Helping players get into the swing

Meet Kevin Smeltz, director of instruction at Bishops Gate Golf Academy in Howey-in-the-Hills. In 2017, he was named one of the top 100 teachers in America by Golf Magazine.

Q: What is the best age for children to begin golf and why?

A: Children should begin playing golf as soon as they show interest. I recommend children use clubs suited for their age. Many companies these days offer clubs suited for younger people in terms of the weight and length.

Q: What should children concentrate on first—their putting game or driving game?

A: I would concentrate on putting first. It’s the simplest thing as there are less moving parts. They can have some success fairly easy by putting. It’s harder to swing a club around your body, get club head speed, and keep the face square on the right angle. By having the child make short putts, they will see some success, will keep having fun, and build confidence, too.

Q: Kevin, what things did you do when you were younger that helped you become a golfing professional?

A: The first time I started playing golf I had a golf lesson. The good news was I didn’t have too many bad habits. I developed a swing that was reasonably good. Mentally I liked to tinker with stuff, and I think that had me play less golf and tinker with my swing more. Consequently, I was always trying to help people with their

Softball Is A Hit

Dr. Dot Richardson, who won gold medals in 1996 and 2000 as a member of the U.S. Olympic softball team, founded Clermont-based PFX Athletics in 1996. Her goal was to make the athletic dreams of girls and women come true. In 2014, the organization was selected to manage the Legends Way Ballfields complex by hosting and promoting local, state, national, and international softball events.

“I would say that 98 percent of teams who participate in our tournaments come from out of state,” says Bob Borak, director of PFX Athletics. “The players and fans really enjoy their stay in Lake County, and we’re always trying to renovate our complex to accommodate them. They know they get to play or watch games in a first-rate complex.”

PFX Athletics is bringing several high-caliber softball tournaments to the area in 2018.

MARCH 1-30

Beginning in February and running through March, the Spring Games is the world’s largest softball event, where more than 300 collegiate teams throughout the United States and Canada descend on Lake County to kick-start their season. Games are played at the following venues: Legends Way Ballfields, Hancock Park, Lake Felter Park, McKinney Park, and West Park, all in Clermont; the Minneola Athletic Complex; and Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex in Leesburg.

MAY 3-5

For the seventh consecutive year, the Sun Conference Softball Tournament is being held at Legends Way

Ballfields in Clermont. The winning team receives an automatic bid to play in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) World Series. Sun Conference members include Ava Maria University, College of Coastal Georgia, Florida Memorial University, Johnson and Wales University, Keiser University, Savannah College of Art and Design, Southeastern University, St. Thomas University, Thomas University, the University of South Carolina Beaufort, Warner University, and Webber International University.

MAY 25-31

Legends Way Ballfields also will host the 38th annual NAIA Softball World Series. Clermont is only the third city in Florida to host this event, according to a 2016 NAIA news release. The NAIA Softball World Series was in Pensacola in 1990 and 1992 and in Jupiter in 1999.

Sources: thesunconference.com/sports/2012/7/2/members.aspx pfxathletics.com

On A Row

In recent years, a new sport has started making waves in Lake County.

Thanks to the 5,000-square-foot Clermont Boathouse, Clermont has propelled itself as a popular destination for competitive rowing events. The boathouse, which opened in February 2015, houses 20 racing boats and features two large launching docks.

The city has hosted popular races such as the 2015 Leader of the Lake regatta and the USA Canoe/Kayak’s 2017 Sprint National Championship.

“Because of the Clermont Boathouse, there is now great visibility in the area for the sport of rowing,” says Justin Knust, who serves as coach and director of the Lake County Rowing Association. “It also allows us to introduce rowing to local children. It can be difficult to make the football and basketball teams. However, with rowing, we don’t cut competitors or have a bench where they sit while others are playing. Everyone gets to participate and compete.”

The next regatta will be Aug. 4-5 and features races of 500 meters and 1,500 meters. Middle school and high school students race on Saturday, while adults race on Sunday. Justin says nobody is too old to participate in the sport.

“In indoor rowing championships, there’s an age bracket for adults between the ages of 90 and 99,” he says. “Many people begin rowing in their 50s and continue doing it for 30 years.” athletes from over 33 countries 5,271 trained

120 teams 42 events over 10,000 athletes competed here last year