Naples' finest links host Kids Golf tour

U.S. Kids Golf opened its inaugural Naples Tour on Monday, June 19, at The Club at TwinEagles. The tour includes seven one-day tournaments, on first-class courses in the Naples and Ft. Myers area, leading up to the two-day tour championship that will take place at TwinEagles.

Director of the Naples Tour is Paul Celano, director of golf at TwinEagles.

"It's a developmental tour for kids four through 12, trying to get them to learn the game, and we are very fortunate that we've got some really good golf courses that have opened up to the kids," said Celano, "It's nice for the clubs to support junior golf." This past year U.S. Kid's Golf had the east coast and west coast combined. This year they split the tour, with the east coast tour in Boca Raton, and the Naples tour serving the west coast, according to Celano.

"We've got 33 kids in the Naples tour this year, last year we had about 50 in the combined tour. It's really a good turnout for Naples for the first year, and, as the word spreads, it will grow," said Celano.

According to U.S. Kid's Golf, the local tours are part of their overall mission "to help kids have fun learning the lifelong game of golf at an early age and to encourage family interaction that builds lifetime memories." The Buersmeyers of Naples have been participating in the tour for four years.

"Naples is a great place to play junior golf. There is a lot of opportunity. First-class courses let the kids play and treat them like they are somebody special. It's a great experience for them," said Tracey Buersmeyer, mom of Ann, 11, and Emily, 9, who are both playing in the Naples Tour this year.

Asked if she plays herself, Buersmeyer said, "A little bit, mostly I caddie." U.S. Kid's Golf encourages parents to caddy for their sons and daughters.

Photo by KEN LANE, Collier Citizen

U.S. Kids Golf participant, six-year-old Matthew Ariza of Naples at the Club at Twin Eagles, June 19.

"It's a fun sport," Emily said, waiting to tee off in her division.

"I like hitting over the sand and I like to hit long shots. Sometimes I get angry, but you just try and try again and then you get really good at it." Buersmeyer agreed, "They learn etiquette and maturity; I think it's great for kids." The tournaments, open to boys and girls between the ages of four and 12, are played on regulation courses that have been shortened through the use of age-and gender-appropriate tees placed closer to the hole.

According to tour officials, shorter holes promote enjoyment of the game, and better scoring and competition.

The Naples Tour continues at Gulf Harbour Yacht and Country Club in Ft. Myers on June 22, Eagle Creek Golf and Country Club July 1, The Forest Country Club in Ft. Myers July 13, Miromar Lakes Golf Club in Ft. Myers on July 20, Naples Grande Golf Club August 7, and the Golf Club of the Everglades on Aug. 12. The tour culminates with the Tour Championship, Sat. and Sun., Aug. 26-27, at The Club at TwinEagles.

All events are stroke play. Competitors are grouped by age and gender.

Players earn points based on their finish at each event, and the three players in each division with the most points at the end of the tour receive a medal. The overall player with the most points in each division gets an invitation to the U.S. Kids World Championship on July 26-27, at Pinehurst, NC.