Karen Sangillo
Thursday, June 12, 2025
Not every kid is tall, strong or fast.
But that doesn’t mean they can’t participate in a sport.
Consider golf.
It’s a sport that, with practice, anyone can master, and there are a lot of advantages to starting young.
Kayla Malicki is already a veteran at age 12, having picked up the sport four years ago. For the Malicki family, which includes father Doug and mother Stacey, it has become a family experience, allowing them to spend outdoor time together and encourage each other.
“At first it was just Kayla and me but Stacey realized she was missing out on the fun, so she picked up the sport and now it’s the whole family,” Doug said.
The Malickis do their golfing at Five Ponds Golf Club in Warminster, where junior golf coordinator Garrett Urglavitch caters to youngsters who want to learn the game.
According to Urglavitch, players can be as serious as they want to be, so there’s no pressure to perform.
“The goal is for them to learn to play and enjoy themselves,” he said. “If they go on to become more competitive players, great, but it’s not a requirement.”
“The best part for me is getting to meet new people all the time,” said Colin Jr., who also plays basketball. “I like that it’s a sport I can do for my whole life, which I can’t really do with basketball, and it’s a great sport to really push yourself.”
Colin Chapman Jr., 9, has been golfing for five years, more than half his life. It started with going to the driving range to hit a few buckets of balls with Dad Colin Sr. to a serious sport.
“The best part for me is getting to meet new people all the time,” said Colin Jr., who also plays basketball. “I like that it’s a sport I can do for my whole life, which I can’t really do with basketball, and it’s a great sport to really push yourself.”
His father sees a lot of benefits. They’ve played a lot of different courses and have quality time together out in the fresh air.
“There’s no pressure on him,” the elder Chapman said. “He can take it as seriously as he wants to.”
Young Colin does see himself playing for a high school team someday.
“I think I want to do that,” he said. “I’m not sure about college, but I can at least play even if I’m not on a team.”
Most area clubs have youth programs.
“I would encourage families to look into it,” Colin Sr. said. “It’s been wonderful for our family and I think a lot of other families would have the same experience we’ve had.”
Matt Foust, assistant golf pro at Bensalem Country Club, runs the youth program.
“It’s a very individual sport,” he said. “It’s you versus the course. A lot of sports are team events but golf, it’s you against yourself, trying to improve.
“For kids, I think it’s just about learning the game and learning about themselves. Everyone fits in.”
“But there are plenty of social opportunities and that’s important especially when they become adults. Golf is a great way to connect with other people. A lot of business is conducted during a round of golf, so being able to play is an advantage for them down the road.
“For kids, I think it’s just about learning the game and learning about themselves. Everyone fits in.”
Bob Eckenrode, the managing partner at Fox Hollow in Quakertown, also stressed that golf is for everyone.
“We get all shapes and sizes coming in to play with their parents,” he said. “And it’s a skill you can develop by hitting the driving range or putting in your living room, so it doesn’t have to be expensive.
“It gets kids active and outdoors and away from the video games, and you don’t have to be a star to play. It’s enough to just have fun.”
While Fox Hollow doesn’t have a youth program per se, kids pay half price for a round of golf when accompanied by a parent.
Bensalem CC has a youth clinic starting the second week of July from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
“It’s really beneficial for the kids,” Foust said. “We get them on the course and go over the rules and pretty much everything they need to know.”
Five Ponds offers a youth academy, where kids as young as four can attend clinics, while older players have more advanced camps with an eye toward prepping them for their high school teams.
“If a kid asked me about golf, I would tell them to just give it a try,” Colin Chapman Jr. said. “I did, and it was a really good decision for me.”