Posted by Ryan
GOLF CHANNEL’s latest reality series takes an inside look at life at the Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy in Hilton Head, S.C., as the students at the world’s top junior golf school prepare themselves athletically and academically for a shot at a college golf scholarship. In School of Golf: Hilton Head Island, airing Tuesdays at 11pm ET, we get meet renowned instructor Hank Haney, Tiger Woods’ swing coach, and the young golfers he’ll try to mold into pro-tour hopefuls during the 2007-08 school year.
These kids aren’t beginners when they step into Haney’s school. They’re already in an elite class of junior golfers (and likely come from an elite social class, too). The first episode introduces a handful of the students the series will follow.
The most interesting and promising student Haney has to work immediately seems to be Chinese eighth grader Xin “Amy” Wang. She’s got an awesome swing, and Haney instantly loves her. He thinks she could play at the college level right now, and has a real shot at the LPGA. I wonder if there’s even anything Haney can teach her. She’s probably going to his school just for the cred it brings. She’s even tough — she once fell and broke her leg in a golf tournament and just kept playing through it. She’s cute as a button, too, and even wears a retainer. She’s everything you’d expect in a Chinese golf prodigy. Just one little problem for Amy: She’s never been in America before, and she doesn’t have much skill with English. (Better fix that before hitting the LPGA, kiddo!) But on her first day, she learns an important lesson: “This is the garbage disposal. Never put your hand in there.”
Doug Gribin, 18, from Irving, Texas, is not quite so disciplined and dedicated. He plans on submitting his application to attend Southern Methodist University, and he’ll get around to it when he damn well feels like it, even though the deadline for applications is tomorrow. He comes off kind of pompous, and doesn’t much like taking advice or instruction. Doug doesn’t appear to have nerves of steel, either. He struggles mightily in the IJGA tournament, and he withdraws due to some neck pain. Haney calls him out for being a quitter and a wuss. Haney says he’s going to make Doug his personal project, and I have a feeling Doug’s going to learn most of his lessons the hard way.
Whitney Johnson, 17, from Greenville, N.C., and Laura Isernhagen, 16, from Lexington, Kent., are roommates who I just know are going to be BFFs. Laura is a little sheepish and shy. She wears a promise ring on her finger — it’s a promise to God, her parents and herself that she will practice abstinence. Whitney also wears a ring on her finger. It is a wedding ring. She is married … to golf! Whitney was home-schooled, and as you can tell, her passion for the game borders on creepy obsession. She might not be the brightest kid — she literally missed the bus — but she has real skill at the game. Laura’s not quite as polished. Tough to say for sure after only one episode, but she might be a case like some of those deluded American Idol contestants — no one had the guts to tell them, “Sorry, kid. You just don’t got it. Maybe try something else.”
School of Golf turns out to be a pretty compelling show. The students are interesting, if not a little weird, and there are plenty of embarrassing and emotional reality-TV moments. Since we’re dealing with teenagers, the show seems to take on a little of a CW or MTV feel to it (obviously without the salacious stuff). But one does have to wonder to what extent the show is a promotional vehicle for Hank Haney and his school. Is Haney going to turn all these students into great golfers? Are there any washouts, and if so, will we get to see them? With every parent dreaming they can hit the jackpot and have their kid be the next Tiger Woods, School of Golf might lure some people to put down a lot of money on that bet at IJGA.
Will this “School of Golf” series be available for sale?
Victor