GOLF: Don't buy into stereotypes

Golf is a viable high school sport just like football, baseball, softball, volleyball, etc. The golf kids are not all "rich country clubbers," as David Sheridan mentioned in his letter printed June 26.

Golf is an expensive game; it takes a lot more than a few rounds to make you a better golfer. If not for the support of the area golf courses, these kids would not be able to afford the amount of practice required. The equipment has a big price as well. We, as most parents of our area's high school golfers, are not country club members. The cost to support our kids' chosen sport comes from sacrifice, not a silver spoon.

The golf kids work hard at their game. There is no practice facility on campus, so they have to get themselves to the designated golf course - on their own time, on their own dime. The golf kids drive to Lewiston and the Tri-Cities area on the weekend to practice before their season begins in March - on their own time, on their own dime.

Golf has a very complex set of rules and part of that is the required/expected etiquette. If that etiquette is misread as snobbiness, it's very unfortunate. The golfers our son has met over his high school years have been very polite, well mannered kids - not snobs. What they do, as other high school athletes do, is work very hard so they can proudly represent their school.

LISA POUNDS

Coeur d'Alene