Some of the best times Larry Godfrey had as a youth were with a golf club in his hands, and he's decided to help others experience that by opening Aggieland Golf Academy.

The former A&M Consolidated High all-district golfer was reminded of his fun on the course while watching his twin boys, Dylan and Zachary, learn the game. But after taking them to summer tournaments and now watching them compete as 15-year-old freshmen at Bryan High, he discovered that our community was behind when it comes to youth golf.

"We'd go to these tournaments and The Woodlands, Montgomery and Conroe, they'd each have 40 or 50 kids," Godfrey said. "We'd have maybe 10 and that was both the junior high and high school level."

Godfrey, who played at Consol 1980-84 and then two years at Lon Morris Junior College before graduating from A&M in 1990, has seen youth programs in other sports boom in Bryan-College Station and believes the same thing can happen in golf.

"We've got the kids, we just need to get them involved in golf earlier in the fifth, sixth and seventh grade," Godfrey said.

Godfrey's plan is to have a travel team by next spring. And he's hopeful in the near future to have multiple teams in different age divisions, like what has happened in baseball, softball, track and volleyball that's laid the foundation for Brazos Valley high schools to have success in those sports, many winning state championships.

"It may take three years, but I want to develop it where they can climb, from 10 & under, to 10-13, and then older, and just keep working it," he said.

Bryan-College Station has more golf courses than ever with Traditions Club, Pebble Creek Country Club and Miramont Country Club added in the last 20 years, joining Briarcrest Country Club, the Travis B. Bryan Municipal Golf Course and Texas A&M's golf course.

That hasn't led to added participants on the high school level. Bryan High golf coach Ron Newhouse has only two girls on this year's team.

"I hope he does well," Newhouse said. "I wouldn't say we're a golfing town compared to some others, but we sure could use a lot more young golfers."

A&M Consolidated girls golf coach Mike Terral who has lived in the community for more than two decades the first 12 coaching boys basketball, had his own golf clinic last week to try and encourage girls to play and get better.

"I'm all for it," Terral said. "Anything that gets a club in a girl's hand, I'm all for it."

Newhouse has been promoting youth golf for more than three decades. All of his children played, with son Darren earning a scholarship to Abilene Christian and daughter Jennifer playing at Texas Tech.

For years Newhouse helped run the highly successful Central Texas Junior Golf League that was started by Bryan Golf Course professional Fred Marberry, Texas Golf Hall of Famer Duke Butler and Bryan businessman and councilman Buddy Sledge.

Marberry also had a hand in Godfrey's development.

"He was the first guy who really taught me," Godfrey said. "He was the first one who would take the time for me. I'll never forget. He would make J.J. Montelongo and myself hit maybe 500 balls between us while he'd sit on a bucket and watch. We'd have to hit off that hard dirt under those trees out there at the course. He'd just sit and there and work with us."

Godfrey was blessed to have some great teachers. His father, Larry Godfrey Sr., designed a couple golf courses including Austin's River Place Country Club, which allowed the younger Godfrey to spend time hitting golf balls with Tom Kite.

"I learned so much from him in that one summer," Godfrey said. "You know Harvey Penick taught him and [Ben] Crenshaw and all those guys how to play."

The time with Kite was special, but it was Marberry who put in the long hours that made Godfrey appreciate the sport. And even though Godfrey is busy with a successful career in real estate, Godfrey wanted to give the community's youth the same opportunity he had.

Aggieland Golf Academy offers the same services as a driving range, but there is an emphasis on instruction, especially with the youth.

"I don't want to be a place where they come to beat balls," Godfrey said. "We are focused on teaching people the game."

Thus, if you just buy a bucket of balls, there's a good chance Godfrey or one of his assistants might watch and offer a tip or two.

"I want people to want to come back to better their game," Godfrey said. "I know a lot of people just want to bang balls, but that means they just keep the same bad techniques."

Godfrey's teaching staff includes Jim Beard, former Briarcrest Country Club professional; Wendi Wiese, a former Texas A&M player and Aggie assistant coach; and Kayla Key, a former Sam Houston State player.

Godfrey said the summer programs in Austin, Dallas and the Conroe area allow high schools such as Austin Westlake, Highland Park, Montgomery and The Woodlands to be strong every year. There's never a dropoff in talent because the summer programs are so strong.

"The kids already are regulars, and that's what I'm trying to create," Godfrey said.

Godfrey designed the academy's layout that includes the latest in turf, tee boxes, teaching equipment and sand bunkers for players to work on their short game.

Godfrey understands that some might be turned off by the perception that golf is a rich person's game, but he contends the costs aren't any different than other sports, especially when it comes to players good enough to travel.

"I just want parents to give golf a try," Godfrey said. "I hope they bring their child out and let him or her give it a try."

NOTES -- Aggieland Golf Academy, which is east of Central Baptist Church on Highway 30, opened Dec. 1 with the grand opening planned for March. ... Godfrey wants to assure the parents that they need to bring their clubs as well. He plans on having a weekly Ladies Night, and they'll be offering other clinics.