By Susan Jenior

Staff Writer

Our family played Sunday mornings for as long as I can remember, whether it was at Suffield Springs, Olde Dutch Mill or Kent State University Golf Course.

One week, one of the guys getting ready to tee off at Suffield Springs was not happy that he had a fivesome in front of him: Two adults and three kids.

That was us.

Joe Rainieri, owner and head golf pro at Suffield, told the gentleman and his foursome: “If you catch them, I will pay for your round.”

They never even came close.

We played scrambles, let our kids catch up with us after watching turtles in the pond or hot air balloons fly over and just generally had a great time.

Just like other sports, golf is a game of sensible choices, teaching your kids good course management and having fun.

That is also the case today.

While our own kids are all adults, we still subscribe to the philosophy of reasonable play, having a great time and teaching life skills along the way.

Several courses do that, including the course featured for Building a Program last week (Olde Dutch Mill) and this week’s feature: Fairways at Twin Lakes in Kent.

BUILDING A PROGRAM

FAIRWAY AT TWIN LAKES

Bryan Harvey, coach of the Kent Roosevelt varsity girls golf team knows how to make golf fun.

For 16 years, the little girls program has been a staple of girls golf at Kent Roosevelt.

“The youth program has been an invaluable asset to the success of our program,” said Harvey, coach of the Kent Roosevelt varsity girls. “Almost every girl who has played on our team during the last 10 years has participated in the summer program.

“The program enables the girls to interact with future coaches and teammates while developing skills and etiquette that they will use on the course.”

The program has a unique concept, encouraging young girls even if they don’t play at the next level.

“The program teaches them the basics of golf and life lessons that they can use, as they play with family members, friends and even in the business world,” concluded Harvey.

The Kent girls at Fairways are joined by the Streetsboro girls and boys this season to compete in their matches at Fairways.

Several years ago, Harvey wanted to include his little girls program under the Portage County Amateurs umbrella and the Kids Amateur was born.

Encouraging kids from a very young age through ninth grade to play, the girls and boys have the opportunity for their first tournament competition as high-school golfers help with the rules and scorekeeping.

It is the perfect combination for young golfers getting into their first competition.

When Streetsboro found itself without a home course this season, Harvey, manager of Fairways at Twin Lakes, found room for the matches and practices of the Rockets to continue the excellence of their program.

The result: The girls are doing very well at their new home and the Rockets’ boys are currently undefeated.

Just making room for golfers that represent the future of golf is important.

Making them feel special and a part of the course is even more important.

Often the adults at the course are extremely proud of the youth golfers, bragging about the success of the school programs as they have the opportunity to interact with the youth.

It’s a win-win for everyone involved as golf courses focus on, not only the present, but the future of golf.

LAST WEEK

Southeast Girls

Sammy Morgan of Southeast played three nine-hole matches in a row under-par. Anyone who golfs knows how difficult that consistency is. It doesn’t matter the length of the course, the competition or the conditions. Three under-par rounds (Sammy’s own personal hat-trick) is an amazing accomplishment.

The sophomore was one of the teammates on the Southeast Pirates advancing to the state in 2024 and the Southeast girls team has goals this season: to repeat as champions of the MVAC after winning their first year and advancing to the state this season. With their undefeated record, it looks like the Pirates are on their way to achieving their goals.

While Sammy Morgan was continuing her streak, teammate and also sophomore classmate Jenni Mix was having one of her best rounds of the season, a 37 one-over-par to help lead Southeast to victory.

Eleven years ago, both Sammy and Jenni were competing in the Kids Am and the best friends then have continued to encourage each other on the golf course. On this day, as Pirates continued their undefeated streak, the two best friends played together and encouraged each other during every shot and every shot.

Streetsboro Boys

The Rockets are undefeated in eight starts this season. The team has been enjoying success after several players played in tournaments throughout the

summer and others honed their skills on the golf course over the summer. The Rockets look to continue their success at their new home, The Fairways at Twin Lakes, that welcomes youth golfers and encourages their success.

Rootstown vs. Southeast

There are so many connections in high-school golf. Families playing together, golfers related to others across the teams in Portage County. Coaches and former players finding themselves locked into competition.

That was the case when the Rootstown Rovers welcomed the Southeast Pirates, both JV and Varsity, to Sunny Hill in Brimfield this week.

Not only do the teams know each other very well from playing in the former Portage Trail Conference together, but Keith Waesch, coach of the Rovers, who is now in his 29th season and has a career record of 447-139, was the coach and mentor for Mike Jenior, coach of the Pirates for his entire highs school career that included a trip to the state tournament (seventh at the OHSAA D2 tournament) and two-time player of the year in the PTC.

The two coaches were obviously respectful of each other and enjoyed the competition that found Southeast winning both the boys varsity and junior varsity matches. Kyle Barkhurst, also a former Rootstown High School golfer, coaches the junior varsity for the Rovers.

Golf is a small world. Everyone cheered for the match medalists including James Morgan of Southeast who fired a one-over-par 36 and Nathan Waesch of Rootstown carding a 42 for the Rovers.

The match final score was 163 to 182 in favor of the Pirates but enjoyed the significance of the match between former PTC rivals at the course in Portage County.

Southeast junior varsity is undefeated in four starts.

THIS WEEK

MONDAY: Boys Golf: Rootstown @ Painesville Thomas Harvey, Garfield @ Brookfield, Liberty @ Southeast, Kent @ Lake Tournament, Girls Golf: Berkshire @ Rootstown, Kent @ Streetsboro.

TUESDAY: Boys Golf: Cuyahoga Falls @ Kent, Streetsboro @ Cloverleaf, Girls Golf: Rootstown @ Chagrin Falls, Southeast @ Lowellville, Springfield @ Kent.

WEDNESDAY: Boys Golf: Southeast @ Newton Falls, St. Thomas @ Rootstown,

Garfield @ Champion,  Girls Golf: Streetsboro @ Rootstown,

THURSDAY: Boys Golf: Field @ Rootstown, Crestview @ Southeast, Streetsboro @ Coventry; Girls Golf: Streetsboro @ Field.

COACHES

Please do not forget to send your match and tournament results either text or email to 330-206-9083/golffam2@gmail.com. Also, please send updated schedules or changes. Thank you.

READERS

If you have a good relationship to share, please do not hesitate to contact the above email and phone number. This column loves to share the results of success stories and relationships in Portage County golf.