To know the game is to love the game.
That’s the simple message from a Lower Mainland golf legend who is still doing his part at the age of 72 to ensure kids are learning to play and compete the right way.
Harry White has co-chaired the Junior Linkster Tour of Canada for the past 17 years but his time overseeing competitive golf for youngsters goes beyond five decades.
When Richmond native and former LPGA Tour regular Jennifer Wyatt was inducted into the B.C. Golf Hall of Fame two years ago, she credited one of White’s Junior Linkster events back in 1980 at Mylora for igniting her passion to play tournament golf.
White’s approach hasn’t changed over the years but the sport has, much to his chagrin.
“It’s actually quite annoying golf isn’t as successful as he should be,” said White during a break from teaching lessons through his Aim and Fire Golf Learning Academy at Savage Creek. “The biggest thing for me, when I started golf, the people who were involved were all public course people. They were part of the Vancouver and District Interclub Golf Committee — the real pioneers of golf in British Columbia.
“When you joined (public courses like) Fraserview, McCleery or Langara, you had to learn the course etiquette and rules or else you didn’t play. That’s the way it used to be. For the last 20 years, there has been such an influx of people (into the industry) that really don’t know the game.”
That’s why White makes sure every player that participates in his Junior Linkster and Little Masters Golf events are given a simplified rule book which they need to thoroughly understand, along with their parents, before even teeing off.
White is also a stickler on pace of play — another part of the game he emphasis to his students and tour members.
He says it’s a problem at the PGA Tour level and it trickles all the way down to the recreational player.
White still marvels at watching Moe Norman play the former Canadian Tour B.C. Open at Marine Drive back in 1963. He earned the nickname “Pipeline Moe” for being one of the game’s greatest ball strikers. To this day, White’s teaching theory is based on Norman’s quick and fluid swing.
“It took about four seconds and the ball was gone. Straight as an arrow. No pork chops, just bacon strips,” smiled White. “That’s my standard and I haven’t seen anybody come close to that since.
“To me, the pace of play is what is killing golf. I coached UBC for a couple of stints and the rounds were taking five to six hours to play. College golf was often 36 holes in one day back then. I quit. I just couldn’t handle it anymore.
“It is so unnecessary and so counter productive. I know how the game can be played by watching Moe and he shot three 59s including the last one when he was 63-years old.”
The 2017 Junior Linkster of Canada schedule is winding down with stops in Mission, Delta Burnaby and Coquitlam in September. The tour takes advantage of what White describes as the “some of the best public par 3 courses in the world” for its younger players.
“These are four-to-six year-old kids who literally run to every tee because they are having so much fun,” added White. “It needs to be taught to be playable and enjoyable. Not so technical.”
Keeping the game affordable has also been a priority to White. Members of the non-profit tour pay as little as $35 for 18 hole tournaments. His golf academy also offers reasonable rates.
“Harry has been doing this for 51 years and all for the right reasons,” quipped Joe Wang, who helps White manage the Junior Linkster Tour. “He wants kids to have fun and learn the game the right way.”
For more information on the Junior Linkster Tour of Canada visit www.jrlinkstertour.com
