US Kids 2010

Pinehurst.Grooming Champions Since 1895.

From the North and South Amateur to the U.S. Open,Pinehurst has hosted more championships than any other

golf resort. So, it’s fitting that the next generation of golf legendsget their competitive start here. Welcome to Pinehurst.

Proud to host the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship.

Seven-year-old Jack Lewis sits at thebase of the original “Putter Boy”

statue studying the Rules of Golf. Lewiswould continue his career in golf,

winning the Men’s North and SouthAmateur in 1968.

BY PATRICK LOVESports Editor

For the fifth consecutive year, the“Home of American Golf” welcomes theworld’s most prestigious youth golf tourna-ment.The Pinehurst area is hosting the 11th

annual U.S. Kids Golf World Championshipthis week, the largest tournament in theworld for golfers ages 12 and under.“Pinehurst remains at the epicenter of

the American and global golf landscapes,and we are proud to once again partnerwith an organization that shares our goalof preserving and expanding golf,” saidU.S. Kids Golf president and founder DanVanHorne. “This is great exposure foryoung golfers to play at a venue that hashosted some of the sport’s biggest namesandmost prominent events.”More than 1,300 participants will tee off

at nine local courses in the tournament,which runs from Thursday to Saturdayand consists of boys and girls ages 5 to 12competing in 13 age divisions. AWorldCup featuring the top finishers in the 12-year-old age group will also be contestedon Sunday at Pinehurst Resort’s mostfamous layout, the No. 2 course.The event is expected to bring approxi-

mately 5,000 visitors to the area, with alocal economic impact somewhere in the$4million range.“The thing that I think really surprised

us the first year that we were able to hostit was just how important this event is tothe kids, and then how the community hasembraced it,” said CalebMiles, presidentand CEO of the Pinehurst, Southern Pines,Aberdeen Area Convention and VisitorsBureau. “The volunteers come out, andthen there’s a lot of people who come outjust to see it and are amazed at the skilllevel of these kids.“It’s a terrific event, and in terms of tim-

ing, it’s great for the area, because it’s inthe summer, and the summer periods aretypically a little bit slower than the springand the fall.”Pinehurst Resort is the event’s official

host, led by business development directorPeter Stilwell and his staff. The coursesthat participate in theWorld Championshipinclude Legacy, Little River, Mid Pines,Midland, Talamore, Longleaf andPinehurst Resort’s courses No. 3, No. 4 andNo. 8.Participants qualified through a series of

World Championship qualifiers, localtours, European and regional champi-onships and performance in previousWorld Championships. WorldChampionship qualifiers were held in 21different countries, and this year’s fieldrepresents more than 30 nations.Approximately 700 volunteers will face

the challenge of keeping participants

hydrated and safe during the course of thetournament.“The biggest challenge in having this

thing in August is keeping everybodyhydrated and having the systems in placeto get everybody off of the course if therehappens to be a thunderstorm or inclementweather,” Miles said. “There are a lot oflogistics involved with all the volunteersthat are necessary and everything thatneeds to be put into place.”New this year is an 18-holeWorld

Championhip Parent/Child event to beplayedMonday on Pinehurst No. 8 andLittle River beginning at 8 a.m. This eventwas limited to the first 60 teams to regis-ter, and according to U.S. Kids Golf’s ChrisCarme, sold out in an hour.A Family Dance is scheduled for Tuesday

night in the Carolina Hotel’s GrandBallroom. Beginning at 8 p.m., participantsage 6 and older are invited with their par-ents to enjoy a live band.This year’s opening ceremony will be

held at the Pinehurst Harness Track andwill have a “County Fair” theme. Featuringbounce houses, hay rides, a live band andfood from local vendors, the ceremony isscheduled to run from 6 to 8 p.m.

TheWorld Championship will be contest-ed from Thursday through Sunday, teeingoff eachmorning at 7 a.m.A closing ceremony is scheduled for

Saturday night at the Pinecrest HighSchool auditorium at 8:30 p.m.Then on Sunday, Aug. 8, theWorld Cup

concludes competition. Featuring the

World Championship’s top finishers in the12-year-old group, theWorld Cup pitsgolfers from the United States against aninternational team in amatch play format.For more information, visit

uskidsgolf.com, and follow the organizationon Twitter (twitter.com/uskidsgolffnd) andFacebook (facebook.com/uskidsgolf).

SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2010 THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. PAGE 3

They’re Back: U.S. Kids Returns for Fifth Year

Always a festive event, opening ceremony will be held at the Pinehurst Harness Track.

PAGE 4 THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. SUNDAY, AUGUST 1, 2010

�ankYouVolunteers!Volunteer Appreciation Day

Monday August 17th, 2010Please Call Talamore Pro Shop at

(910) 692-5884 Ext. 2 for More Details

800.552.6292 | www.TalamoreGolfResort.com

Talamore Golf Resort Welcomes�e 2010 US Kids World Championship

Back to the Sandhills!

