundreds of miles away
when there are plenty of great events right up here.
“It puzzles me why parents are taking their kids to these tournaments when we have several great events up here, either
through the local PGA sections, the Metropolitan Golf Association and other organizations right here in our own backyard.
Many of them are two day events that juniors can accumulate national points, and winning a major event up here – would look
pretty good on a junior golfer’s resume.”
He believes that interest has picked up since sporting goods manufacturers have developed scaled down equipment for the
junior golfer. “Up until recently, golf wasn’t geared to kid’s needs. Dad would cut-down his old 3-wood, which was too long or
too heavy or wasn’t weighted properly. The result was that kids weren’t good at it, so they lost interest.”
“We don’t have golf clubs simply for a 6-year-old or a 10-year-old. Today we have clubs for short kids or tall kids,” explained
William Ehman of US Kids Golf, the leading manufacturer of golf clubs for juniors and a sponsor of many local US Kids Golf
tournaments. “Everything is scaled for the kids so as they grow, they move up to a little bit bigger clubs. US Kids is also very
conscious about keeping the cost within a manageable range for parents. Frequently, the clubs can be handed down to a younger
sibling or even traded to another interested family." “On average, most juniors can stay with their set of clubs for about two
years before it’s necessary to buy a longer a set,” he added.
A starting set of junior clubs (probably 4-6 clubs), including bag, generally falls in the $125 range. Some parents will choose to
start with only a few clubs to see if their child enjoys the game. Once they take an interest to the game, the prices can run
anywhere from there up, adds Julie Wang, a sales representative for Hippo Golf. Plus don’t forget that kids still need proper
golf shoes, gloves and various “cool” golf caps, not to mention the latest in wrap-around sunglasses.
US Kids Golf has even designated certain golf courses for junior golfers – these courses have installed a special set of tee
markers, generally no longer than between 150-175 yards, on their golf course. They suggest par three holes be set up at 75
yards, that par 4s should run between 120 and 135 yards, and par 5’s being set no longer than 175. Many golf courses in New
Jersey carry a selection of US Kids clubs and can fit your child for the best club (even young children).
One ardent supporter of junior golf, and someone who organizes many tournaments for them throughout the last 10 seasons, is
PGA Golf Professional, John Petronis, founder and president of the Junior Golfers’ Association of America. As the Cape Jr.
Golf Tour & JGA Tour grew, he left managing golf courses to grow junior golf and open the JGA Golf Academy & Fitting
Center at Harbor Pines Golf Club, near Atlantic City.
First, he only organized one-day tournaments and parent-child tournaments/leagues, until the youngsters and their coaches,
wanted more. “The program just grew and grew!” he says, and he added two-day tournaments. He found that college coaches
are only interested tournaments that are 36-holes or more from longer distances. With his program drawing kids more than five
neighboring states, now it’s to a point that it is so demanding on his time that he laughs and says, “Would you believe that I
only played golf four times last year.”
Petronis has scheduled several two-day events this season, at some pretty impressive venues, including a two-day event at
Hidden Creek Golf Club and Galloway National in mid-July. “Player of the Year” winners from the JGA Tour this season will
again receive one tournament exemption into an AJGA event. The AJGA organizes the highest-level of junior golf tournaments
in the world.
Professionals all over our area are doing their share to promote the game. Bill Castner, Head Golf Professional at the Plainfield
West 9, in Edison and Director of the First Tee at Plainfield, runs an 11-month program each year that involves 200 kids, ages 5
to 16.
Castner is fortunate to have an indoor facility, which allows him to run the program virtually year-round. His staff, along with
some volunteers in the program, concentrates on building long-term relationships with his students at a young age. He installs
the building blocks which any athlete needs in any sport, and concentrates on sportsmanship confidence, good judgment,
responsibility, and honesty among the young players.
Each group, whether it’s a weekly program or summer camp starts with an exercise portion. “We teach them both long-term
golf and life skills, which will create strong athletes, with fewer injuries, and good kids as well,” he says.
He, along with many other golf professionals involved with junior golf today, never forget their primary objective -- to teach
the kids to play and enjoy golf for a lifetime. Castner, for example, schedules tournaments for his group which he breaks into
two groups. They play about three tournaments a year for kids under 13 years of age, and for those over 13.
Castner also directs The First Tee program at Plainfield, for “at-risk kids from the inner cities.” The First Tee, which has many
chapters throughout the United States, has a strong presence in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. In New Jersey
alone, there are chapters in Atlantic City, Trenton, and Essex, Middlesex, Monmouth-Ocean, Somerset counties. The First Tee
of Metropolitan New York, based out of Mosholu Golf Course in the Bronx, has affiliate chapters stretching from Connecticut
to Long Island.
