Head back
to school at TGW.com
TravelGolf.com Staff Report
The back-to-school days of yellow buses, playground laughter and, yes,
learning are near.
Parents everywhere are getting their children ready for the transition
from bathing suits and bare feet to school supplies and appropriate
wardrobes. But the end of summer break and the start of endless classroom
fodder shouldn't be all doom and gloom.
The Golf Warehouse (TGW.com), the world's largest golf e-tailer, is
out to help make learning, studying and socializing more enjoyable for
kids, while still promoting their striving for Harvard scholarships.
"Education is paramount, but there's nothing wrong with putting a
little golf spice in their lives," says Mark Marney, CEO of TGW.com.
With
that said, may we recommend an assortment of golf garb and giggles for
elementary-to-high school children as found at TGW.com.
Shoes
There's nothing wrong with wearing your Footjoys
-- and SoftSpikes -- to mathematics class. Or choose from NIKE's saddle
(for the studious, sensitive and GQ types) and sport athletic (jocks
get the girls) collections. Besides, Converse doesn't make Chuck Taylor
canvas high tops for Bermuda grass.
Apparel
Unless you go to parochial school, Titleist
2003 golf caps are allowed to be worn under most school rules and regs.
Sunglasses
Choose
from Bolle's sport metal sunglasses collection. It'll have the girls
after your boys, keep the teachers from noticing their dozing off, and
(bonus!) the mirror coating offers 100-percent UVA/UVB Protection from
the sun shining through classroom windows. English students studying
21st-century casual clichés and owning adolescent thoughts say they've
got it "made in the shade."
Equipment
Try the La Jolla junior clubs (perhaps the snoopy model for pre-K'ers)
or Taylor Made's outstanding 320K kids club sets. U.S. Kids junior carry
stand bags mitigate risk of premature hernia, and Cleveland's
famous wedges make long stays in sandboxes a thing of the past.
Watch out, though, a putter from RAM may give your kids the confidence
of Tom Watson lining up for a key putt. The gloves gotta be U.S. Kids
Junior Good-Grip golf gloves or Nike Junior Stretch golf gloves for
growing hands. Wilson's
smart-core golf balls have a studious ring to them. Golf wiffle balls
are available for practice when kids don't have the time to go to the
course, or for small backyards; they hook and slice just like real golf
balls.
OK, throw in a CartCaddy junior pull cart for good measure (books can
be schlepped this way). You got your pick of headcovers because who cares
if they're way too large for the driver. The Bushnell yardage pro laser
rangefinders are for measuring distance to the nearby cuties at school.
Dunlop's golf handicap tracker watch informs students when the bell is
going to ring and is evidence of course improvement to impress peers with
a simple peek at the wrist.
After School
At home, set up Ultimate's or Chipmate's instant golf net for backyard
practicing after homework is completed. It's a great substitute for cartoons
or "While You We're Out" on TV. Dr. Phil agrees that convenient practice
fosters improved discipline in life.
Desk Accessories
Anything to get kids into the studying frame of mind. InsideRight
golf note cards help your kids become the teacher's pet when you send
an "expression of thanks for her good ways" around report-card time.
History Craft's "perpetual" golf calendar reminds kids there are only
a certain number of days before holiday break. The fabric gift bag can
be filled with goodies to help win over cheerleaders. History Craft's
golf bag business card holder gives kids reason to study for Jack Welch's
corporate life. The company's golf pencil cup makes certain the excuse
of being pencil-less doesn't fly, and the golf bag coin bowl is a place
to store your allowance. Don't buy the golf dish that doubles as an
ashtray.
Books
"At the Turn," by Steve Eubanks, is ideal book-report material. It
mixes history (when golf was an elitist, white, middle-age, rich-man's
game), with passion (practice makes perfect), jubilance (1999 Ryder
Cup), business (the PGA Tour's mega-million-dollar enterprise) and emotional
letdown (1997 Ryder Cup). It examines how the new boys (Tiger,
Sergio), bad boys (you know who) and good ol' boys (Palmer,
Nicklaus) changed the way the world thinks about golf. Then there's
conflict (backstage power struggles at the PGA) and death (Payne Stewart).
Teachers will be impressed that your kids read all 278 pages. Makes
for a grade in the B+ to A range.
Another good read for kids is "Harvey Penick's Little Red Book" that
espouses the wisdom that Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite used as juniors.
A closing note from TGW.com's Marney is his salute those students who
strive to be the best they can be.
Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.
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