About This IssueOOnn tthhee CCoovveerr:: James Sugg (putting)

CCoovveerr DDeessiiggnn: Scott Yancey, Graphic Designer

SSuupppplleemmeenntt DDeessiiggnn//LLaayyoouutt:Patrick Love, Sports Editor

CCoonnttrriibbuuttiinngg WWrriitteerrss: Patrick Love, John Krahnert III,Veronica Karaman, U.S. Kids Golf, Edelman

CCoonnttrriibbuuttiinngg PPhhoottooggrraapphheerrss: Patrick Love, Glenn M. Sides, Hannah Sharpe

Special thanks to Chris Carme, Peter Stilwell, Caleb Miles, Matt Freeman and Kristen Stone

For advertising information, contact Pat Taylor at (910) 693-2505or e-mail [email protected]

145 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines, NC 28387(910) 692-7271 • thepilot.com

More than a decade ago, as Dan VanHorne introduced golf to his 3- and 6-year-old sons, he noticed that their initialenthusiasm quickly faded.“They weren’t having fun,” said VanHorne. “It seemed that they lost interestafter only 15minutes. At thetime, I didn’tknow cutoffsand junior clubswere so heavy.They were notonly hurting mykids’ swings butalso their desireto play.”Propelled bythat experience,Van Hornefounded U.S.Kids Golf in1997, with its home base located inAtlanta, Ga.He used his empathy as inspiration todesign clubs that are 30 percent lighterthan adult and most junior clubs. Theequipment served as the underpinningfor U.S. Kids Golf, now the world’slargest provider of junior golf equipment.Many parents and coaches credit equip-ment from U.S. Kids Golf with dramati-cally improving their child’s or student’sswing and invigorating their passion forthe game.In order to maintain worldwide interestin junior golf against the backdrop ofnumerous other potential pursuits by chil-dren and parents, U.S. Kids Golf expand-ed beyond making equipment and intoorganizing instructors and tournamentsthrough the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation, a

501(c)(3) nonprofit organization foundedin 2001.The U.S. Kids Golf Foundation’s visionis to provide kids and families opportuni-ties to participate in golf through instruc-tion and competition.

TheFoundationhosted its firstWorldChampionshipin 2001 with 250players at theJekyll IslandGolf Club inJekyll Island,Ga. Today, theWorldChampionshiphas grown tomore than 1,300of the best kid

golfers from 40 countries. This year, the World Championship willbe held on the some of the nation’s most-cherished golf courses in Pinehurst.In addition to the World Championship,the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation conductsmore than 400 local, regional, nationaland international events each year.Like the PGA Tour, players at U.S. KidsGolf events are encouraged to have a cad-die. Players 8 and under must play with acaddie, who is usually a parent but canalso be a grandparent, another familymember or a friend who is at least 13years of age. Allowing a caddie is an expression ofthe commitment U.S. Kids Golf makes toencourage family interaction and a shar-ing of the life lessons that can be learnedthrough the game of golf.

Founded in 1997, U.S. Kids GolfPromotes and Expands the Game


The U.S. Kids Golf World Championshipcelebrates its 11th anniversary in 2010 andits fifth year in Pinehurst.What began as a humble tournament

with big dreams has become the largestandmost prestigious event in the world forkids’ golf. It already has produced its ownset of luminaries.CheyenneWoods, Alexis Thompson and

Cindy Feng are all U.S. Kids Golf WorldChampionship alumni who will soon havetheir turn to carry the future of women’sgolf.The first World Championship was held

in 2000 at the Jekyll Island Golf Club inJekyll Island, Ga., with a modest field of250. What the tournament lacked in num-bers of participants, it made up for in qual-ity of play and overall experience.One of the competitors and champions in

the inaugural 2000World Championshipwas 10-year-old CheyenneWoods. Now agolfer at Wake Forest, Woods is paving herown path in the game, stepping beyond theshadow of her famous uncle, TigerWoods,and proving herself to be one of thenation’s top collegiate golfers.She recently received an exemption to

play in her first LPGA event and has beenlauded as one of the best upcoming womengolfers.By 2002, theWorld Championship had

doubled in size. Alexis Thompsonmade herWorld Championship debut, finishing thirdas a 7-year-old in the Girls 8 and UnderDivision. The next year, Thompson wonthat division as an 8-year-old.Finishing four shots behind her was

