Edgewood Golf Course (413-569-6826) in Southwick runs its spring open two-man scramble on Sunday.
Local courses East Mountain CC and Tekoa CC in Westfield are registered with the organization and each is looking to form teams of approximately eight to 12 golfers.
“It’s a national program and last year they had 16 of these leagues set up, mostly at bigger metropolitan areas,” East Mountain CC pro Ted Perez Jr. said. “It’s basically run the same as Little League baseball. “
Boys and girls ages 9-13 are eligible and no experience or equipment is necessary.
“It’s for juniors of all skill levels,” said Perez, who also serves as chairman of the junior golf committee with the Connecticut Section PGA.
Each club hopes to form its own team, with at least one “practice” each week in addition to matches.
“Matches may be nine holes, or maybe a timed event,” Tekoa CC head pro E.J. Altobello said. “We’re hoping to give the middle school and elementary school aged kids an opportunity to be part of something in golf.”
The format for team matches centers on play using a scramble format. Golfers would be paired as a two-player team, switching partners after three holes.
“I like it because the scramble format takes the pressure off the kids,” Perez said.
The match schedule would be determined by the PGA Junior League.
Cost to participate with a team at one of the local courses is approximately $100. Fees cover use of the golf course at practices and matches, as well as a team golf shirt, golf balls and a bag tag.
“And we (pros) will be out there with the kids, on the golf course,” Perez said. “I think that for what the kids get, it’s well worth the $100.”
Perez said he’d expect the juniors to be able to play twice a week, for at least six weeks.
“We want to get the kids out on the golf course,” Perez said. “They need teaching time there, not on the driving range.”
Interested juniors must sign up on the web site – www.pgajrleaguegolf.com – and the registration fee is not due at that time. Perez was hopeful of having the league underway by June 1.
“It’s going to be a learning process for us, but we just want to get the kids out on the golf course, having fun,” Perez said. “It typically takes three years to get something like this to where you want it. We want to get this started and build on it.”
The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield and the YMCA for Greater Westfield have already established teams.
“Golf teaches kids the same things we do . . . things like patience, understanding rules, integrity and honesty,” Boys & Girls Club executive director Bill Parks said.
For more information, Perez can be reached at (413) 568-1539 or tperezjr@eastmountaincc.com, and Altobello’s pro shop number is (413) 568-1064 and his email is eja@tekoacc.com
LOCAL NOTES: Edgewood GC (413-569-6826) in Southwick runs its spring open two-man scramble on Sunday .. Ludlow CC stages a men’s senior amateur two-ball May 13. Call (413) 583-3434 for tee times ... CC of Greenfield runs a two-man scramble May 11 and its Mac Sennett Two-ball May 31-June 2 (play any/all days). Call the pro shop at 773-7530 ... Entry deadline for the Massachusetts Amateur is Thursday at 5 p.m. The championship runs July 8-12 at Longmeadow CC.
Follow Russ Held on Twitter at @RussHeldGolf