Sam Cresta, an award-winning golf professional at the American Classic Golf Course (ACGC) in Rehoboth Beach, spends much of his time helping adults improve their golf game. Many of those students, he says, are parents or grandparents.
That got him thinking about the next generation of golfers.
The result is The Pond at Mulliganville, a new children’s book designed to spark young readers’ interest in the game. Cresta previously published a guide for adult beginners, but this time his goal was different.
“The new book isn’t intended to teach golf mechanics to kids,” Cresta said. “It’s meant to get them excited about golf while encouraging them to have fun and keep things light on the course.”
Golf, he notes, can sometimes test a player’s patience.
“I wanted the story to show that the game can be fun and creative, and that you don’t have to get upset about bad shots,” he said. “I also thought parents and grandparents who golf might enjoy reading it to their kids. Maybe it will inspire them to want to try the game themselves.”
Cresta said the idea for the book had been on his mind for some time. Working with junior golfers gave him the inspiration to create a story that reflects the playful side of learning the sport—think friendly challenges like trying to hit the ball over a pond.
The story centers on a young boy named Scotty and his grandfather during a day on the golf course. When Scotty hits his ball into a pond—something golfers of every age experience at some point—he becomes frustrated.
His grandfather helps ease the disappointment with an imaginative tale: beneath the water, lost golf balls come alive and discover a magical world of their own.
Cresta originally imagined the idea as an animated movie, complete with expanded characters and longer storylines. But after considering what was most realistic to produce, he decided a children’s book was the better path.
While The Pond at Mulliganville is aimed at younger children, Cresta says there are several programs available for older kids who want to learn the game.
One of the best-known is the First Tee program, a youth development organization that combines golf instruction with life-skills education.
According to its website, First Tee helps young people “build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges by seamlessly integrating the game of golf with a life skills curriculum.”
“The First Tee is a great program for kids,” Cresta said. “It provides an affordable way to learn the game while also emphasizing values and ethics.”
Programs are offered throughout the state, including at American Classic. In addition to basic golf mechanics, participants learn etiquette, rules, and character-building lessons.
Another option, Cresta said, is Youth on Course, a national program that helps make golf more accessible. For an annual membership fee of $20, young players can play at participating courses for just $5 per round.
“It’s a great way to make the game affordable for families,” he said.
Cresta also offers private lessons for young golfers, sometimes starting as early as age six.
“There isn’t really one perfect age to start,” he said. “It depends on the child’s interests and goals. At that age, I try to keep things light and fun and mostly focus on helping them enjoy the game.”
Ultimately, Cresta says that enjoyment is the key to getting young players hooked on golf.
“It’s great to see new golfers start hitting solid shots or play through their first real hole,” he said. “Being able to support that and watch them grow in the game is one of the best parts of the job.”
By Mary Jo Tarallo, Resident Journalist
Mary Jo Tarallo spent much of her career in public relations with various non-profits and spent 40 years involved with the ski industry as a journalist, public relations director for a national trade association and as executive director of the Learn to Ski and Snowboard initiative. Prior to her ski industry involvement she worked for the Maryland International Center in Baltimore and United Way of Central Maryland. She won a Gold Award for TV programming for a United Way simulcast that starred Oprah Winfrey. She has been cited for her work by numerous organizations. Mary Jo grew up in Baltimore, attended the University of Maryland and Towson University, lived in Washington, DC for 21 years and has been a full time resident of Rehoboth Beach and Milton since May 2019.
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