Perfect PartnersCommon Bonds BindPinehurst, U.S. Kids Golf

A young golfer lets a putt go at Little River Golf and Resort.see PARTNERS, page 6


another bright star in 7-year-old Cindy Feng.In 2004, with a tournament birthday deadlinechange, both Thompson and Feng won titles intheir own respective age divisions. It marked thefirst of Feng’s three titles.The history of women’s golf may someday lookback to 2004 as the year when a rivalry betweenThompson and Feng was born. The girls recentlyrekindled their competition on bigger stages in the2009 and 2010 U.S. Women’s Opens.As the player roster grew to more than 1,000 par-ticipants, theWorld Championship needed evenmore elbow room. In 2006, the Home of AmericanGolf, Pinehurst, became the new home for the U.S.Kids Golf World Championship.Initially, there was apprehension about howPinehurst natives would react to hosting a golftournament of more than a thousand kids. Butafter the first event, locals embraced the tourna-ment as a positive, not only for the local communi-ty but also for golf overall.During their time together, Pinehurst and U.S.Kids Golf have grown as partners with a commongoal of growing and preserving the game of golf.Themove to Pinehurst started a yearly interna-tional tradition, theWorld Cup, in which the topfinishing boys and girls from the 12-year-old agedivision are separated into a U.S. team and aninternational team. The teams are pitted against

each other in a match play tournament to concludetheWorld Championship.Considering U.S. Kids Golf’s success hosting itscrowning event in North Carolina, it’s fitting thatthe twomost dominant players in the history of theWorld Championship both hail from the state.One of those players, JoshuaMartin, is a nativeto Pinehurst and a once-in-a-lifetime talent. Martinhas been playing in the tournament since he wasfirst eligible as a 6-year-old in 2003, when he fin-ished sixth. Since that time, he has won fourWorldChampionship titles (2004, 2005, 2006, 2008).This year, Martin will be 13 years old, playing inhis first TeenWorld Championship. Already inuncharted territory with four wins in theWorldChampionship, Martin looks to carry over hisexcellence to the annual teen event hosted by U.S.Kids Golf.Another extraordinary talent is Stephen Abrams,of Wilson. Abrams came into his first WorldChampionship as a 6-year-old and won his age divi-sion. Since then, he has finished first in 2006 and2007 and placed fourth in 2008. At just 11 yearsold, Abrams has threeWorld Championship titleswith twomore years to compete in the event.Last year, U.S. Kids Golf and Pinehurst Resortinked a partnership that will secure Pinehurst asthe host venue for theWorld Championship until2013. In addition, Pinehurst will also host a U.S.Kids Golf Local Tour and the first U.S. Kids GolfLearning Center, which will offer golf instructionthrough the use of the U.S. Kids Golf LearningProgram and the staff of Pinehurst Resort.The two entities hope to grow together in grow-ing the game of golf.

PartnersFrom Page 5

Monday, August 2WWoorrlldd CChhaammppiioonnsshhiipp

PPaarreenntt//CChhiilldd TToouurrnnaammeenntt:: 8 a.m.shotgun starts at Pinehurst No.8 and Little River Golf & Resort

Tuesday, August 3RReeggiissttrraattiioonn:: 8 a.m. — 6 p.m.

Pinehurst Clubhouse, St.Andrews RoomUU..SS.. KKiiddss GGoollff CClluubb FFiittttiinngg &&

DDeemmoo DDaayy:: 9 a.m. — 6 p.m.Pinehurst Resort Driving RangeFFaammiillyy DDaannccee: 8 p.m. — 10:30

p.m. Pinehurst Resort CarolinaHotel Grand Ballroom. Kids 6and older are invited with theirparents to enjoy a live band.(Cash bar also available)

Wednesday, August 4PPrraaccttiiccee RRoouunndd:: 7:30 a.m.

Please schedule practice roundsdirectly with the facilityRReeggiissttrraattiioonn:: 8 a.m. — 5 p.m.

Pinehurst Clubhouse, St.Andrews RoomUU..SS.. KKiiddss GGoollff CClluubb FFiittttiinngg &&

DDeemmoo DDaayy:: 9 a.m. — 4 p.m.Pinehurst Resort Driving RangeOOppeenniinngg CCeerreemmoonnyy:: 6 p.m. —

8:30 p.m. Pinehurst HarnessTrack. Many local vendors willhave food, including Moe’s,Maxie’s Burgers, Jordan’s BBQ,Chick-Fil-A and many more

Thursday, August 5RRoouunndd OOnnee:: Tee times begin at

7 a.m.

Friday, August 6RRoouunndd TTwwoo:: Tee times begin at

7 a.m.

Saturday, August 7RRoouunndd TThhrreeee:: Tee times begin

at 7 a.m.CClloossiinngg CCeerreemmoonnyy:: 8:30 p.m.

Pinecrest High SchoolAuditorium

Sunday, August 8UU..SS.. KKiiddss GGoollff WWoorrlldd CCuupp:: 8

a.m. Pinehurst No. 2

Schedule of Events



The U.S. Kids Golf World Championshipattracts approximately 5,000 visitors to thearea from all 50 U.S. states and more than30 countries, which creates a local eco-nomic impact of about $3.9 million,according to a 2008 survey conducted bythe Pinehurst, Southern Pines, AberdeenArea Convention and Visitors Bureau.That works out to spending about $780

per person.“We’re glad to provide an economic shot

in the arm,” said U.S. Kids Golf presidentand founder Dan Van Horn. “I’m surethere are some jealous moms and dads.”Not so fast. Caleb Miles, president and

