About 75 Wood River Valley kids plus 300 interested spectators got golf tips from three experts Saturday during a free golf exhibition at Sun Valley Golf Course's driving range that was presented by The Suns Foundation, Inc. in conjunction with Sun Valley Company.
Mainly, the kids wanted to see how far Davis Love III could hit the golf ball. And the 1997 PGA Championship winner obliged, smacking a succession of woods and irons on a rising trajectory that seemed to take balls halfway up Trail Creek canyon toward Mackay.
Love III, 42, winner of 18 PGA tournaments, hosted the 60-minute exhibition with the help of his longtime caddy, Hailey resident John "Cub" Burke. Love and Burke are both members of the board of directors of The Suns Foundation Inc.
Joining Love in offering golf advice was 25-year touring pro Blaine McCallister, 47, a five-time PGA tournament winner from Texas and the University of Houston. Another former Houston golfer on hand was Ed Fiori, 53, a 29-year pro notorious for being the last golfer to beat Tiger Woods when Woods had the lead going into a tournament's final round, in 1996.
A lot of the things they said were matters of common sense but because they said it, the words hit home and had onlookers practicing their swings as they walked off the range.
"Keep your head still and your eye on the ball. You want rhythm and balance instead of being stiff and jabbing at the ball," said Love, who told the crowd he averages about 300 yards with his driver. "When you're young, you have to learn the fundamentals."
Added McCallister, "Always make time to go to the putting green and chipping area."
Donations given at the free benefit went to The Suns Foundation, Inc. and Wood River Community YMCA.
Suns Foundation, Inc., which helps support the Sun Valley Suns men's ice hockey team, is dedicated to the mission of "raising awareness as well as funding for youth athletic programs and charities in the Wood River Valley."
Watched by fellow PGA pro Blaine McCallister (right), Davis Love III follows through with good form. Photo by David N. Seelig
