Stamps Is Absolutely Stuck on the Game

Wherever Burley Stamps Jr. goes, so go his golf clubs.

That includes on the daily bus ride from his home in Westchester to Pacific Palisades High, which he attends. And although he has heard his share of ribbing from classmates who think golf is uncool, Stamps’ love for the sport has only grown.

The high school junior credits Tiger Woods for helping to change the views of many teenagers, especially in the African American community.

Stamps said his friends have questioned his sport of choice since he took up golf four years ago. Even his family encouraged him to follow his older brother and play basketball at Westchester High.

“All my son has wanted to do for the past few years is play golf,” said Burley Stamps Sr. “And the only person he ever talks about is Tiger Woods. That’s his idol. He never misses one of his matches on television.”

At 6 feet 2, Stamps Jr. has the size to be competitive in basketball. He grew up playing the game in addition to baseball, but he switched to golf when he was 13 after hitting a bucket of balls with his father at Westchester Golf Course.

In only his second round, he shot an 81.

Playing basketball, however, would be more economical. Getting started with a set of golf clubs, a bag and balls can cost $1,000 or more. Private lessons can run $50 an hour. And then there are greens fees, which can total thousands of dollars over the period of a year for an active golfer.

“We have four kids and we’re on a budget,” Stamps Sr. said. “I had to find ways to save money because we just couldn’t afford it.”

Like many high school students in his area interested in golf, Stamps Jr. turned to local organizations for help. The LPGA Urban Youth Golf Program and Western States Golf Assn. provided affordable playing opportunities and instruction.

Last year, he joined the Gifted Golfers of the Young Golfers of American Assn. The group was designed to help minority golfers receive college scholarships.

Stamps Jr. has received increased instruction and played professional courses in Palm Springs and Oxnard. His handicap has dropped to four and he’s one of the more promising junior golfers in Southern California.

His improvement and enthusiasm helped inspire Palisades High to start its first golf team in five years this spring.

“The school has a rich tradition in golf, but for one reason or another the program fell by the wayside,” said Coach James Paleno, who also runs the boys’ basketball program. “The reception to the team has been astounding. We had a cattle call in January and 68 kids showed up. An additional 25 showed up the following week.”

Paleno said Stamps Jr. and his father were instrumental in persuading school administrators to start the team. Stamps Jr. is one of three African Americans on the team.

“It’s no longer nerdy to play golf,” Paleno said. “Burley and others on the team are helping change that stereotype.”

Stamps Jr. plans to spend his summer playing golf every day.

“Tiger is not only giving me inspiration to play, he’s showing how much money can be made,” Stamps Jr. said. “I would love nothing more than to turn pro and have the same opportunity to make money.”