CEO of the local Convention and VisitorsBureau, says moms, dads and other atten-dees are having just as much fun in thearea as the golfers.“They’re staying longer than the event,

and when you get a chance to talk to thefolks as they register and check in, whatthey’re telling you is that this is one oftheir big vacations,” Miles said.According to the 2008 study, three out of

every four people who visit the area toattend or play in the World Championshipstay five to nine nights. That’s almost

twice as long as the 3.5-night national aver-age for leisure trips in the U.S.Furthermore, the averageWorld

Championship party, nearly four peoplestrong, spends more than $2,800 on thetrip, tripling the national average of $935for a typical leisure trip. That’s not count-ing the registration fee or cost of trans-portation to get to Pinehurst. That’s justwhat attendees spend in the local area.“That’s what really surprised us,” said

Miles. “The length of stay is longer thanwhat we normally get, and the amount ofmoney they spend is more than we typical-ly get, so it’s a great event in those terms.”The largest chunk of the $3.9 million pie

comes from lodging, which accounts for$1.2 million. According to the survey, thatmoney is spread out fairly evenly amongdifferent accomodations, with 37 percentof attendees staying in hotels, 27 percentstaying in condominiums and 25 percentstaying at resorts.That’s exactly the way organizers

planned it before the World Championshipwas first hosted by Pinehurst in 2006.“We knew right off the bat that there

was going to have to be a lot of coopera-tion in order to house these folks,” Milessaid. “Of course they stay at Pinehurst

Resort, but then they stay at a dozen otherhotels in the area. They also stay in condo-miniums and at resorts, so there’s a realgood spreading out of folks throughout thecommunity, which is excellent. That’s whyit’s a real community event.”Another $550,000 goes into the local food

and beverage industry, while $250,000 isspent on retail.Since the registration fee includes multi-

ple rounds of golf, one aspect of the sur-vey that surprised organizers is howmuchis spent on golf outside of the champi-onship. It seems some players like to showup early to play practice rounds, whileother attendees enjoy rounds on the localcourses throughout the tournament. Milestells a story about seeing a line of peoplestretching across the room of thePinehurst Resort’s main clubhouse oneyear while checking people in, many ofthem eyeing a chance to play PinehurstNo. 2.In all, it equaled to a $350,000 boom for

the local golf industry in 2008.But courses aren’t the only place atten-

dees pull out their clubs while in the area.“The first lesson a lot of the hotels

learned right off the bat was, we have tomonitor greens and chipping areas,

because the kids are wearing them out,”Miles said. “They literally have to set uptimes in which the kids can practice,because these kids just want to play all thetime.“The kids are so competitive. When

they’re not competing, they’re practicing.”Among the other findings of the 2008

survey, 74 percent of participants hailedfrom the U.S., followed byMexico,Canada, the United Kingdom, Colombiaand China.Fifty-six percent of attendees flew to

Pinehurst, accounting for approximately2,700 round trip passenger tickets pur-chased. Another 42 percent drove.Fifty-eight percent of attendees used a

rental car, and 64 percent have golf orcountry club memberships.Miles says the Convention and Visitors

Bureau looked into setting up activitiesoutside the local area but ultimately decid-ed against it.“By and large, when they come here,

they want to stay pretty close to wherethey’re competing and staying, and they’repretty busy when they’re here,” he said.The survey is conducted every two

years, and another one will be taken fol-lowing this year’s event.

Hitting the Green: Event Brings Boom to Economy


Two years ago at the U.S. Kids GolfWorld Championship, I met two ofthe greatest champions I have ever

known.When Michelle and Allysa Getty, a bub-

bly mother and 11-year-old daughter whohailed all the way fromCanada, attended myfree True Championworkshop, I could tellthey had hearts set towin.

“We came down earlyto practice, get used tothe course and to berested up for the tourna-ment,” Michelle said,explaining why theywere in Pinehurst awhole week early. Shequickly engaged mycoaching services tohelp prepare Allysa forcompetition.

I started by explaining the TrueChampion method: “Champions focus onprocesses,” I said. “So many players justfocus on swing mechanics and score.When the score doesn’t happen, they feellike failures, beat themselves up, and

many times that definition of successcreates family strife.

“The best way to win is to define yourown success before the tournament

starts by identifying what your process-es are and sticking to them. Success hap-pens when you fully engage in executingyour processes. It’s about personal

growth, not perfection. I call it love-based performance.”

We outlined the four types of process-es: physical, mental, emotional and spiri-tual.

For the next hour, we engaged in awonderful conversation. Allysa spokeand her mom filled in where necessary. Icould tell Michelle played a positivecoaching role with her daughter, the onlyrole which bears fruit in a child’s life.

We determined that Allysa lost focuson holes 17 and 18, partly because ofnutritional needs, partly because of lan-guishing mental endurance. It was key toher performance to regain laser-likefocus on the home stretch of each round.

I then talked to her about the spiritualcomponent — her higher purpose forplaying.

“My grandmother has cancer,” shesaid. “I’d like to make birdies forGrandma as my higher purpose for play-ing.”

