ORANGE COUNTY GOLF NOTEBOOK / STEVE KRESAL : Youth Is Being Served on Many Local Courses

While some adults sneer at children running around when a golf course conducts a junior program, in reality, the future of the game is being ensured.

Junior programs are offered at almost every course and driving range in Orange County. They teach the rules, etiquette and nuances of the game, so kids don’t go out and tear up courses the way adults who don’t know any better often do. Children learn the simple things, such as replacing divots and fixing ball marks.

The programs also readies the next generation of players for already-crowded courses.

One of the most vibrant junior programs in the county can be found at Fullerton Golf Course. General Manager Ryan Batzel isn’t shy about praising it, terming it “the strongest junior golf program in Southern California” when answering a questionnaire.

For $20 a month, participants--who are split up by skill level instead of remaining in one large group--receive weekly lessons and free use of the driving range, among other things.

The program has grown from groups of two- or three-week sessions in the summer to its current year-round enterprise under Batzel, who has worked at Fullerton eight years.

The best indication of success came when a team from Fullerton won the Southern California Junior PGA team match play title last August at Industry Hills.

Batzel hopes to set up junior golf like Little League, with players drafted and competing on teams at Fullerton and other courses.

“Our program is not just a summer camp,” Batzel said. “We want to offer more than that. The key is my teaching staff; they do an outstanding job.”

Another unique junior program is offered at David L. Baker Memorial Golf Course.

Mondays at 4 p.m., children aged 6 to 15 descend on the Fountain Valley course for a free one-hour lesson.

The lessons serve as introductions to everything from how to hold a club to how to swing, and include range balls.

As many as 100 kids might stop by for the class on a Monday afternoon.

Hank Woodrome, the PGA professional from Fullerton Golf Club, reached the quarterfinals of the Southern California PGA match play championships last week at Redhawk Golf Course in Temecula.

Woodrome was beaten, 2-up, by Todd Yoshitake of Alhambra. Yoshitake advanced to the final but lost to Chris Starkjohann of Fallbrook’s Pala Mesa Resort, 2 and 1.

Hole of the Week: Pain of the week might be a better title for the 12th hole at Anaheim Hills, a 509-yard dogleg left, par 5.

Trouble off the tee comes from a lake that catches errant shots that go right or travel through the fairway.

The second shot is up the face of hill that serves as a landing area--of sorts. Forward roll is out of the question on this shot, but backward roll is always a possibility.

But things only start to get difficult at this point. It’s time for a third shot to a good-sized but unseen green that sits on top of the plateau.

Upon reaching the summit, take a second or two before putting out to admire the view of the valley below--and perhaps to laugh at the foursome behind you as it attempts the climb. That might provide your only joy on the hole.