Local group helps build enthusiasm for golf

For the Friends of Golf Society, this week's Dalhousie Junior Championship represents a coming-out party.

The 1-year-old Southeast Missouri organization is increasing public awareness of its cause this week with signage, advertising and other campaigns revolving around the second annual American Junior Golf Association tournament at Dalhousie Golf Club in Cape Girardeau.

"We wanted to use this tournament as a springboard to raise awareness about the benefits of golf in general," said Jim Riley, one of the club's members. "The young people competing out here this week are way into the game, but we think there are a lot of benefits for all young people, not only in the enjoyment, but also in the principles derived from following the rules."

The Friends of Golf Society, FROGS, was a contributor to last year's AJGA event at Dalhousie and fielded some teams in that junior-am. This year, the group has increased its sponsorship of the tournament to be one of the primary supporters with a contribution of $15,000.

Riley hopes this is just the start.

"We really aspire to do some nice things," he said. "We're still discovering what they are, but we know they're going to involve encouraging junior golf and encouraging both the game and the principles that surround the game.

"We'd like to look at scholarships possibly, supporting junior golf events that are not necessarily at the highest level like this. We want to help fund those efforts locally."

Riley said First Tee and similar programs afford opportunities for FROGS to make a contribution to the community. Lyle Davis, the chair of the society, said he has been contacted by the Boy Scouts about a program for that organization's merit badge.

"I didn't play golf until I was in college, thinking it was a rich man's sport," Davis said. "But it doesn't have to be. That's what this organization is all about.

"We want to help young people learn to play and help them learn the rules of golf so it will carry through with them the rest of their lives."

FROGS currently has 25 members, but hopes to expand significantly -- to 75 or 100 members -- by the end of this year. Membership is open to individuals, families or clubs with a donation of $1,000.

"It's easier for a hundred guys to put in a thousand dollars into the foundation than it is for one company to come up with $20,000 to sponsor a tournament," Riley said.

The organization is planning a FROGS Festival at Dalhousie in October to play golf, have dinner and plan the activities and goals for 2009.

This week, the organization also has a 20-minute program airing on cable television and a booklet geared toward children ages 5 to 10 that is being distributed at the golf course.

The group's signs feature, obviously, a frog, whose signature line is "Rip-it, rip-it."

In the organization's two teams in the AJGA junior-am Monday, three local juniors -- Corey Connell of Cape Girardeau, Jessica Houseman of Jackson and Evan Deere of Sikeston -- had the opportunity to play in the shamble format and rub shoulders with AJGA players.

"We contacted [Dalhousie director of golf] Jack Connell and wanted to invite some juniors who we thought might enjoy the experience," said Riley, whose junior-am team included Houseman, AJGA player Lindsey Eisenreich and FROGS supporters Mary Jane Eftink and Carol Largent. "We were lucky to find Jessica, who is just a fantastic player."

Riley would like to help area programs create more fantastic young players or just expose young people to the sport and its principles of respect, responsibility and honesty.

"We're going to try to target people who might not have access to this information or this game," he said. "There is a lot of enrichment opportunity with golf with the camaraderie. You're competing with your friends and it adds a level of shared experience and appreciation."