I thought that was beautiful. We target-ed holes 17 and 18 as the holes she wouldfocus on “making birdies for Grandma,”helping her to engage even deeper

VeronicaKaramanGuest Columnist

Coaching Kids to Become True Champions

A recent interaction at Knollwood Fairways and Driving Range on Midland Road

see KARAMAN, page 11


Wilson Furr, a 12-year-old WorldChampionship participant this year, con-fronted a weighty issue in his home stateof Mississippi.When he found out from his dad that

the Magnolia State had the most obesechildren of any state in the nation, Furrfigured that if every elementary schoolkid in the state just played with a ball,they’d be slimmer.Two years ago, Furr went door to door

and collected 138 balls of all kinds.Footballs, basketballs, baseballs, play-ground balls.Luis Bruno, then the executive chef

for the Mississippi governor, heardabout Furr’s efforts. Inspired, Bruno,who recently had lost half his weight of400 pounds, visited Furr and helped him

form a nonprofit organization.Created in January 2010, Just Have A

Ball has already given away thousandsof balls and raised thousands more indonations.For making a difference throughout

his community and not just on the fair-ways, Furr is the 2010 recipient of thefourth annual Peggy Kirk Bell Award,given each year at the U.S. Kids GolfWorld Championship.Through the award, Furr, who plays

golf, football, basketball and baseball,earned an exemption to play in the 2010World Championship and received agrant from the U.S. Kids GolfFoundation that will cover his entry fee

Having a BallFor Work With Obesity, FurrWins Peggy Kirk Bell Award

see AWARD, page 10 Erica Jackson was the Peggy Kirk Bell Award winner in 2009.


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WORLD CUP WINNERS

Team USA captured the U.S. Kids Golf World Cup in 2009.

as well as travel and lodging expensesfor him and his caddie.Furr and his Just Have A Ball partner

and younger sister, Hartwell, alreadyhave spoken at more than 25 elementaryschool events and given away more than10,000 balls.Just Have A Ball has picked up several

partners and donors in Mississippi andbeyond, including the PresidentialChallenge, Mississippi Office of HealthySchools, Mississippi Department ofEducation, Mississippi Sports Hall ofFame and Museum, and the NationalFootball League’s New York Giants,which donated $1,000.“A few months ago, The Partnership

for a Healthy Mississippi called us andwanted to continue our cause and keep usas the spokesmen,” Furr said. “Theyhave a full staff and have huge plansstarting this school year to keep our sim-ple idea going. They plan to spend

around $70,000 this school year alone. Weare doing a video and will continuespeaking to our peers across the state.”The Peggy Kirk Bell Award is given

each year at the U.S. Kids Golf WorldChampionship to recognize a younggolfer who is making a difference in hisor her community, and not just on thefairways.The award is named for and inspired

by the lifelong efforts of Peggy KirkBell, who is often considered to be thefounder and catalyst for women’s golf inAmerica.Bell resides in Pinehurst, where she

can be found on most days at the PineNeedles Lodge and Golf Club, which isaffectionately known as the “Home ofWomen’s Golf.”She played professionally and won the

Titleholder’s Championship in 1949, butshe is best known for her dedication toteaching the game of golf to women. In2002, she became the first woman induct-ed into the World Golf Teachers Hall ofFame.Previous Peggy Kirk Bell Award win-

ners include Erica Jackson (2009), HarrisArmstrong (2008) and Kyle Lagrasso(2007).

AwardFrom Page 9


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where she would normally disengage.“My goal is to finish in the top 10!”

Allysa declared.“You do these processes, and I believe

you will,” I replied.Allysa, with strong champion focus, did

even better than that. Two of the threedays, she birdied 18, making birdies forGrandma. She finished sixth in her agedivision.

With her daughter now 13, I calledMichelle recently to see if they would bemaking the trip to Pinehurst this year.“She is preparing for the Canadian

National Amateur,” she said. “My dadjust passed away, and Allysa played hertournament this week in honor of hergrandfather. She made four birdies andwon it.”Mixed with the sympathy I felt for

Michelle’s family was an amazing joy tosee the fruitfulness of a soul spring forththrough her daughter’s performance. Toplay out of honor for her lost loved one —not to shrink back, but to play for a high-er purpose — showed me the true cham-

pion that Allysa is.Her game is about her family, and she

has been instilled with the real values ofwhat true championship is all about.I wonder what could happen if all the

players in this year’s tournament focusedon processes and were freed from theneed to be perfect? I just have to wonderhow many birdies for Grandma, lastingsmiles and real wins we could make.To get into the swing of the champi-

onship, parents and players are invited toattend one of my two free champion acti-vation workshops titled “Coaching Kidsto Greatness: 5 Keys to Releasing YourTrue Champion — and Champion Family”

this week.They will be held Sunday, Aug. 1, from

2-3:30 p.m., and Tuesday, Aug. 3, from 4-5:30 p.m., at Table on the GreenRestaurant, located next to the MidlandCountry Club pro shop.Each workshop begins with an ice

cream social, which costs $4 per personat the door.To sign up or for more information, call

(757) 407-1907 or [email protected].

