Youth golf sweeps through Green Valley

Yesterday, 156 of the world’s finest golfers set their sights on one of the sport’s prized possessions — a U.S. Open title.

Often referred to as the toughest test in golf, only a select few come equipped with the physical skill and the mental fortitude necessary to compete at Torrey Pines in San Diego this weekend.

Of course, each of these elite golfers had to start somewhere.

Each Wednesday at Haven Golf Course, roughly four dozen youth golfers are learning the most popular way to spoil a good walk, in the Mark Twain sense.

However, Haven manager Greg Chesney and PGA/LPGA Class A instructor Marvol Barnard are giving these kids the necessary tools to turn that spoiled walk into a life-long passion with golf.

Will we be seeing any of these Southern Arizona youngsters teeing it up on Father’s Day weekend on the sport’s biggest stage?

“You never know,” Barnard said. “We have a great bunch of kids who are really enjoying themselves. Everyone has a great work ethic and is really eager to learn.”

After countless lessons with individuals introduced to the game later in life, Barnard is in the midst of her first extended experience with youth golfers.

She entered into the introductory lesson on May 14 with no preconceptions. After a month, she has been blown away by the students’ enthusiasm and aptitude.

“We have one kid who can’t be older than 6 who has the most beautiful, natural swing,” Barnard said. “There is some serious talent out here.”

Kids from ages 5-17 are eligible to participate in the Haven lessons. Some golfers have had previous lessons and came into the Green Valley Junior Golf League with some refined skills. Others had never picked up a club before.

Like Barnard’s normal clinic for adults, the lessons start with the foundation for any successful golfer — the short game.

Last week, the kids learned how to effectively control those tricky middle irons.

In addition to teaching the kids the mechanices of the golf swing, Barnard and Chesney have devoted a great deal of their time to making sure students approach the game with proper etiquette and attitude.

Before any students set foot on the course, they must understand the rules.

One particular student came up with a terrific Yogi Berra-esque phrase to summarize the importance of proper etiquette.

“One of the students said his dad told him that you always walk behind someone who is lining up a putt,” Barnard said. “Otherwise, you will make that person unconcentrate.”

With Barnard in Seattle and Chesney in San Diego enjoying the U.S. Open, lessons were postponed this past Wednesday, but that didn’t stop a handful of GVJGL members from coming to the driving range.

One such golfer was 6-year-old Matthew Jbara.

When his parents, Chris and Jennifer, asked Matthew about the possibility of taking some golf lessons, he jumped at the opportunity.

“This has been such a wonderful experience for him,” Jennifer said. “Some of his friends from school are taking lessons here, too. Golf is a great sport to get into at an early age, and he’s loving it.”

So, does young Matthew want to play like Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson when he gets older?

Nope. His favorite golfer just happened to buy Matthew’s first set of clubs.

“My favorite is my dad,” Matthew said, right as he made solid contact with his fairway wood.

The first GVJGL tournament took place on May 28 ?— the first competitive golf event for many of the students.

“Everyone applauded for each of the golfers who got a prize,” Barnard said. “It was really neat.”

Lessons will start back up this Wednesday and continue throughout August.

nprevenas@gvnews.com | 547-9747