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Young golf campers try vintage clubs during First Tee of Naples camp
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Brassies, mashies and cleeks may not have too much relevance for today’s golfers, but as a group of youngsters found out this week, they were vital to the evolution of the game.
They’re the names of old clubs, veteran Marco golfer Terence McCreanor explained to First Tee of Naples golf campers at a clinic held Wednesday at Golden Gate Country Club.
McCreanor, who belongs to the Golf Collectors’ Society, brought along a selection of his old hickory clubs for the youngsters to try out before they headed out onto the course with their metal drivers and cavity back clubs.
Kristin Kollekas, 15, was fascinated by the relatively rudimentary clubs, and smiled as she hit a drive about half as far as normal.
Cindy Darland, executive director of the First Tee of Naples, said the aim of these camps goes a little beyond golf.
“Our mission is that is more than a game,” she said. “We have core values such as honesty, integrity and courtesy, and we teach the children that, whether they realize it or not.”
The national body is 10 years old, Darland said, and the Naples chapter is at the moment celebrating its first year of existence.
Children of any skill levels and from any backgrounds are welcome to attend the camps, which are now in their third week.
They run for a total of seven weeks in the summer, and cost just $10 a week, hence there’s a waiting list.
Darland said the low costs were attributable to two founding area sponsors: Arthrex Inc. and Collier Enterprises.
“They stepped up to the tee box, if you will,” Darland said.
Program director for the First Tee of Naples is Kathy Padgett, who tried out some of the old clubs for herself.
“Not bad,” she reflected after hitting a mashie about 115 yards.
Or, maybe it was a niblick.
Marco youngsters interested in possibly getting into the program should call 825-4851.
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