Rocky Winstead’s summer clinics at Zebulon Country Club are set to kick off Thursday, June 4, at 5 p.m., and he plans to hold a one-time Saturday clinic on June 6 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Top that off with the Eastern North Carolina Junior Golf League summer tournaments and kids interested in golf should have their hands full all summer long.

A plus for parents — Winstead’s clinics, held every Thursday afternoon at 5, are completely free. And so is the junior golf league. Winstead only wants his students to produce a net of their own, if needed, so they can practice what they’ve learned at home.

“They’re free and they really give the kids a good chance to come out, be involved and learn responsibility,” Winstead said.

This year’s clinics with Winstead will focus primarily on the short game and golf course etiquette.

“We have the practice facility that is good for working on the short game. I bought a net so the kids can hit into it, but the area is best for the short game,” Winstead said of the practice area located between the 13th and 14th holes.

No golf clubs? Not a problem at the clinics. Winstead supplies a van’s worth of clubs to anyone in need.

Winstead said something he thinks the children will appreciate is that he plans on using last year’s students to help assist the new kids in their journey to striping the golf ball. He said everything from course conduct to tournament play can in many cases be more easily explained by someone on the same level, age-wise.

Returnee’s William Lewis and Neville Burton will be on-board to help Winstead run the Thursday clinics, as well as adults present to help supervise the group.

“This isn’t just something short term, it’s a lifetime game — it’s a lifetime journey” Winstead said.

He said just like life, the game teaches people they can’t do anything about what just happened, but they can make the best of what they are facing in the present.

“The kids don’t have to come to every clinic all summer long, but I think it will be great with the kids working with kids,” he said.

Parents are what Winstead said made last year’s clinics so outstanding and kept the children involved, and he’s hoping the same will happen again this year. They merely need to sign a release form for their children and the learning can begin.

While at the country club and signing up for Thursday afternoon clinics, Winstead said children should also take advantage of the junior golf league.

Twelve boys and 12 girls ages 10-18 are eligible to represent their home course in competitions against children from other courses in the surrounding area.

Matches take place every Monday from July 6 to August 3. Beyond Zebulon Country Club, golf courses in the league include Wendell Country Club, Cardinal Country Club in Selma, Birchwood Country Club in Nashville and Peachtree Hills Country Club in Spring Hope.

Winstead stressed there were no girls on Zebulon’s team last year, and he would like to see that change. He mentioned there was a girl that played for Peachtree last year who was out-shooting boys in her own age class, so he said there’s no reason anyone, boy or girl, shouldn’t come out and give it a try, regardless of skill level.

“That, and all the guys that work and play at the course really like to help the kids,” he said.

Winstead said course manager David Windley has been unbelievable in pushing both the league play and his clinics.

To sign up for clinics, league play, or for more information on either of the two, contact Winstead at 252-230-4268, or Zebulon Country Club at 269-8311.