In It Together
This individual game is so much better when played together
Kevin Chang
President, WA Golf
At its core, golf is a personal sport, pitting you against the course and whatever elements Mother Nature throws your way. The satisfaction that comes with hitting a perfect drive or a striped second shot can be fleeting when a pulled approach shot or three-putt, respectively, quickly stunts your momentum.
This cycle repeats itself, shot after shot, so that by the time you’ve returned to the clubhouse, the mental and physical toll is noticeable. And yet, we are eternal optimists, holding on to the great shots as a sign of what we’re truly capable of.
The individual nature of playing the game, along with any constraints associated with course and equipment access, can be barriers to introducing the sport to the next generation of golfers.
Young people naturally seek out opportunities to be in the company of friends rather than pursue solitary activities that a parent or older relative may be passionate about. The joy and experience of playing team sports like basketball, volleyball, and soccer shine a bright light on kids being kids.
To learn and become a better golfer is an individual journey, and the challenges associated with fine-tuning one’s physical abilities and sharpening one’s mental fortitude are skills that require self-discipline and persistence.
In baseball and softball, we seek out opportunities to play catch with a friend and work on our technique. A rally in tennis or pickleball with a friend is a shared experience enjoyed in the company of others.
Team events in golf create wonderful opportunities to enjoy the sport with others while retaining the spirit of competition. The Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, and Solheim Cup are wonderful examples at the professional level. The winners of the NCAA Men’s and Women’s National Championships are determined by a final match-play team competition.
Regionally, our top golfers participate in the team competition of the PNGA Lamey Cup and Hudson Cup, and our best juniors have the opportunity to compete as a team in the Junior America’s Cup and Hogan Cup.
Closer to home, your local club likely hosts scrambles and four-balls that allow you to enjoy the game with good friends. These competitions are the best of both worlds, allowing golfers to showcase their talents at the individual level while successes and failures also impact a broader outcome.
To promote the sport in our region and, in particular, to our young people, WA Golf is actively involved on multiple levels. From leading the statewide Youth on Course initiative to procuring financial support through its Washington Golf Foundation, WA Golf prioritizes an investment of both staff time and financial resources. The Youth on Course program allows junior members to play golf for only $5 a round at participating courses throughout the area and this program has grown exponentially. These rounds are subsidized by WA Golf and through Washington Golf Foundation fundraising efforts.
There are other well-established programs and partners who share the goal of growing the game. The Washington Junior Golf Association earns a special shout-out as it celebrates its 50th anniversary next year. Its local, regional, and state competitions across the six statewide districts have consistently delivered meaningful experiences for boys and girls over these past five decades. First Tee programs, led and driven by staff and volunteers who share a passion for the sport, introduce countless youngsters to the game each year. Similar efforts are spearheaded by the dedicated PGA golf professionals at a golf course close to you who grow the game in their own meaningful ways.
National programs like the Drive, Chip, and Putt Challenge give youngsters a special chance to compete. Can you imagine the excitement of the children who earn the privilege of competing at Augusta National well before they’ve learned how to drive a car? Next year, Washington will join a growing list of states participating in the U.S. National Development Program. This program will serve as a pipeline that creates development and competitive opportunities for junior golfers. The first team of golfers will be selected in the coming months.
As a magazine reader, you’re a golfer, supporter of the game, parent of a child who has caught the golf bug, or perhaps someone who checks multiple boxes. Let us continue to support this wonderful sport so that people from all walks of life, young and old, can experience those good shots that keep all of us coming back for more.