Golf is often called a game for life, and this week at Clear Creek Golf Course they’re starting early.

About 20 children ages 6-12 flocked to Clear Creek Golf Course on Tuesday for the first day of its youth golf camp. The camp continues through Friday, and is designed to introduce the youngsters to a sport that’s both fun and social.

“It’s a game you play for the rest of your life,” Clear Creek course pro Kent Smith said. “It’s not like a team sport where you have to have a team and a coach. You can come out and golf any time you want. By now until you’re 100 years old, you can come and play whenever you want.”

Smith is the lead instructor for the camp. He’s assisted by local high school stars Channing Curtis of St. Aloysius and Karley Whittington of Warren Central.

As instructors and campers alike braved warm temperatures and a harsh morning sun, having fun was the main lesson everyone was trying to preach. Smith and his counselors were hands-on in teaching the campers the right way to hold the club and the proper technique in swinging it.

“The summer is a perfect time to come out and learn the game of golf,” Smith said. “It may be hot, but these kids don’t care. They just want to have fun and learn the game.”

The day started off with instructions on how to hold the club and the proper technique to hit a golf ball. Smith said that teaching the right technique and fundamentals of a golf swing is the hardest part of the game, but once you get that down, it gets easier from there.

The campers then participated in chipping and putting drills. “Your short game is the most crucial part of golf,” Smith said to his campers. “Learning this will make you a better golfer.”

Later on, the campers competed for prizes in various competitions. Like the rest of the camp, the competitions were intended as a way to teach the game and have fun at the same time.

“It may a little tough for them at first because they’re learning a new sport, but if they have fun with it, then that’s all that matters,” Smith said.

The junior camp is one of several major events at Clear Creek in the coming weeks. The course will host the Warren County Junior Championship later this month, the Warren County Championship Aug. 1-2, and the Warren County Cup Aug. 21-23.