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Show surface two days later in the lagoon, we quaked when we picked up the ball. Not so fast," shed bark, get back here and replace your divot. You damn kids are tearing up the place." Then, after she watched us meticulously replace every blade of grass to its the Golf (NGF), a to according National foundation nonprofit group dedicated to furthering the sport, golf has never been riding higher. Participation is at an prexious location, her hawklike sonar would pick up on another injustice on high, with 26.4 the course. And. like the wicked witch of million Americans takthe back nine, slic'd fly off. ing to the links, with a breathing a sigh of relief, we would fifth of them doing it wait until she was out of sight and then avidly" - more than 25 beeline it for the clubhouse. We'd huh in times a year. New courstbe locker rooms until (he magic hour of es are growing like 10:30 a. m. - that's when the grill opened weeds, to the tune of and we could officially eat lunch. Then, 400 a year. And while the average golfer is still it was eat as slowly and leisurely as possimiddle-clas- s ble so as to fill up the hour and a half a is he until we were picked up. male, slowly minoriAnd so went my baffling and traumatto losing ground ic introduction to golf: an hour or two of ties, kids and women. the Since 1991, torture at the hands of old people folAfrican-Americshakes And lowed by and cheeseburgers. golfing population has although it wasn't an entirely awful trade- doubled to just shy of a million, accordoff, decided I'd just as soon forget about ing to NGF. Likewise, there were more the torture part and skip right to the than 2 million kids playing golf at last cheeseburgers. Unfortunately, Mom and count and women now make up 27 perand 39 Dad caught onto the concept after get- cent of the golfing population all first the was of and bill, beginners. plug ting their percent be Could it future on golf possible golf is becoming pulled unsupervised any in cool? Those the also OK. Which was industry say thanks to perfectly ouiings. the likes of Tiper Woods and others, it (ioliing was for old people anyway. e like With this, already is. And its about time. experiences We dont see a lot of interest with the it's a wonder the sport didn't die off with older and corduroys generation, but we have quite a bit guys named Chet. But, of interest with the younger generation, all-ti- an 1 - first-tim- whale-embroider- gold-medallion- ed ed which I think is a direct result of Tiger Woods," says Monticellos Lowell Young, general manager and head pro at Blue Golf Course, Lake that Native adding American player Notah Begay has had an influence in increasing the Native American golfing population, too. Assistant at pro Hills Pimm Farmingtons Mike Dodds says Begay also has had a positive influence there as well. "I would say without a has Notah doubt increased participation Native among Dodds. Americans, says It cant help but help. Hes definitely talked about. Jennifer Kern, an assistant pro at Durangos Dalton Ranch has seen a similar leap among women golfers, as well. In the four years shes been teaching, she clinhas conducted dozens of ics. The womens clinics were full last year, says Kern. She feels the success is due to the atmosphere. Women love it, she says. Theyre not embarrassed to ask questions; they're not intimidated. And as far as positive role models go, Kern says theres one more to add to the en re Shes won just as many tournaments as Tiger, she says. For being so young, she just dominates. But young women arent the only ones interested in picking up the game. Annette Rudoski of Conquistador Golf Course in Cortez says in her five years at the course shes seen an increase in the older female crowd as well. What I see is a lor of retired people coming in, and the wives are coming out with their husbands and starting from there. The couple decides they want to spend more time together and they take it up together. OK, so maybe golf is still a game for old people. But many golf courses say they are seeing a healthy dose of new players from all walks. Sharon Copeland, who has been with the Moab Golf Course for 10 years, has seen a rise in all types of beginners. We get a good cross section" she says. They range from women to men who are 30 years old." And while speculation as to what is fueling the rise runs from good resume filler to a more active population with a lot of time to kill, one things for sure: the Four Corners has more than enough options to satiate the growing appetite. And many of these are veritable bargains, costing less than a (lay and some less than a on the slopes movie. And best of all, its all done in the splendor of some of the most awesome scenery anywhere. Cant wait to get old. list: Karrie Webb. 20-year-- baby-boom- er - INDIO , v, c , AW BRUf Mon.-Fr- i. $$ 9 pm; Sat. noon-- 4 pm with The World Cafe at noon Mon.-Wcd- .; Putumayo World Music Hour on Thurs.; feature CD on Fri. All around the Four Corners on your FM dial : Durango 90.189.5 PagosaFarmingmn r-,- 6 jt'. y v ? f i."' Cn:--s It Clefts - ' V'1 '''V April 21. ' '. V 2000 w i.0t .JY. am-- 4 IgnacioBavfield 91.3 105.3 Dolores 91.9 For a complete program guide call CortczMancos 89.5 Gallup KGI P 91.7 563-025- 5. |