Veronica Karaman is a golf professional,certified life coach and founder of TrueChampion Coaching

KaramanFrom Page 8


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James Sugg is already thinking aboutcollege, which is interesting, consideringwhat he could be thinking about.The Pinehurst resident will make his

third appearance in the U.S. Kids GolfWorld Championship this week, aftershooting 75 to win the 12-year-old boys’division at an 18-hole qualifier held at

Etowah Valley CountryClub in Hendersonvilleon June 21.But unlike most peers

who could lay claim tofeats like carding a 72 onPinehurst No. 2, compet-ing in the Future Mastersthe last two years andparticipating in interna-

tional championships, James isn’t think-ing about going pro or how many majorshe’s going to win.He says his goal in the game is to start

shooting toward par and under par,although he has thought ahead a little bit.His major goal for the future is to playgolf in college.But that’s a thought to ponder another

day. Right now, the rising O’Neal School

seventh-grader’s focus is squarely onplaying well in the World Championship,specifically, putting three good daystogether.“I want to play good, because I haven’t

done that yet in this tournament,” hesaid. “Last year, I had two good days andone awful day.”One thing the Pinehurst Resort mem-

ber has going for him, he’ll be playing onone of his home courses. The 12-year-oldboys’ competition will be played onPinehurst No. 4.James admits that living and playing in

the Pinehurst area for the last two years— his family moved back from Winston-Salem in the summer of 2008 — has beenan asset to his golf game, as has playingmany rounds with one of the most suc-cessful golfers in the history of the U.S.Kids Golf World Championship,Pinehurst native Josh Martin, and hisbrother, Zach.“They have been very kind to James,

about letting him play with them,” saidJames’ mother, Elizabeth, of the Martins.“The good players, when they go outtogether, they can really pull along some-one who needs to learn and watch some-one who really knows courses.”

As for Elizabeth and her husband,Russell, they don’t play golf and havelearned the game through watching theirson.“Parents and grandparents, we’re all

on the sidelines,” Elizabeth said. “Wedon’t know golf as well as he does. Hereads his own putts. He does everythingfor himself. We do nothing.“Regardless of the outcomes, James’

progress is something that we have nopart of.”That’s a bit of an overstatement, since

obviously the parents provide much inthe way of support for their son.But the idea that James is alone on the

course competing against other golferswho are in the same situation, and theresponsibility and camaraderie thatcomes along with the territory, is some-thing that Elizabeth likes about the gameof golf.“The players, they all understand that

they have 18 holes to play that day, theyhave no do-overs, and they share a cama-raderie regardless of their level of play,”she said. “To me, that’s what’s really spe-cial.”As for James, he’s got a special connec-

tion to U.S. Kids Golf. His first four sets

of clubs were produced by the organiza-tion.He says the fact that the U.S. Kids

clubs are made with such light weightsis a real asset to young people breakinginto the game.“It helps, because if they have a heavy

club, they can’t really swing them thatwell,” he said. “The light clubs fit them alot better.”Where any of the 1,300 World

Championship competitors’ golf careersand lives will take them is anybody’sguess, but at least James has an attain-able goal.He has a bit of insight into the colle-

giate golf landscape too — his familystill holds a membership at the Old TownClub in Winston-Salem, the home courseof the Wake Forest University golf team.But for the most part, James is just

focused on the most important shot ingolf — the next one.“I like golf, because you never hit the

same shot twice,” he said. “It’s reallyinteresting.”

Contact Patrick Love at (910) 693-2477or by e-mail at [email protected]

SUGG

On Course: Pinehurst’s Sugg Has Priorities Straight


Multiple Players Are Worth Keeping Tabs OnBY JOHN KRAHNERT III

Staff WriterMore than 1,300 youngsters will tee it up across the

Sandhills area this week to compete in the U.S. KidsGolf World Championship. So how do you keep tabs onall of them?While every player is certainly worthy of your sup-

port, below are a few names you may want to keep aneye on.You can’t really talk about the World Championship

without mentioning 11-year-old phenom StephenAbrams, from Wilson. He burst onto the scene as a 6-year-old and won his division title. He also won titles in2006 and 2007, and you can expect him to be hungry toreturn to the winner’s circle this year. Abrams will beplaying at Legacy.Be sure to follow Mississippi’s Wilson Furr, who will

be competing in the 12-year-old boys division. He’s thisyear’s recipient of the Peggy Kirk Bell Award for hisselfless efforts to combat childhood obesity in his homestate. His “Just Have A Ball” initiative has providedthousands of balls for kids to play with — not to men-tion thousands of dollars in donations he’s received.It’s not surprising that Furr would have such success

promoting an active lifestyle. He’s a four-sport athletewho plays football, basketball and baseball in additionto golf. You can find Furr out on Pinehurst No. 4.There are several golfers with some recognizable

family members.How about Allen Kournikova, from Palm Beach, Fla.?

