Kahuku Intermediate's David Maedonochi is one of the players in the association.

"It's pretty important to me," Maedonochi said of the KJGA. "They teach us fundamentals and the rules of the game."

There are roughly 50 youths from Ka'a'awa to Waialua that participate in the KJGA — a competitive summer program run by volunteers and donations from late May through July.

Youths play a weekly tournament at the rugged, ocean-lined, nine-hole Kahuku Golf Course (par 35). The City and County of Ho-nolulu closes the course Thursdays for the program.

There is a $25 initiation fee, which covers insurance, a shirt, cap and rule book; and the $2 greens fee each week.

Lance Suzuki, a Hawai'i Golf Hall of Fame inductee, runs the program with Bob Owan and Lynn Gillespie.

"We get the parents involved, and the kids seem to enjoy it," Suzuki said. "That's the main thing."

Owan and Suzuki observe the youths while they play, but do not give a lot of one-on-one advice because of time.

"We let them go out and play — very basic instructions," Owan said. "We really try to emphasize parental support. We cannot make this program work without parents going out with the beginners."

The three golf parents have run what they dub a "grass-roots program" for eight years.

"We're just giving them another alternative," said Gillespie, whose son Charles Beranaba, an accomplished golfer, originally started the program as an Eagle Scout project. "We see the opportunities (golf provides)."

The three parents took over the program to give their kids — who are now too old to participate — and other area youths a chance to play something other than football.

A $5,000 grant from the United States Golf Association got the ball rolling. Turtle Bay Golf Course hosts two tournaments for the top KJGA youths and gives the program $1,000 annually.

The group usually gets money from the Aloha section of the PGA, but not this year.

"Funds are dwindling," said Gillespie, adding that the lack of Aloha PGA funding was not detrimental.

Suzuki, Owan and Gillespie planned on passing the responsibility of running the program to someone else once their kids finished it, but that has not happened.

"We can't run it forever," Suzuki said. "After the summer we'll sit down and decide what to do for next year."

Suzuki added that they will not pass on the responsibility of running the program until someone who knows the game — and will remain committed — steps forward.

In the meantime, they enjoy their time with the youths.

"I get to know the kids," Gillespie said. "That's fun for me. I give them hot dogs and drinks."

Gillespie added that a lot of the motivation for running the program is the pride they get from helping field strong Kahuku High School golf teams, which is where a lot of the participants aspire to play.

"They encourage me to practice so I can get better and go out for the high school team," said Saleena Tafua, 13.

To Isaac Jaffurs, a sophomore-to-be on the Kahuku high school team, the program provides a place to play through whatever rust that may have accumulated during the O'ahu Interscholastic Association offseason.

"It helps me improve my tourney mode," he said.

Kalani Ka-Ne of Kahuku Elementary participates because golf is fun and challenging. He also feels that he has more talent in golf than football and other sports.

"I've gotten a lot better," said Ka-Ne, who has been in the program for two years.

But for many like Maedonochi, golf is what they like to do and they are determined to make something of it.

"It's a fun game to play," said Maedonochi, who has been in the program since he was nine. "It's my favorite sport of all."

Maedonochi, who gets some help with his swing from Suzuki, understands that it is his responsibility to get better. He tries to practices at least twice a week other than the Thursday gatherings.

"We tell them that's the only way they are going to get better," Suzuki said. "You have to practice on your own."

Suzuki said the tournaments show who has been "putting in the time."

Gillespie said that they channel the talented youths into the Hawai'i State Junior Golf Program.

Inoka Kahawaii, 11, took the skills he picked up in the KJGA and became a Junior World alternate last year.