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Swinging Into Summer

GOLF HAMMOCK’S JUNIOR CAMP KEEPS YOUNGSTERS ON PLANE

Brian Gjurgevich/Highlands Today

Katie Coyle follows through on a chip shot on Thursday during the Golf Hammock junior golf camp.

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By Brian Gjurgevich | Highlands Today

Published: June 25, 2008

SEBRING — Geno Fronk has lived in Golf Hammock for 21 years, twice as long as some of the participants at the Golf Hammock junior golf camp have been alive.

But for Fronk, an ex-Air Force fighter pilot, golf serves as a way to bridge the generation gap and pass on some of the knowledge the nine-handicap carries in his bag.

"You can see a tremendous improvement, especially since it's only our second day with them," said Fronk, who's working with Golf Hammock staffer Les Campbell at the camp. "If I get them slowing down, they find out they can hit the ball farther with less effort.

"They're young and their flexibility is so great right now, they over-swing more than anything else."

More than a dozen 7 to -14-year olds converged on the course on Tuesday, and were split into two groups, working on all fundamental aspects of the game. On a practice green next to the driving range, Campbell lined the campers up for a chipping contest, while on the range, Fronk oversaw kids taking full swings.

Fronk said the basic aspects of the swing are most important for youngsters, and he even brought a PVC-pipe contraption that forces golfers to swing on the correct plane.

"We work on the basic set-up, grip and takeaway," Fronk said. "We try to get them to have some idea what a plane is, rather than picking up the club and smacking the ball.
"It's not the club head that moves the ball, it's the hands."

Roger Giegerich, head professional at Golf Hammock, said before any of the players pick up a club each morning, they get a lesson in golf etiquette.

"They might lose half of it before they walk out the door, but we're trying," Giegerich joked. "This is a sport that's really individual, and we want to see these kids follow through on what they're learning and get out to the range once a week."

Giegerich said golf as a sport is on the decline and that it's important for all courses to get youth involved in the game.

"There's not as many courses with caddies around like there used to be," he said. "That's where many people, like myself, came to love the game."

One program Giegerich recently unveiled at Golf Hammock is a free program for parents or guardians to bring their kids down to hit range balls. The balls and range time are free, and any donations made are handed over to Hanson House of Sebring.

"Hanson House is a place that's dear to my heart, and I haven't been able to do enough for them," Giegerich said, noting that helping the safehouse for teen-age girls along with junior golf was a no-brainer. "I thought we could do two things at once."

The golf camp continues through Friday and Giegerich said another will be scheduled for August if enough participants sign up.

For more information on the camp or the free range ball fundraiser, call the Golf Hammock pro shop at 382-2151.

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