Children ages 4-14 are in the middle of learning about golf at Royal Golf Club’s junior camp, which runs Tuesday-Thursday and began this past week.

The clinic, which has 20 participants, runs 9-11 a.m. each day. This week, it’ll be Tuesday-Thursday 8:30-11 a.m.

All of the campers are from St. Tammany Parish.

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Royal general manager and head golf professional Cliff Laigast said he likes the number that showed up because it allows him and assistant golf professional Dustin Deffes, a 2008 Salmen graduate more time to work with each participant.

Laigast says he enjoys putting on the camp.

“I love this,” Laigast said. “As far as junior golf goes with little kids like this, I could do this all day long.”

Laigast said his goals are to focus on the little things. He said he wants to teach them how to hold the club properly, what to do and not to do on the golf course.

“They’re going to learn everything from small rules, etiquette, how to hold a golf club, how to use their manners on the golf course and things like that by the time they finish the camp,” Laigast said.

The camp concludes Thursday with a tournament.

“We’ll get them on the golf course,” Laigast said. “We’ll try to play nine holes.”

Six-year old Connor Cruthirds, who will be a first grader in the upcoming school year, said he likes the camp a lot. He said putting is his favorite part because you don’t have to swing so hard.

Eight-year old Chris Mathis, who will be in the fourth grade at Carolyn Park Elementary, has been playing since he was six. He said the best part of the clinic is getting to practice his game.

He talked about his favorite part of golf.

“You get to compete in tournaments, meet new friends and try to improve your swing on the club,” Mathis said.

Mathis said being at the clinic has helped him improve his game.

Laigast’s 8-year-old daughter Jillian, who is going to the third grade, said she enjoys being at the course. She added that she has a lot of fun when the camp is there.

The camp is still accepting participants. If you are interested, call 643-3000. The cost is $50 for this week only.