Castner candidly remembers the golf professional, Tom Strafaci, at Dyker Beach Golf Course who drew his interest to the
game. Growing up in Brooklyn, he told him, “There is no such thing as a bad kid in golf.” He adds, “Who knows what might
have happened to me if I hadn’t met him. Now I am able to give back to other kids that same enthusiasm that he passed along
to me.”
Both Petronis and Castner have been honored by the PGA with their section’s Junior Leadership Award for work with young
golfers. Wayne Worms, who teaches in central New Jersey, is a former winner of the national PGA Junior Golf Leadership
Award.
George Frake, Director of Golf at Little Mill Country Club, like many professionals at private clubs, runs a four-week summer
program, aimed at 6 to 10 year-olds. Frake believes, “After that, some kids drift away and the ones who stay with golf either
want private lessons or find some other teen-agers to play with.”
But if teaching and outfitting these youngsters are building the game is the “meat and potatoes of the industry,” then the
dessert comes from the results of our Junior Golf programs. And our area has a couple of very good recent spokespeople.
Morgan Hoffman, the 20-year-old from Saddle Brook, NJ, who helped the United States retain the Walker Cup last year, is
unabashed in his support for junior Golf. “Absolutely, I support it,” he says. “For some, it’s a great help getting into a good
college or to get a chance at playing professionally.”
Hoffman, who played much of his junior golf in tournaments in New Jersey, is now a sophomore at highly ranked Oklahoma
State University. He started playing in the junior tournaments when he was eight years old and was already playing American
Junior Golf Association (AJGA) tournaments when he was 14.
After playing the later part of his high school golf in Hilton Head and Orlando, he caught the eye of the golf coaching staff at
Oklahoma State. Now he’s in his second year there, after a sensational freshman year that was climaxed by playing on the
Walker Cup, where he won two points toward the American victory. He’s looking forward to playing collegiate golf for at least
one more year but he’s coy about his plans after that. “You never know what’s going to happen,” he laughs.
Hoffman is not alone among young golfers from our area who have gone on to successful collegiate and/or professional careers.
Chris Nallen grew up in Hackettstown, NJ, played in many NJ events and now plays on the Nationwide Tour.
Andrew Giuliani, son of the former New York City mayor, played most of his junior golf at Van Cortlandt Golf Course in the
Bronx, and played most of his junior golf at local MGA and PGA junior events in the Metropolitan Section. Since graduating
from Duke University, Giuliani has appeared on the Golf Channel’s Big Break and now works as an assistant golf professional
at one of the Trump Golf properties.
Nannette Hill, who was a leading junior golfer from Westchester, NY, just completed her senior year at Wake Forest University
and had stellar years playing college golf. Look for her to break into the LPGA professional ranks within the next year.
Joanna Coe, of Mays Landing, was the 2008 NCAA Division II Champion and is currently finishing her junior year playing
golf at third-ranked Rollins University in Florida. She spends her summers working in the pro shop at Blue Heron Pines in
Galloway Township, and also does volunteer instruction with the Blue Heron Pines Golf Academy. At press time, she was off
to a great start in the 2010 season, with three runner-up finishes in tournament play, and was been named SSC Golfer of the
Week this season for the fourth time in her career. She plans to attempt to qualify for the 2010 U.S. Women's Amateur and has
already qualified for the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship on the basis of her reaching the semi-finals of that
championship last year.
“Unfortunately the process to playing college golf is quite extensive, and expensive too,” adds Petronis, who recently went
through the process with his own daughter, Heather. After considering several options, at both Division I and II schools, the
Petronis’ decided that the best fit for her would be St. Leo’s University, outside of Tampa.
“There are so many things to consider and it really takes a lot of knowledge to match the junior golfer with the right college. At
a college like St. Leo’s, we expect that Heather will have the opportunity to get a good amount of playing time on the team,
plus receive a good education there.”
Petronis, along with Castner, both understand the desire by both junior golfers and their parents, many of whom are seeking
scholarship money, to play golf on a collegiate level. But both feel parents are underinformed. Petronis recently held a meeting
discussing the college recruitment process, and Castner will do the same at his course in mid-May right after the conclusion of
the high school golf season.
There are many golf professionals, industry people and volunteers at our local facilities who are involved because of their love
of the game and their desire to give back to kids what someone gave them once upon a time. We know there are many more
raising stars coming out of our local ranks – we’ll bring you more about them in the future!
accommodate more. There are many juniors who participate in golf programs at the individual golf facilities throughout the
state, yet do not participate in the NJPGA tournaments. He fears that some parents do not know about the tournaments
offered by the PGA sections, and doesn’t quite understand why parents take their kids to tournaments hundreds of miles away
when there are plenty of great events right up here.
