Golf made elementary

A year and a half ago, Andy Weaver tried and tried to get Zane, his then-5-year-old son, to play on a golf course. Most representatives at the golf courses feared for Zane’s safety. They also worried the little guy didn’t know enough about the game.

But father knew best. Weaver, a Corona del Mar resident, wrote letters to the American Golf Corporation, a large management firm for several golf courses, public and private. Yet Zane would still be turned away.

One time, while playing with his grandfather, John Loeschhorn, at Casta del Sol Golf Course in Mission Viejo, an official asked his age. Moments later, Zane couldn’t play on the course anymore. When he went to play at David Baker Golf Course in Fountain Valley, someone had already called, warning not to let Zane play there.

“I wrote a letter to the president of [American Golf Corporation] and told him to let Zane play,” Weaver said. “It’s ridiculous that age is a limit on the course. He’s not dangerous.”

The hassle that started in the summer of 2007 dragged into 2008, but finally little Zane was able to play on the courses, legally.

He actually is dangerous, only in a different sense. He won the first tournament in which he competed, back in June.

He continued to win and dazzle those who saw him play. But his biggest win to date came Feb. 15, when he won the Future Champions Golf World Championship in San Diego.

He was the champ for the boys’ 6-and-under division. Zane won four Future Champions Junior Tour events to earn a spot at the world championship, which began at the Doubletree Resort (Feb. 14) and concluded at Colina Park Golf Course.

Zane, who is four-foot and weighs 47 pounds, is able to bang out a drive as far as 140 yards. And, his short game is not too shabby, either. Competing in a putting contest at the world championship two weeks ago, he was the only one to sink his putt. In the contest, Weaver said, the competitors were given two practice putts and then a putt that counted. He made his first practice putt and later sank the money ball, a 27-foot putt to win an Odyssey putter.

While Zane has the skill to be exceptional in his age division, he also takes advantage of his experience. He’s among the oldest in his age division, as he celebrated his seventh birthday at Disneyland Monday.