GOLFERS GIVE SOMETHING BACK.

Byline: Dave Shelburne Daily News Staff Writer

Heidi Voorhees, former Junior World champion and star of the 1990 Notre Dame High School golf team, made a homecoming of sorts Monday, joining a field of two dozen women touring golf professionals who were trying to help pay back the game that has been so good to them for so long.

The occasion was the fifth LPGA junior golf pro-am at Woodland Hills Country Club, where established LPGA stars like Brandie Burton, Meg Mallon and Juli Inkster and upcoming mini-tour prospects like Voorhees teed off with youngsters from the seven-year-old Urban Youth Golf Program of Los Angeles in that group's biggest annual fund-raiser.

Originally the idea of Kerry Graham, past president of the LPGA teaching and club pro division, the L.A. Urban Youth Golf Program was started in Los Angeles in 1989 for the purpose of teaching children the game of golf by providing professional instruction, properly fitted equipment and course access on a year-round basis.

``It's open to all children, but we target economically underprivileged kids,'' said John Morrison, who succeeded Andree Martin as L.A. director in 1990 and has seen the project affect nearly 2,000 youngsters - growing from 200 participants in its inaugural year to nearly 600 this yaar.

Some of those early players have since gone on to make their mark at a higher level, including Quiana Conley, now at USC on a golf and academic scholarship, and Leroy Bates, who is playing for Long Beach State.

``We've seen some big progress, not just in golf but in self-esteem,'' Morrison said. ``We feel kind of proud about it.''

Participants go through five levels of instruction - beginner, junior, amateur, mini-tour and tour - the last allowing them access to a course without supervision.

``Boy, what that does for the old self-esteem,'' said Maury DeMots, an LPGA teaching pro at Riviera Country Club and dean of the urban youth program's instructors.

A knowledge of the rule book and strict adherence to golf etiquette are the earliest thrusts of the program, which goes on to teach the game from the wedge through driver - in that order.

``We have to earn our clubs,'' said 10-year-old Irving Blake, speaking of the program's policy of learning to use, for example, a wedge before moving on to add a 9-iron to the golf bag, then an 8-iron, etcetera.

But progressing through donated clubs was not what Blake learned first, and his recollection of lesson No. 1 will probably bring a satisfied nod from DeMots.''

``We learned to play safe, fast and courteous,'' he said.

Attention to golf etiquette was obvious throughout a field of two dozen juniors Monday, but so also were the results of sound early swing instruction - a combination that made for willing participation of touring pros.

``It feels so good to be out here,'' LPGA rookie Susan Veasey said after helping Blake read a green and then watching him nearly roll in a 35-foot birdie putt. ``It's a chance to give something back.''

For information on the junior program, phone Morrison at 310/419-1980.

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Photo

Photo: LPGA pro Meg Mallon shows youngsters from the UrbanYouth Golf Program how its done at the Woodland Hills Country Club.

David Crane / Daily News