His sister, Anna, and cousin, Evgeny Korolev, are pro-fessional tennis players. He’ll be competing in the 6-year-old boys division at Midland Country Club.If you’re a movie buff, you’ll like Phoebe Beber-

Frankel, from Miami, Fla. Her dad, David, is aHollywood director whose films include “The DevilWears Prada” and “Marley & Me.” She’ll be challengingfor the girls 8-year-old division at Longleaf.Zach Jackson, of Franklin, Tenn., has ties to the hard-

wood. His dad, Sean, was an Ivy League Player of theYear for the Princeton basketball team. Look for him inthe 9-year-old boys division out on Pinehurst No. 8.Shelby Groeneveld, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., has grid-

iron bloodlines. Her uncle, Danny Kanell, played quar-terback for the New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons andDenver Broncos. She’ll be playing with the 12-year-oldgirls at Pinehurst No. 3.There are plenty of kids who are making a difference

in their communities too.Among them are Ivy Shepherd, of Peachtree City,

Ga., who raised $1,000 on her own to fund her participa-tion in a Jekyll Island golf tournament last year. She’salso heavily involved in church mission activities. She’sin the 10-year-old girls division and is competing atTalamore.Then there’s Karah Sanford, from Escondido, Calif.,

who grows and cuts her hair several times each year todonate to Locks of Love.She’s taking her talents to Longleaf in the 8-year-old

girls division. A golfer watches her putt fall during last year’s event.


When you are in the Sandhills, variety isthe spice of golf.Competitors in the 2010 U.S. Kids Golf

World Championship will take their bestdrives and putts on nine area courses.Below is a list of the courses that will be

participating, along with some informationparticipants, their families and spectatorsmight want to know.Note that each course will play shorter

than its normal length.

Pinehurst No. 3GGiirrllss 1122Total yardage: 5,400. Holes: 18.Designed by Donald Ross in 1910, No. 3 is

a rolling, short course that will test thegame of any golfer. Renovated greens putmore of a premium on putting accuracy. “Ijust don’t think people understand how goodthose holes are,” said Ben Crenshaw of No.3. “They’re filled with interest. They’reshorter, but there’s plenty of character tothem.”

Pinehurst No. 4BBooyyss 1122Yardage: 6,000. Holes: 18.Designed in 1919 by Donald Ross and

redesigned by Tom Fazio in 2000, thiscourse offers a championship challenge tothose who dare, including more than 140 potbunkers. The site of the 2008 U.S. Amateur,No. 4 also offers some of the most picturesque scenes at Pinehurst, includingthe 13th and 14th water holes.

Pinehurst No. 8BBooyyss 99Yardage: 4,800. Holes 18.Designed by Tom Fazio, No. 8 opened in

1996 to commemorate Pinehurst’s centenni-al year. Fazio incorporated signatureDonald Ross features into the design,including dips and swales around thegreens, sloping greens and false fronts. Thegreens and tees are close together, makingit a pleasure to walk.

TalamoreGGiirrllss 1100Yardage: 4,800. Holes 18.GGiirrllss 1111Yardage: 5,000. Holes: 18.Designed by Rees Jones, Talamore has

been considered one of the country’s finestcourses since opening in 1991. Position andstrategy are at a premium on this course, as

Jones said, “What I’m trying to do is requirethinking.”

Mid Pines Golf ClubBBooyyss 88 ((BBaacckk))Yardage: 2,100. Holes: 9.BBooyyss 77 ((FFrroonntt))Yardage: 1,700. Holes: 9.A course many have characterized as

“Pure Donald Ross,” Mid Pines wasdesigned by Ross in 1921 and still boasts thesame layout as it did when it opened. It uti-lizes the land it was built on to create a funyet challenging test for any golfer. Thecourse has hosted numerous tournamentsand championships, including the 2002USGA Senior Women’s Amateur.

Midland Country ClubBBooyyss 66 aanndd uunnddeerrYardage: 1,300. Holes 9.Designed by Tom Jackson, the nine-hole

course opened in 1977 and caters to seniors,women and juniors as well as experiencedplayers. It is a challenging yet enjoyableand friendly layout that will leave golferswanting more.

Little River Golf ClubBBooyyss 1100Yardage: 5,200. Holes 18.Designed by Dan Maples, Little River

opened in 1996. The oft-honored course is

sculptured from 450 acres of rolling hillsand features nearly 200 feet in elevationchanges. It is sure to test even the mostskilled golfer.

Longleaf Golf ClubGGiirrllss 99 ((BBaacckk))Yardage: 2,100. Holes: 9.GGiirrllss 88 ((ffrroonntt))Yardage: 1,800. Holes 9.GGiirrllss 77 aanndd uunnddeerr ((ffrroonntt))Yardage: 1,500. Holes: 9.Designed by Dan Maples and opened in

1998, Longleaf has been called “The MostPlayable Course in the Sandhills.” Thecourse features two distinct layouts. Thefront nine is a more links-style layout, fea-turing many of the horse track’s originalfeatures — white fences, rail posts andhedgerows. The back nine, in contrast, isheavily tree-lined with dramatic elevationchanges.

