Little Course gives young golfers a chance to learn

By TOM CHEREDAR, Staff Writer
tched@williamsonherald.com

While spring sports like soccer, baseball, and lacrosse ending as summer begins, youth golfing is in full swing.

The Little Course at Conner Lane in Franklin has plenty of events, tournaments and classes to keep sports fanatic young athletes busy until football season. Located on Franklin Road near the Vanderbilt Legends Club, it provides lessons and practice space for new golfers, young and old alike.

The course held the Spring Caddie tournament May 19 for young golfers who range in experience.

Each team of golfers had a parent or adult as their caddie, which hopefully helped less experienced children with the rules more effectively, according to Manager of Programs and Events Kate Polchlopek.

Polchlopek said the adult caddie also teaches the young golfers course etiquette, such as where to put golf bags, where to stand when others are hitting and the importance of staying quiet.

“Kids come out and they want to talk, talk, talk and they don’t realize when someone is hitting you’re suppose to be quiet,” Polchlopek said. “It would probably get you kicked off at a big course.

While the nine-hole Little Course does not directly cater towards younger golfers, it is much more family friendly and affordable compared to country clubs. It is $7 per game for children 17 and under and also offers golf passes to families of any size to play 13 times for $475.

“It’s a really good place to start off (for kids),” she said, adding that they have no formal dress code like other courses. “They can wear T-shirts, jeans. We’re pretty laid back about dress code (here).”

The Little Course is also home to one of the state’s most comprehensive centers devoted entirely to golf — the Golf House — which houses three golf museum rooms, a golf library, a pro shop, and an indoor practice facility.

“It’s easy to spend the whole day,” Polchlopek said. “In the summer you’ll see the same kids everyday. It’s like their second home.”

However, if all day isn’t enough, young golfers can sign up for one of the week-long camps and spend the night in the Golf House’s dorm rooms.

The camps even provide a set of clubs for first-time golfers who haven’t had much experience.

“If you’re starting your 5-year-old out, you’re not sure if he (or she is) going to like it,” then its best not to buy anything immediately, Polchlopek recommended. “Since kids grow so fast, in a year or two they will need a new set.

“A lot of parents don’t really know a whole lot about golf so they’ll just go out and buy whatever and these kids will come in with clubs that are way too big or too small,” she added.

A typically starter set of golf clubs is three irons, a driver, a putter and a bag, according to the golf pros at the Little Course.

For more information visit http://www.golfhousetennessee.com. 

Posted on: 5/31/2007