Scott Reinhart, a PGA professional who works at the Kapalua Golf Academy, instructs students at Princess Nahienaena Elementary School last month as part of the Starting New At Golf program. The Maui News / ROBERT COLLIAS photo

LAHAINA — The Wilsey-Botelho children shared a special afternoon last month after their school day at Princess Nahienaena Elementary School.

They took part in the free Starting New At Golf program that Scott Reinhart, a PGA professional who works at the Kapalua Golf Academy, puts on at his own expense each Wednesday as part of his PGA Master Professional program project.

“They ask you to find something in your community that has been in decline or something like that,” Reinhart said. “I found out that Lahaina Junior Golf, junior golf in Lahaina, was down 40 percent over the last 10 years. So, I was like, ‘Oh perfect.’ ”

A little more research by Reinhart showed that the SNAG program was already in 10,000 schools nationwide. The program, which is designed to encourage children to start and enjoy playing golf, is promoted by Jack Nicklaus.

After searching unsuccessfully for sponsors in West Maui, Reinhart decided to spend $3,000 of his own money to purchase enough equipment for 32 children. Sixteen kids per week take part in the program, playing the game through fun drills in the Nahienaena playground, just down the road from Lahainaluna High School.

The kids work in groups of four with volunteer instructors, including Lahainaluna athletic director Scott Soldwisch, who is the coordinator of Maui Interscholastic League golf, and his daughter Ariya, a Lahaina Junior Golf member. Lahaina Rotary members are also among the volunteer group.

Isabella Wilsey-Botelho, a Nahienaena 5th-grader, said she learned “that there’s different ways to hit the ball and golf.”

Her 7-year-old brother Jordan, a 2nd-grader, quickly chimed in.

“I learned how to do full power. The best part was how we got to play baseball with the golf clubs,” he said, finishing each sentence with emphasis.

Middle sister Anastasia Wilsey-Botelho, a 3rd-grader, smiled when she recalled her first visit to the program.

“My first time coming here I almost hit those people that were sitting in the shade by that tree,” Anastasia Wilsey-Botelho said. “I didn’t mean to, but at least it curved away.”

Desmond Haia-Shim, a 5th-grader, said before his first chance at the program that his goal was to “have fun.”

Said 4th-grader Micah Ganis: “It’s really fun, I like it. … My favorite sport is golf.”

Nahienaena principal Dr. Rebecca Winkie was on board quickly after Reinhart pitched the program over the summer.

“Dr. Winkie said to me, ‘You know, these kids don’t really have the money to play golf,’ and I said, ‘It’s a free program,’ ” Reinhart said. “This school has the best field, it’s huge, and the kids we want to reach. … I’m looking for the kid that no one might have found, that diamond in the rough. I want to find that next Tiger Woods, you never know.”

The drills include “launching,” which is the program’s term for a full-swing or driving a golf ball, and “rolling” or putting. Short-game work is snuck into the fray with fun activities that include the “baseball golf” that Jordan Wilsey-Botelho enjoyed so much.

“We run them through stations and each station has training, a drill with it, and exercise as well,” Reinhart said. “There’s chipping, pitching … It’s usually like five minutes per station. They actually have three golf holes that they play out there.”

The program started with 150 kids signing up, but now goes on a rotating basis with the children who are most interested.

“It’s a blast,” said Reinhart, who also works with Special Olympics and Wounded Warrior Project. “Between that and Special Olympics, it’s definitely the highlight of my week. It’s fun for me because you just see the kids having that fun without thinking about it and not judging the game. They’re just going out there to hit the ball and have fun.”

Reinhart said the program will definitely continue through the end of this school year and hopefully into next year. He is always looking for qualified volunteers.

“If I can get enough volunteers, my next thing would be to do a golf tournament charity for it to buy more equipment in the future when stuff starts to break and things like that,” Reinhart said. “That’s probably a year or two away, so at this point it’s really seeking volunteers.”

For those interested in volunteering or for more information, contact Reinhart via email at sreinhart@pga.com.

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.