Legacy Golf LinksBBooyyss 1111Yardage: 5,600. Holes: 18The newest addition to the U.S. Kids Golf

World Championship lineup, Legacy wasdesigned by Jack Nicklaus Jr. and opened in1991. It’s one of only three courses in thePinehurst area to have hosted a USGAnational championship. Among its claims tofame are four of the best par-3s in theSandhills.

A Look at the Courses

The U.S.Kids Golf Foundation hosts the World Championship at Pinehurst and operates as a 501 c (3) nonprofit organization.The Foundation was created in 2001 with the vision of providing kids and their families to participate in the game of golf throughinstruction and competition.Today, the U.S.Kids Golf Foundation conducts over 400 local, regional,national,and international events.

TeenWorld ChampionshipJuly 29-31

TeenWorld CupSunday,August 1, Pinehurst No. 2

WorldChampionshipAugust 5-7

World CupSunday,August 8, Pinehurst No. 2

TheUSKidsGolf Foundationwould like to thankthecommunityofPinehurst and thevolunteersforwelcoming theplayers,their familiesandfriends fromacross theworld.

WeWouldAlsoLikeToThankTheParticipatingGolfCourses:Pinehurst,Mid Pines, Longleaf, Little River,Talamore,Midland, Legacy and Pine Needles.

BEACON RIDGE GOLF & COUNTRY CLUBWest End, North Carolina910.673.2950www.beaconridgegolfcc.com

BEST WESTERN PINEHURST INNSouthern Pines, North Carolina910.692.0640www.gosandhillsgolf.com

COMFORT INN OF PINEHURSTPinehurst, North Carolina910.215.5500www.comfort.pmcproperties.com

DAYS INNSouthern Pines, North Carolina910.692.8585www.daysinnsp.com

GOLF ESCAPES, INC.Pinehurst, North Carolina877.205.7775www.golfescapeinc.com

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESSSouthern Pines, North Carolina910.693.2280www.hiexpress.com

WELCOME U.S. KIDS GOLF!

HAMPTON INN & SUITESAberdeen, North Carolina910.693.4330www.gosandhillsgolf.com

HYLAND GOLF CLUBSouthern Pines, North Carolina910.692.6400www.HylandGolfClub.com

INN AT THE BRYANT HOUSEAberdeen, North Carolina910.944.3300www.innatbryanthouse.com

LEGACY GOLF LINKSAberdeen, North Carolina800.344.8825www.littleriver.com

LITTLE RIVER GOLF & RESORTCarthage, North Carolina910.949.4600www.golfescapeinc.com

MAGNOLIA INN, THEPinehurst, North Carolina910.295.6900www.themagnoliainn.com

MAPLES GOLF PACKAGESPinehurst, North Carolina910.944.1600www.MaplesGolf.com

NATIONAL GOLF CLUBPinehurst, North Carolina910.295.4300www.nationalgolfclub.com

PINEHURST RESORTPinehurst, North Carolina1.800.ITS.GOLFwww.pinehurst.com

PINEWILD COUNTRY CLUBPinehurst, North Carolina910.295.5145www.pinewildcc.com

PINE NEEDLES LODGE & GOLF CLUBSouthern Pines, North Carolina910.692.7111www.pineneedles-midpines.com

RESIDENCE INN BY MARRIOTTSouthern Pines, North Carolina910.693.3400www.mariott.com/fayph

SEVEN LAKES COUNTRY CLUBSeven Lakes, North Carolina888.47LAKESwww.sevenlakescountryclub.com

TALAMORE GOLF RESORTSouthern Pines, North Carolina800.552.6292www.TalamoreGolfResort.com

TIN CUPAberdeen, North Carolina888.465.3857www.tincupgolf.com

TOBACCO ROAD GOLFSanford, North Carolina919.775.1940www.TobaccoRoadGolf.com

RELAX YOUR GRIP.

You know what the golf pros say: You’ll get better results if you loosen up. Good

advice off the course, too, which is why we suggest you consider a few days in the

Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area of North Carolina to reconnect with

your spouse, your family and your inner self.

Our charming resorts and spas will take you a world away from your day-to-day stress. Our

unique shops, potteries and galleries will offer a little retail therapy for those in

need. And then, of course, there are our famous championship golf courses to

simultaneously calm the mind and reinvigorate the spirit. We’ll return you to your

life with a relaxed outlook and a new grip on your priorities.

LET GO. LOOSEN UP AT THE HOME OF AMERICAN GOLF®.VISIT WWW.HOMEOFGOLF.COM TO PLAN YOUR STAY.

your spouse, your family and your inner self.

Our charming resorts and spas will take you a world away from your day-to-day stress. Our

unique shops, potteries and galleries will off er a little retail therapy for those in

need. And then, of course, there are our famous championship golf courses to

simultaneously calm the mind and reinvigorate the spirit. We’ll return you to your

Documents

US Kids 2010