Junior Golf: Kids having fun is theme for Eagle Hills program Objectives tend to be low key when Idaho golf professionals welcome a new crop of junior golfers each summer. “Hey, I skipped it!” was the proud accom- plishment of one 6-year-old after he sent a ball skimming across the lake that serves as the driving range at Eagle Hills GC on opening day of summer junior lessons. “Is it almost time to eat?” was on the mind of another. Over at the putting green, a group of older, more experienced golfers was engrossed in se- rious golf learning, otherwise known as a game of “poison.” “If you make your putt, then your ball is poi- son and you can knock out other players by hit- ting their ball,” 8-year-old J.P. Edwards said. The object of junior lessons is to introduce kids to the game and get them ready to play, but the initial goal is much simpler. “More than anything it’s about having fun,” Eagle Hills PGA Teaching Professional Dave Bar- tels said. “If they want to go do a cartwheel, they are welcome to it.” Junior lessons are offered every Wednesday of summer break at Eagle Hills excluding the week of the Fourth of July. Lunch is included in the $15 fee, and pay is week by week. “Parents can drop the kids off to go shopping or whatever they need to do, and if you miss a week it doesn’t matter,” Bartels said. Once students progress past the basics they are taken out to play a few holes from Eagle Hills’ junior tees (roughly 150 yards from each green). More experienced players are paired with beginners in a scramble format to keep things moving. “Some of them are ready to go play golf, which is great,” Bartels said. “The object is to get them out on the golf course on a regular basis.” CLICK HERE to Visit www.eaglehillsgolfcourse.com