As Rio 2016 Approaches, Some Tennis Lessons for US Golf

Golf may benefit by looking at tennis via wikia.com

Most professional and amateur golfers, as well as casual and advid fans, are delighted to see the sport return to the Olympics.

The 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro will welcome golfers for the first time in over a century, and inclusion is predicted to have a major impact on the game's reach, particularly in places where the sport has not previously had the opportunity to grow.

However, for the US, and other countries where the game is "mature", there's a lesson to be learned on the potential downside of Olympic inclusion.  It comes from the world of professional tennis, a world where an American male hasn't won a Grand Slam since 2003, and where for a period earlier this, year there wasn't a single American ranking in the world's top 10.  Some say the US tennis decline can, at least in part, be traced back to 1984, the year tennis became an Olympic Sport. 

"When it [tennis] became an Olympic sport, other countries got on the bandwagon, and smaller countries began developing players." That's how Angel Lopez, director of tennis operations at the San Diego Tennis & Racquet Club put it, and with that in mind it's easy to imagine that by the end of this decade the World Golf Ranking may feature fewer US players.

These young golfers in China get get elite instruction from Cindy Reid

Commitment to early and ambitious player development is clearly key when it comes to creating competitive athletes, and in an attempt to attract more young players to the game... and eventually hook the best of them... the USTA has invested more than $8 million this year on 10 and Under Tennis an initiative that includes smaller courts and less "bouncy" balls.  The idea is to encourage an entry level version of the game that will allow more children to start learning and playing from a younger age... and enable them to build confidence and avoid bad habits.

US Golf would seem to be in a perfect position to introduce an entry level version for it's beginners.  There are numerous organizations focused on bringing young players into the game, The First Tee, the USGA's Junior Links and the LPGA's Girl's Golf however thus far there seems to have been little interest in the establishment of a shorter format. 

US Kid's Golf has developed an excellent program with their Family Course Setup, that has the backing of the PGA of America and a partnership with Pinehurst.  It's the type of initiative that could really help to grow the game from the ground up should more courses, particularly public courses, decide to implement it.

2016 will come quickly... so will the end of the decade. Golf should start taking a cue from tennis right now.

The Little Linksters Challenge: Seeking the Best Young Golfers

It's that time of year again... time to head over to Brendon Elliot's Little Linksters and show off your golf swing!  That is, if your age is somewhere between 3 and 8.  Because if so, you're eligible for the Best Pee-Wee Golf Swing in North America Contest.  There are great prizes to be won... and some amazing celebrity judges on hand to select the winner.

Visit the Little Linksters website for more information about the contest and the Little Linksters Program.

Also, here's our post about last year's contest.

Catching Up With the Ever-Assiduous Birdie Sisters

Erica (left) & Myah (right) with Kim Vatis of NBC 5 News Today

I cross paths with the Birdie Sisters quite regularly on Facebook and when I do I'm inevitably impressed with their accomplishments. ~ On and off the golf course, Erica & Myah Jackson excel... and they do so with dedication, energy and humor.  They're ultra-inspiring. So much so that we've covered them nearly a dozen times over the past few years right  here at Golf Girl's Diary.

2011 has been no exception.  It was a summer of great golf for both Erica... now 13... and her 11-year-old sister Myah, culminating a month ago with the IESA State Championship where the sisters were the only golfers representing the Chicago area.  Myah shot a 74 for 1st place while Erica Jackson finished in 2nd with a 79.

 And the sisters haven't signed off on 2011 quite yet. They both made the field at the Doral Publix Jr. Golf Classic where they'll be competing against some of the best young golfers in the world at Doral Golf Resort and Spa.  That takes place December 17-23.  In the meantime the gifted golf girls have been hitting the airwaves as well as the fairways, with several recent TV appearances including an interview on NBC News 5 Today.

Read all of our posts on the Birdie Sisters
Check out the Birdie Sister's Website

The Little Linksters and Their Amazing Swings

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Huge... overwhelming.... a sensory overload.  ~ Those are the descriptives you hear when someone talks about the PGA merchandise show. And that's exactly what you feel when you attend the event for the first time... and every time.

There's always an amazing array of product... and an eclectic group of people presenting, buying and writing about it all.  Innovative... and sometimes, categorically wacky... golf equipment, apparel and accessories fill the massive convention center. The vibe is ultra-high energy.

As per usual, I have just one day to take it all in... I leave Westchester at 6:30AM and return on a 7:55PM flight from Orlando... but I've done the "PGA Show turn-around" thing before - this is always a busy time of year for me and one day is all I ever seem to have time for.

To that end I've been reading all the show news I can find and making a list of the must-sees. I'll share my own impressions this weekend.

In the meantime, I've got to say, it's hard to imagine there'll be anything more impressive to see than The Little Linksters and their Amazing Golf Swings.  For those who aren't familiar with Little Linksters, it's a Pee-Wee Golf program developed by Brandon Elliot, a dedicated class A PGA Professional whose friendly, fun style and admirable patience, sets the tone for an amazing learning experience.

Today, Brandon welcomed Annika Sorenstam ...among other golf celebrities... who served as judges for the "Best Pee-Wee Golf Swing in America" contest, and the category winners were presented. As the PGA's John Kim wrote in his daily buzz report, "A large crowd gathered around “The Littlest Golfer” booth to watch videos of some amazing toddlers and kids and the celebration of the winners.

They truly are amazing and the program is great!  Not only for the children acquiring precociously perfect swings, but also for the growth of the game and watching the compilation made me wish Brandon Elliot and Little Linksters had been around when I was a kid.