This Week at WorldGolf.com: Jan. 04, 2006

Learning something from
the kids, without having to gag

Take a kid golfing for the first time and chances are you'll be struck by the joy for the game. It's almost startlingly, really, looked at from a grownup perspective of obsessing over scores, worrying if you got your shotmaking money's worth in that new hybrid and making sure you're not getting disrespected by that group behind you.

Then, there's the 10-year-old out there on the par 3 course, whacking and wailing at the ball, missing a good chunk of the time, but having a heck of a time.

Somewhere along the way, that first-timer's 10-year-old spirit gets beaten down and you're left with a 40-year-old with a rusty set of clubs in the garage who goes bowling every Thursday night.

This isn't a call for hackers to rediscover their inner golfing child. Please. Who do you think's writing in this space this week? This isn't Managing Editor Mark Nessmith, our resident sap master hanky man.

It's not about average golfers going on a journey to find out what they've lost. It's mostly about golf course clubhouse workers realizing what they're coming up lost on.

Mainly, that extra service push.

When I took my 9-, 10- and 12-year-old cousins out to a par 3 course in California right around Christmas, they were treated like royalty.

Even though the club didn't offer rental sets for juniors, the staff went in back and scrounged up enough clubs for all three of them without charging a penny. They hooked them up with a driver, seven irons, sand wedges, the whole bit.

The kids loved it. The youngest smashed drives onto the green with that one wood. They each spent minutes debating their club selection. The girl in the trio delighted in using the pink and purple balls, she was allowed to pick from a bucket (yes, there's a future Jennifer Mario fashion maven in the family). They thought it was cool when they hit one too far into the water.

The fun was set up early by the tone in the golf shop. And it carried over onto the course. This place was packed with kids with everyone off school and parents sick of staring at relatives. Still, even with a four-group backup on the first tee, none of the kids on the course could be heard complaining or even grumbling.

In fact, a little girl who couldn't have been more than seven playing in the group behind us could be heard yelling "Yes, I'm sure!" when her dad kept asking if she was certain she wanted to finish the last hole with it getting cold and dark.

It just goes to show that how you treat your customers, no matter what size, when they walk through the door often sets the tone for the entire day. More golf courses of all types need to drop the attitude.

As always, WorldGolf.com welcomes your comments.

China's Palm Island Resort has locals
heading to the course, rain or shine

One of the crown jewels of golf in China, the Palm Island Resort features 27 Jack Nicklaus-designed holes. From gourmet restaurants to the oddly francophonic-sounding "Le Spa," it is a resort in every sense of the word. Located 40 minutes from the Hong Kong/Shenzhen border, Palm Island deftly splices Chinese culture with Western amenities. The herbal tea and hard boiled eggs available at the snack bar are just some of the things that remind foreigners they're golfing in China.

Full story | Also: Blogger discovers golf, more in South Korea

Michelle Wie's first coach:
20 minutes with Casey Nakama

Michelle Wie has taken the golf world by storm, with everyone desperate to find out more about the talented teenager. But what do we know of Casey Nakama, one of the reasons for her success? Nakama was Wie's first formal coach, starting with the youngster when she was just 10. Here, Nakama talks with Jennifer Mario to discuss Wie's incredible work ethic and how new coaches have changed her swing, maybe for the worse.

Full story | Also: A classic taste of Big Island golf

Golf writers differ in opinions
of 'player-friendly' Magique irons

Magique Golf prides itself on designing clubs that help the average golfer. The clubs are designed by teaching professionals with the weekend warriors in mind instead of, in the company's words "an engineer for a Tour pro." That's what their M-series are supposed to do, appeal to the weekend hacker. TravelGolf.com triple-teamed the company's irons, with startlingly different results. Tim McDonald sorts it out to let you know if these clubs are for you.

Full story | Also: Torrequebrada in Spain just wants your money, says reader