Branching Out and Bridging Gaps

By: Hayley Wilson

PGA of America Golf Professional Anthony Estes knows what it’s like growing up on the outside looking in. Surrounded by golf courses with no way in, he’s made it his mission to change that for youth in his community.

“I grew up in this area and had limited access to high end public facilities and no access to private facilities,” said Estes. “In my position now, I feel in my heart these kids deserve access to things they may never see in their lifetime. The inclusion of having kids who aren’t members and welcoming them in was the drive.”

Estes is an Assistant Golf Professional at Rolling Hills Country Club, which has seen a successful in-house 13u PGA Jr. League program grow more popular by the year. When the 13-year-olds began aging out, a small but passionate group of players campaigned to add a 17u division to keep the fun going through high school. 

The 13u players see a lot of practice time at the facility each week––with three practice times offered weekly plus Sunday matches with coaching. Because the majority of his 17u players were already engaged in other player development programming at the club, he eliminated practices to keep things more manageable. And then he reached out to Player Engagement Consultant Junko Harkins, PGA, with an idea.

“I wanted to make this our flagship program and desirable for the kids, and my way to do this was to play against other facilities. Junko got me in touch with Josh Alpert, PGA, and Scott Talbot, PGA, who I’d done things with for 13u.”

Alpert, owner of Good Swings Happen Junior Golf Academy in Manhattan Beach and 2023 recipient of the Southern California PGA Teacher and Coach of the Year Award, has spent more than two decades coaching juniors of all skill levels and has been engaged in PGA Jr. League for several years. Likewise, Palos Verdes Golf Club Assistant Golf Professional Scott Talbot, PGA, has led PGA Jr. League programming since 2016 and is coaching over 30 players this summer.

“These kids just love the game and have a passion for it,” Estes said. “We’ve come up with this really special thing that’s going to keep going now. The blend of us is pretty perfect… Equity private, semi-private and full public.” 

In addition to the 17u league, Estes also saw an opportunity with his younger players after observing them on game days.

“It worked out well because we have a little loop on the first three holes,” he said. “The issue was I had a lot of 9-13 year olds who could play 6-9 holes pretty decently, but my 5-8 year olds could only play three holes. It became a logistics problem.”

Then PGA Family Golf was introduced, and Estes decided to leverage its flexibility and create something for his youngest players––and their parents who spent their Sundays picking up balls and chasing them around.

“I tested it by taking my 5-8 year olds in the 13u league and turned it into a family scramble,” he added. “I said to the parents, ‘Instead of following your kids around, why don’t you just play with them?’ They were all in.”

Estes transformed the experience for his players and families, creating a five-week, nine-hole scramble program that’s become a beloved club tradition. His goal was always to help prepare younger children for PGA Jr. League, and it’s done that––and more. Estes even added an educational component with a one-hour clinic before every family scramble.

“My 13u program now flows because I’ve developed these levels,” Estes said. “Having this to offer them was game-changing to us because the parents felt like they were involved, they mattered, and we’re making it more welcoming. Now I have email after email of people wanting to be involved in these programs.”

Providing encouragement from the sidelines as his Player Engagement Consultant, Harkins says it’s Estes’s personal drive and communication skills that allow him to really shine.

“Anthony was so open to creating a multi-facility league with 17u,” said Harkins. “He was adamant that the kids would play these other golf courses, take a step back and see where other kids are and are playing. He’s also such a great communicator that I think it has pushed the other coaches to do better. It made the whole season work out great, and it’s a lesson to not be so restrictive when it comes to multi-facility leagues.”

As for Estes, his down-to-earth approach is a refreshing take on the ‘why’ behind PGA Jr. League.

“I’ve always wanted my players to experience other groups and atmospheres,” he said.
“You don’t just play the same golf course all the time. Good, great or terrible… it doesn’t matter. If they learn something, then I’ve done my job. Whether it’s how to treat someone with respect or how to make a putt…. I just want to know that you’ve learned something and taken something out of it. God blessed me with golf to help people. Golf is just my outlet.”