Unique school plan to help kids' golf

Brandon, Kevin and Stephanie Liu all want to be pro golfers when they grow up. With help from their parents, they now have a school plan to give them the flexible time to pursue their goals.

They all are enrolled in Laurel Springs School in California. That's a distant-learning school with structured lessons but allowing plenty of flexibility for study. Their lessons and tests come either printed via U.S. mail or electronically via the Internet.

Kids enrolled in the school are usually athletes or actors who need to shape their schooling around the irregular hours of their other interests.

Brandon Liu

Brandon is 14 but most classes this fall will be at the 10th grade level. Kevin is 12 and his classes will be at the 8th grade level. Stephanie is 10 and will be at the 5th grade level.

Basically, the kids work on their schooling in the mornings. So far, their mother, Elizabeth, said they've maintained straight A averages.

That leaves the afternoons for golf and more golf.

The kids usually arrive at the Family Golf Complex in O'Fallon, Mo., at noon. They'll hit balls for 1½ to 2 hours. Then, they practice chipping and putting two more hours.

Brandon said, "Then, unless we have lessons with our professional, we'll play a 9- or 18-hole round of golf." The kids take lessons from Family Golf pro Jeff Mullican. The lessons have ranged from once to three times a week.

The kids started playing only about two years. But, they've accomplished plenty already.

For instance, Brandon last month finished 7th in the Plantation Junior Golf national tournament in Virginia. He shot 77-76=153 in the two rounds.

Kevin Liu

Kevin finished first in the recent Junior Optimist qualifying tournament. He shot 88 to finish first in the 10-11 year age group. He'll play in the national meet later this summer.

This year, Stephanie earned National Player of the Year in the 8-to-11 category in the Plantation golf program.

The Plantation golf competition offers young golfers the chance to compete year-around. In winter months, the meets are in southern states.

But, winter or not, the Liu kids practice year-around in St. Louis. For instance, some of the practice tees at Family golf are under a canopy. Brandon said, "Even if it's snowing, we can still hit balls."

The three kids are big for their ages. Brandon is 6'2", Kevin, about 5'11". Stephanie is about 5'4" and already has to pick her golf shoes from boys' models.

That height translates into long distance off the tees. Brandon said his drives are in the 290-295 range while Kevin hits his drives "about 240."

Stephanie Liu

When asked about her driving distances, Stephanie mentioned she scored a hole-in-one on a 190-yard hole with a 6 iron.

But, while the drives go long, sometimes the short shots don't go straight.

Kevin said consistency is a problem. He said, "Every day, at least one thing will go wrong." Brandon said chipping and putting can be a problem.

Stephanie said, "I hit it far with all the clubs." But, she said her long irons and sometimes her chipping can give her trouble.

Brandon said his most disappointing experience in golf was when his shot an 88 in the Callaway World Amateur tournament. "Nothing went right that day," he said.

Kevin said his worst experience was in the U.S. Kids tournament last year when he shot 89-94-82.

Stephanie said, "I haven't had any disappointing experiences in golf."

In one tournament last month, the kids got to play on the same team although in separate age groupings. That was the World Youth Team Challenge tournament in Bolling Brook, just outside of Chicago.

The kids played in two-person teams. One day, it was best ball and the next they played alternating shots.

Although the kids want to be pro golfers, each of them has a Plan B.

Brandon said, "My Plan B would be something in business or maybe be a pilot."

Kevin said he would go into medicine. "I'd like to be a neurosurgeon," he said.

Stephanie said she'd probably be a pilot like her older brother.

But, for now, they've got their education structured so they can play golf….lots of golf.