Junior Golf Fore Life Day helps to get kids get passionate about the sport

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (KABC) -- Your child may not be Taylor Crozier who recently hit a hole in one in front of Tiger Woods, but then again, you won't know until he or she tries.

That's the goal for Junior Golf Fore Life Day.

"It's all about bringing new players to the game of golf and just highlighting the various ways kids can participate in junior golf activities," said PGA's Josh Alpert.

Alpert founded Good Swings Happen, a junior golf academy to get kids going.

"The earlier a kid gets a club in their hand or a ball in their hand the greater the capacity for them to become masterful at a sport. The ceiling for what their capable goes up a lot higher," said Alpert.

Like 8-year-old Ashley Perkins who has been playing since age 3. When asked if she was good, Perkins simply said, "Yes."

Marni Murez earned a Boston College golf scholarship; Mira Costa High's Lexi Nielsen helped her team win state.

According to Alpert's former student Brandin Cohen, golf helps in other ways too.

"He sort of kept me out of the trouble that some of my friends were in, you know I was here at the golf course all the time practicing," said Cohen.

He too earned a college golf scholarship. So impressed with golf's benefits, Cohen's Liquid IV company helps sponsor the junior golf event.

"You can't make excuses for anyone else on the course. There's only you to blame out there. When you're playing well you get all the glory and when you're not, you get to go to work on it yourself and fix your problem," said Cohen.

Saturday, the second annual Junior Golf Fore Life Day begins at 12:30 p.m. There will be free golf, lots of prizes, fun and music to get your kids ready for summer. Last year, 250 people showed up for the event.

"Games, challenges, on course experiences," said Alpert.

Including a hole-in-one challenge. If a kid gets one, they get a years' worth of free golf at The Lakes at El Segundo, where the event is held.

Did I mention it's free?

"We're not charging anybody unless you want to get a hot dog," said Alpert.