Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 28
GE
/D
BAB
BA
OM
O
IST
.C
CK
Growing with the game
Golf is rising steadily in popularity among
Georgia's youths
BY VICTORIA SCHARF DECASTRO
W
VICTORIA SCHARF DECASTRO
VICTORIA SCHARF DECASTRO
hile many youngsters seem
permanently attached to
their cellphones these days,
it may surprise some people to
learn that more and more children are taking up golf.
"Yes, it's growing. It's a slow
climb, but we are seeing more
kids play," says Karl Gross, PGA
head professional at The Creek
Golf Course at Hard Labor
Creek State Park in Social Circle
and tour director for the Georgia Junior Golf Tour, a developmental tour for golfers ages 7 to Bailey Smith, 16, says golf "teaches
18. The tour plays seven events you to how to respect people, and
from March to August at most you almost kind of mature, in a way, Sisters Anna, left, and Kyia Williams practice almost every
Georgia state park courses and because you learn how to play
day. "It's challenging. It tests your strengths and abilities.
other state-owned facilities.
You can't just go out there and expect to play your best. You
with older people and get more
For those who know little experience."
have to come out and practice consistently," says Anna.
about the game, the objective is
to hit a golf ball from a teeing
ground into a hole on the putting green in the fewest strokes
possible. However, any golfer
will tell you there is a lot more
to the game than chasing a little
-Karl Gross, PGA head professional, The Creek at Hard Labor, Social Circle
ball around a golf course.
"One of the best benefits
is it's a game you can play for life,"
Youth golfers Cameron Bruce of
Cameron, 14, started playing golf
says Gross, adding, "How many other Social Circle, Bailey Smith of Madison because, he says, his dad "made" him.
sports can you play with your grand- and sisters Anna and Kyia Williams of He now admits: "I love it more than
father and your grandma? I can't think Social Circle practice and play regu- anything else. Golf's just it. I think it's
of too many. One of my cherished larly at The Creek at Hard Labor.
better than most other sports."
memories: I played with my dad and
Anna, 17, swung her first club at
Cameron represents a number
my grandfather and my brothers, so age 5.
of kids moving away from traditional
we had three generations all in one
"I started competitively playing youth sports in favor of non-contact
group."
in sixth grade," she says. "I like play- sports like golf, which doesn't require
Playing regularly also can help ing golf because it's just something players to be a certain age or height,
golfers get outdoors and stay fit. different every day; it's something to exceptionally strong or agile. Golf
When you walk a golf course, you work on all the time."
suits him "because I'm small, and I
walk several miles.
"I like how it keeps you hum- know I can't play football or anything
"And then you're carrying your ble," says 16-year-old Bailey. "Some like that because I'd just get beat up
bag and swinging some clubs-it's days you can come out and you can out there," he says, grinning.
good exercise. Riding in a cart, you shoot your best, and the next day you
Kyia, 14, agrees. "It's more relaxstill get exercise, but it's not nearly can come out and play very bad. So, ing, and it's challenging. But it's not a
the same cardio impact," Gross says.
it's always a challenge."
lot of work like other sports."
'One of the best benefits is it's a game you can play for life.
How many other sports can you play with your grandfather
and your grandma?'
28
More online at www.georgiamagazine.org
GEORGIA MAGAZINE
http://www.georgiamagazine.org
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - April 2017
Contents
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - Intro
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - Cover1
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - Cover2
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 3
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - Contents
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 5
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 6
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 7
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 8
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 9
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 10
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 11
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 12
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 13
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 14
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 15
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 16
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 17
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 18
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 19
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 19A
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 19B
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 19C
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 19D
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 20
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 21
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 22
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 23
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 24
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 25
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 26
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 27
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 28
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 29
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 30
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 31
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 32
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 33
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 34
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 35
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 36
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 37
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 38
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 39
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 40
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 40A
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 40B
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 40C
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 40D
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 41
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 42
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 42A
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - 42B
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - Cover3
Georgia Magazine - April 2017 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_202001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201906
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201905
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201904
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201902
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201901
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201802
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201801
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201702
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201701
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201602
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201601
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201502
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201501
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/libertynotes_billofrights
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201402
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201401
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201302
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201301
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201206
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201205
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201204
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201203
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201202
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201201
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_realitycheck
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201106
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201105
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201104
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201103
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201101
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201006
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201005
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201004
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201003
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201002
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_201001
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_200912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_200911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/gemc/georgia_200910
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com