By RAUL GARCIA
Staff Writer
HARLINGEN — Wendy Werley Bullock has a sweet spot for teaching girls how to play golf.
And she is planning to tee off next month with a Junior Girls Golf program for ages 9 to 14 at the Harlingen Country Club.
She said the effort is to introduce the game of golf to more girls in Harlingen.
And most importantly, she wants to tell parents about the doors golf can open to girls who apply themselves to learning the game.
“There are more college scholarships available than there are girls to play,” Wendy, 50, said about the college opportunity.
She says she travels to tournaments in the Rio Grande Valley where her daughter competes, and there are no girls participating.
“I want to educate girls that it does not take that much to play, and its really fun,” Wendy said.
She is an accomplished member of the Ladies Professional Golf Association, and has competed professionally in golf tournaments in the United State and Japan.
She is also a U.S. Kids Golf Foundation Top 50 master instructor.
The two-month Junior Girls Golf program will be held on Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. during September and October at the Harlingen Country Club for both members and non-members.
HCC’s interest in junior golf is at the forefront.
And Liz Richardson, HCC head golf professional, will also help out.
There is limited space available for the program, and a non-member fee of $120 to participate.
She said for girls who don’t have the equipment, it will be provided for them.
“I want to teach girls the basics of the game,” Wendy said. “You don’t have to be a big strong boy to hit the ball far.”
She said learning how to chip and get putts in is very important.
Wendy said playing golf paid her way through college and opened many doors and opportunities for her.
A native of Littleton, Colorado, Wendy played golf for the University of New Mexico, won seven Colorado Women’s Golf Association individual championships in the mid- to late-1980s and dominated women’s amateur golf in Colorado in the late 1980s.
“If I can get girls interested in the game at an early age. and even if they don’t play in college, they will know this game as an adult and utilize it in their professional life,” Wendy said. “There are not many places where a golf club has two LPGA golf professionals.”