“It puzzles me why parents are taking their kids to these tournaments when we have several great events up here, either
through the local PGA sections, the Metropolitan Golf Association and other organizations right here in our own backyard.
Many of them are two day events that juniors can accumulate national points, and winning a major event up here – would look
pretty good on a junior golfer’s resume.”
He believes that interest has picked up since sporting goods manufacturers have developed scaled down equipment for the
junior golfer. “Up until recently, golf wasn’t geared to kid’s needs. Dad would cut-down his old 3-wood, which was too long or
too heavy or wasn’t weighted properly. The result was that kids weren’t good at it, so they lost interest.”
“We don’t have golf clubs simply for a 6-year-old or a 10-year-old. Today we have clubs for short kids or tall kids,” explained
William Ehman of US Kids Golf, the leading manufacturer of golf clubs for juniors and a sponsor of many local US Kids Golf
tournaments. “Everything is scaled for the kids so as they grow, they move up to a little bit bigger clubs. US Kids is also very
conscious about keeping the cost within a manageable range for parents. Frequently, the clubs can be handed down to a younger
sibling or even traded to another interested family." “On average, most juniors can stay with their set of clubs for about two
years before it’s necessary to buy a longer a set,” he added.
A starting set of junior clubs (probably 4-6 clubs), including bag, generally falls in the $125 range. Some parents will choose to
start with only a few clubs to see if their child enjoys the game. Once they take an interest to the game, the prices can run
anywhere from there up, adds Julie Wang, a sales representative for Hippo Golf. Plus don’t forget that kids still need proper
golf shoes, gloves and various “cool” golf caps, not to mention the latest in wrap-around sunglasses.
US Kids Golf has even designated certain golf courses for junior golfers – these courses have installed a special set of tee
markers, generally no longer than between 150-175 yards, on their golf course. They suggest par three holes be set up at 75
yards, that par 4s should run between 120 and 135 yards, and par 5’s being set no longer than 175. Many golf courses in New
Jersey carry a selection of US Kids clubs and can fit your child for the best club (even young children).
One ardent supporter of junior golf, and someone who organizes many tournaments for them throughout the last 10 seasons, is
PGA Golf Professional, John Petronis, founder and president of the Junior Golfers’ Association of America. As the Cape Jr.
Golf Tour & JGA Tour grew, he left managing golf courses to grow junior golf and open the JGA Golf Academy & Fitting
Center at Harbor Pines Golf Club, near Atlantic City.
First, he only organized one-day tournaments and parent-child tournaments/leagues, until the youngsters and their coaches,
wanted more. “The program just grew and grew!” he says, and he added two-day tournaments. He found that college coaches
are only interested tournaments that are 36-holes or more from longer distances. With his program drawing kids more than five
neighboring states, now it’s to a point that it is so demanding on his time that he laughs and says, “Would you believe that I
only played golf four times last year.”
Petronis has scheduled several two-day events this season, at some pretty impressive venues, including a two-day event at
Hidden Creek Golf Club and Galloway National in mid-July. “Player of the Year” winners from the JGA Tour this season will
again receive one tournament exemption into an AJGA event. The AJGA organizes the highest-level of junior golf tournaments
in the world.
Professionals all over our area are doing their share to promote the game. Bill Castner, Head Golf Professional at the Plainfield
West 9, in Edison and Director of the First Tee at Plainfield, runs an 11-month program each year that involves 200 kids, ages 5
to 16.
Castner is fortunate to have an indoor facility, which allows him to run the program virtually year-round. His staff, along with
some volunteers in the program, concentrates on building long-term relationships with his students at a young age. He installs
the building blocks which any athlete needs in any sport, and concentrates on sportsmanship confidence, good judgment,
responsibility, and honesty among the young players.
Each group, whether it’s a weekly program or summer camp starts with an exercise portion. “We teach them both long-term
golf and life skills, which will create strong athletes, with fewer injuries, and good kids as well,” he says.
He, along with many other golf professionals involved with junior golf today, never forget their primary objective -- to teach
the kids to play and enjoy golf for a lifetime. Castner, for example, schedules tournaments for his group which he breaks into
two groups. They play about three tournaments a year for kids under 13 years of age, and for those over 13.
Castner also directs The First Tee program at Plainfield, for “at-risk kids from the inner cities.” The First Tee, which has many
chapters throughout the United States, has a strong presence in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. In New Jersey
alone, there are chapters in Atlantic City, Trenton, and Essex, Middlesex, Monmouth-Ocean, Somerset counties. The First Tee
of Metropolitan New York, based out of Mosholu Golf Course in the Bronx, has affiliate chapters stretching from Connecticut
to Long Island.
