By Paige Lambert

Sports like baseball, basketball and football have athletes of all age groups. These sports are consistently refreshed, training players from little leagues to professional. But how do you refresh a sport that’s played mainly by adults?

That’s what Golf in Schools, an Austin-based organization, is trying to combat with the Golf for Life camps.

“It’s been on the decline for the last decade,” Jaret Lane, co-founder, said. “Kids are the future of golf, and they’re more fun to work with to be truthful.”

Campers, kindergarten through fifth grade, met at various Hays CISD schools throughout the summer. During the four-day sessions they learned terminology, course elements and basic swing techniques.

Even though their campers are only as tall as a regular club, Lane said the young age group is a good fit.

“At this age there is no competitive golf,” Lane said. “They can take golf in and learn if they like it without having to deal with if this kid is better that that kid. It’s no pressure for them.”

While there are courses nearby, the camps are held at schools to make golf less intimidating and affordable for kids, Aaron Bergman, co-founder, said. The organization provides all the equipment.

Instructors use brightly colored cones, rope and flags to create the elements of a course. Board game-like activities make learning essential terminology and techniques fun, Lane said.

“You have to find a way for them to enjoy it and a lot of times they won’t enjoy something they aren’t good at right away,” Lane said. “If I can find a way for them to succeed instantly, it gives them more of a drive to try until they succeed on their own.”

Mia Boling, age 9, said her favorite activity was Battleship. Two teams try to hit the ball in the other persons area, or battleship. Whichever team gets 25 hits in the other’s battleship area first wins. 

Activities like these help establish qualities that are essential on and off the course.

“We try to give them these lessons that are inherent in the game, like honesty, team building, and goal setting,” Lane said. “And our language is golf.”

Instructors also use word combinations to help connect terminology to swing motions. As Boling practiced her putting, she chanted tick-tock, tick-rock to the rhythm of her rocking club.

“Golf is difficult and there’s a lot to learn,” Bergman said. “Different cardinal responses like that act as a trigger for kids. This way they can easily remember a swing.”

On the last day, Boling and her team had to reach 100 points to win the test, and a prize at the end. While the team hit for various targets, Lane marked points for their oral test about the parts of clubs and course elements.

The test makes sure the campers have retained the information and can play confidently, Bergman said.

Even if the campers like Boling don’t become professional golfers in the near future, it has struck an interest and seen repeat campers. From this summer alone, 40 to 50 Hays County kids have visited the camp.

“I have to ask my parents but I would really love to. Golf is really fun now,” Bowling said.  “At first it was kind of hard, then it got a little easier because coach showed us what to do.”

If a camper shows more interest in the game, instructors will find ways to help them get to a course, Lane said.

“We introduced these kids to a game they can play forever,” Lane said. “People say, a lot of business is done on the course, but it’s something you can enjoy with your mom, brother, son, anyone.”