It's been said the game of golf is like life.
Each has its own ups and downs.
Here's a glimpse at a local golf experience where some children experiencing life's ups and downs have a chance to tee it up.
Anyone who's ever wanted to break out of the daily grind to play golf, knows what a great distraction it can be from life's troubles.
That's part of what's behind Tuesday golf lessons at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Specialty Hospital in Maryland Heights.
In a game where most amateur players are given handicaps, children recovering from all kinds of illness and injury are learning nothing can hold them back from teeing it up.
"What if they told you you couldn't play golf?" asks Newschannel Five's Kay Quinn. "I'd be crying!" replies an 8 year-old patient named Mark.
At Ranken Jordan you'll find the typical playground equipment and basketball courts for kids to enjoy.
But without the volunteers that bring the clubs and the balls there really wouldn't be any other way for kids of all abilities to enjoy that typical summer junior golf experience.
The idea came from Kevin Corn. He's the head golf professional at Glen Echo Country Club, but the regular Tuesday lesson is his passion.
"It's a blast," says Corn.
For Corn, the experiences here are better than any hole in one. Like the time a young patient was given golf clubs his own size.
"He just starts hugging his clubs and like, 'oh, these are for me?' Pulls the driver out and starts kissing it," recalls Corn.
To get an idea about just how much the kids like it, ask four-year-old Dolores as she works on her long game.
"I swing it like this shush, shush," says Dolores.
And Corey's smile tells more about his love of the game than words ever could.
"They learn something they might not otherwise have ever been exposed to even if they were normally developing," says Lauri Tanner, Ranken Jordan's CEO. "So, we just try to create opportunities for kids to have fun and to feel like they can accomplish things."
At least three pros from local courses volunteer each week.
Corn's had to turn away offers from several others who want to get involved.
Even the PGA's Gateway Section and its foundation have helped, by offsetting some of the costs.
"The kids can't wait until the following Tuesday to have golf and we can't either," says Corn.
It's all about finding a sweet spot for youngsters who know all about the "hazards" and "roughs" life has to offer.
Plans are now in the works to take some of the patients on a field trip to Glen Echo Country Club so they can take some swings on a real golf course.
KSDK