Pinecrest in Largo regularly hosts amateur tournaments with unusual formats — even ‘glow-in-the-dark’ (night games with glowing balls and markers), which are especially popular with teenagers and beginner teams. Contact details and current links can be found on the club’s website: https://pinecrestgclargo.com/. Below is how the course works with young people and neighbours, what formats quickly spark interest in golf, and how to organise your child’s first lesson or a family mini-tournament.
Why Pinecrest is Convenient for Your First Club
If short distances, walking and a low entry threshold are important to you, Pinecrest is the place for you. The par-55 course, approximately 2,235 yards long, offers a ‘hit-walk-next shot’ pace without long waits.
Most of the holes are par 3, which means fewer penalties and faster feedback for players.
Another plus is the affordable prices: according to guidebooks, green fees range from $10 to $26 per round, depending on the source and season, making regular practice affordable for families. According to professional guides, this is a ‘short but demanding’ course, suitable for a quick round for adults.
Pinecrest Programmes and Events
To engage teenagers and neighbourhood teams, Pinecrest relies on the practice of ‘less theory, more shots on the grass.’ Individual and mini-group lessons are taught by PGA professional Bob Pennello; the region’s tourist office announces regular winter leagues and monthly amateur tournaments, including night tournaments. This schedule allows children to get their first ‘official’ playing experience and immediately see how the ball behaves on “live” greens, while parents can safely try out the ‘parent + child’ format.
How it works in practice. Let’s say a school club brings a group of 10–12 beginners aged 11–14 for a 90-minute session: 15 minutes — basic stance and grip, 20 minutes — chips on a ‘short’ target, 20 minutes — ‘touch the circle’ putting relay, 30 minutes — 2–3 holes ‘on the course’ with simplified rules (max. 8 strokes, pass on “impossible” shots). For teenagers who already know how to swing, add a challenge: ‘how many times can you get two putts in 9 holes’. According to the same sources, a short course allows you to play 9 holes with children in 60–75 minutes without losing the group’s attention.
6-Week Plan for the Junior Section
Here is the route for physical education teachers or parent chat groups. It does not require expensive equipment and is based on the ‘short’ course format:
- Week 1. Safety, grip, stance; mini-game ‘who can stop the ball in a 2 m diameter zone’.
- Week 2. Chips from 10–20 m; ‘3 out of 5 on the green’ competition.
- Week 3. Putting: pace and reading slopes; ‘3 holes – 6 putts’ relay.
- Week 4. Building up to a shot on short par-3s; working on the ‘swing – shot – assessment’ routine.
- Week 5. Mini-tournament ‘scramble’ 3×3 holes (teams of 3–4 people), score — best ball.
- Week 6. Family evening: parents are added to pairs, followed by awards for ‘most disciplined pace’ and ‘best up-and-down’.
The walking format of the course reduces fatigue and risk, while the presence of an instructor with experience in group lessons accelerates progress (PGA coaches traditionally structure junior lessons from ‘short game’ to drive).
Community and Unusual Activities
In addition to classic leagues, the course is trying out formats that go beyond ‘strict’ golf and work well for neighbourhood communities.
The regional guide mentions ‘monthly tournaments,’ including a night-time ‘glow-in-the-dark’ game with safe glow-in-the-dark markers, reflective flags and relaxed rules. An evening like this helps bring together mixed flights — parents, teenagers, beginners — and turn Saturday into a mini-holiday. Another example of the ‘openness’ of the infrastructure is the occasional disc golf events held at the club, which attract an audience from neighbouring sports communities and expand the pool of newcomers.
How to organise a ‘family scramble’ from scratch. On a short course, 6 holes are enough for a scramble (everyone hits, we take the best ball). Rules: maximum 7 strokes per hole, two putts — ‘gimme.’ Prizes are not for the ‘longest shot,’ but for discipline: “zero lost balls,‘ ’fastest flight,‘ ’best team communication.‘ The result is excitement and laughter instead of ’endless” attempts to finish a par 5.
What to Bring and How to Save Money in Your First Season
To avoid unnecessary expenses, it is worth planning your equipment and time in advance. To start with, a few versatile clubs (pitcher, sand wedge, putter) and inexpensive balls are enough — losses on a ‘short’ course are minimal. More important are water, a cap and sunscreen. According to guidebooks, Pinecrest has a rental shop and a pro shop, as well as lessons/packages with a PGA instructor; you can walk the course, which eliminates the cost of a cart. To save money, check the club’s calendar for fixed ‘daily’ rates/coupons and family packages.
How to Join: Contacts, Registration for Your First Visit
To avoid paperwork delays, start with a short correspondence and clarify the available slots for lessons. The tour portal lists the phone number of the Pinecrest (Largo) pro shop and mentions lessons with PGA pros;
and the regional profile lists events and leagues. If you run a school section, request ‘non-peak’ times (weekdays before 3 p.m.) and a ‘half-course’ format for 2-3 flights so you don’t create queues.
For the future, set aside one Saturday a month for amateur tournaments — they are what keep children in the sport. The schedule, contacts and news can be conveniently monitored via the club’s website and regional pages with announcements.