Juniors watch, learn

Nicolette Babineau was all smiles on Saturday afternoon at the Newport Beach Country Club.

She had just practiced her golf swing with a former Masters and U.S. Open winner — and walked away with flying colors.

“I’m proud of you,” PGA Champions Tour golfer Fuzzy Zoeller said to Babineau. “You did good. You hit it three times in a row.”

Costa Mesa resident Babineau, 8, was one of more than 100 children who attended the annual Wells Fargo Junior Golf Clinic, held at the NBCC driving range after the second round of the Toshiba Classic.

“It was fun,” Babineau said. “I liked hitting the ball.”

Meanwhile, her father, Ken, was also smiling nearby.

“Fuzzy Zoeller is her grandfather’s favorite golfer,” Ken Babineau explained.

Zoeller, Andy Bean and Mark Johnson, as well as Newport Beach Country Club head pro Paul Hahn, were on hand to give tips to the youngsters as they teed off on the driving range. The clinic is in its fourth year.

Israel Velasquez of Santa Ana, 10, said he learned a lot.

“They told me to keep balanced when you’re holding the club, and to spread your legs,” said Velasquez, part of a group of kids in attendance from the Santa Ana-based after-school program KidWorks. “It’s cool, because they’re famous.”

KidWorks President Ava Steaffens said she was also impressed.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for them to come out and try a new sport,” Steaffens said. “It’s not just the opportunity to be with the professionals, but to actually interact with them. It can maybe expand their horizons. It’s great.”

Zoeller said it was the third year that he and Bean had been involved with the clinic. Before it began Saturday afternoon, many of the kids had their hats and T-shirts signed by all of the pros in attendance.

“What’s nice about it, man, is you’ve got kids who have never had the opportunity to step on a golf course,” said Zoeller, who is at four-over par after the first two days of the Toshiba Classic. “We’re sitting here teaching them the grip, the stance, and to swing with balance. To see them hit the golf ball, just to feel the contact and then to see their eyes? It’s fun, it’s tremendous. It’s nice to see these kids smile.”

Zoeller said he was particularly impressed to see so many girls in attendance at the clinic.

“The young girls today, if they’d learn the game of golf at a young age, they could go through college with it,” Zoeller said. “They could go through corporate America — think about it. Where do all the guys want to go? They want to go play golf. Where else can you go and capture your business partners and associates for four hours, have fun and talk business? It’s very beneficial for the ladies to know how to play golf.”

Two such girls in attendance were Newport Beach residents Amy Matsuoka, 10, and Melissa Matsuoka, 15. Melissa is a standout on the Corona del Mar High girls’ tennis team.

Denis Matsuoka, the girls’ father, said Amy just picked up golf about six months ago.

“It’s a great opportunity for the kids to learn about the sport,” Denis Matsuoka said. “It’s a great sport for young kids to start, and it’s great that the pros devote their time. Amy knows some of the golfers, like Jay Haas. She was excited to get the autographs of Ben Crenshaw, Bernhard Langer and Fuzzy Zoeller, of course.”

As the sun was setting, Zoeller and the other pros were still out giving instruction.

“I think it’s amazing,” Ken Babineau said. “The fact that they take their time to spend with the kids is phenomenal. I’m sure they have other things to do after playing 18 holes of championship golf.”

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or by e-mail at [email protected].