Castner candidly remembers the golf professional, Tom Strafaci, at Dyker Beach Golf Course who drew his interest to the
game. Growing up in Brooklyn, he told him, “There is no such thing as a bad kid in golf.” He adds, “Who knows what might
have happened to me if I hadn’t met him. Now I am able to give back to other kids that same enthusiasm that he passed along
to me.”
Both Petronis and Castner have been honored by the PGA with their section’s Junior Leadership Award for work with young
golfers. Wayne Worms, who teaches in central New Jersey, is a former winner of the national PGA Junior Golf Leadership
Award.
George Frake, Director of Golf at Little Mill Country Club, like many professionals at private clubs, runs a four-week summer
program, aimed at 6 to 10 year-olds. Frake believes, “After that, some kids drift away and the ones who stay with golf either
want private lessons or find some other teen-agers to play with.”
But if teaching and outfitting these youngsters are building the game is the “meat and potatoes of the industry,” then the
dessert comes from the results of our Junior Golf programs. And our area has a couple of very good recent spokespeople.
Morgan Hoffman, the 20-year-old from Saddle Brook, NJ, who helped the United States retain the Walker Cup last year, is
unabashed in his support for junior Golf. “Absolutely, I support it,” he says. “For some, it’s a great help getting into a good
college or to get a chance at playing professionally.”
Hoffman, who played much of his junior golf in tournaments in New Jersey, is now a sophomore at highly ranked Oklahoma
State University. He started playing in the junior tournaments when he was eight years old and was already playing American
Junior Golf Association (AJGA) tournaments when he was 14.
After playing the later part of his high school golf in Hilton Head and Orlando, he caught the eye of the golf coaching staff at
Oklahoma State. Now he’s in his second year there, after a sensational freshman year that was climaxed by playing on the
Walker Cup, where he won two points toward the American victory. He’s looking forward to playing collegiate golf for at least
one more year but he’s coy about his plans after that. “You never know what’s going to happen,” he laughs.
Hoffman is not alone among young golfers from our area who have gone on to successful collegiate and/or professional careers.
Chris Nallen grew up in Hackettstown, NJ, played in many NJ events and now plays on the Nationwide Tour.
Andrew Giuliani, son of the former New York City mayor, played most of his junior golf at Van Cortlandt Golf Course in the
Bronx, and played most of his junior golf at local MGA and PGA junior events in the Metropolitan Section. Since graduating
from Duke University, Giuliani has appeared on the Golf Channel’s Big Break and now works as an assistant golf professional
at one of the Trump Golf properties.
Nannette Hill, who was a leading junior golfer from Westchester, NY, just completed her senior year at Wake Forest University
and had stellar years playing college golf. Look for her to break into the LPGA professional ranks within the next year.
Joanna Coe, of Mays Landing, was the 2008 NCAA Division II Champion and is currently finishing her junior year playing
golf at third-ranked Rollins University in Florida. She spends her summers working in the pro shop at Blue Heron Pines in
Galloway Township, and also does volunteer instruction with the Blue Heron Pines Golf Academy. At press time, she was off
to a great start in the 2010 season, with three runner-up finishes in tournament play, and was been named SSC Golfer of the
Week this season for the fourth time in her career. She plans to attempt to qualify for the 2010 U.S. Women's Amateur and has
already qualified for the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links Championship on the basis of her reaching the semi-finals of that
championship last year.
“Unfortunately the process to playing college golf is quite extensive, and expensive too,” adds Petronis, who recently went
through the process with his own daughter, Heather. After considering several options, at both Division I and II schools, the
Petronis’ decided that the best fit for her would be St. Leo’s University, outside of Tampa.
“There are so many things to consider and it really takes a lot of knowledge to match the junior golfer with the right college. At
a college like St. Leo’s, we expect that Heather will have the opportunity to get a good amount of playing time on the team,
plus receive a good education there.”
Petronis, along with Castner, both understand the desire by both junior golfers and their parents, many of whom are seeking
scholarship money, to play golf on a collegiate level. But both feel parents are underinformed. Petronis recently held a meeting
discussing the college recruitment process, and Castner will do the same at his course in mid-May right after the conclusion of
the high school golf season.
There are many golf professionals, industry people and volunteers at our local facilities who are involved because of their love
of the game and their desire to give back to kids what someone gave them once upon a time. We know there are many more
raising stars coming out of our local ranks – we’ll bring you more about them in the future!
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