The PGA Colorado Section is making sure the kids are not left out of the fun during the U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor.

Colorado PGA is in charge of the Junior Golf Center, an area between holes five and 17 of the East Course with a putting green and mini “driving range” free for kids to use during the tournament.

The driving range features colorful inflatable animals used as targets for BirdieBalls, a plastic hollow oval that simulates hitting a golf ball without the danger and distance of one. On the putting green, a mini golf course allows kids to work on precision.

“It’s important to have this area because it’s the next generation of golfers,” said Zach Kinmartin, junior golf manager for Colorado PGA. “We want to make sure they keep playing for the rest of their lives.”

The USGA had kids in mind this week, offering free admission to the U.S. Senior Open for kids 17 and under with a ticketed adult.

“The USGA and PGA Tour have taken strides to make sure kids have the opportunity to come watch the event,” Kinmartin said. “Providing a free ticket for kids, who wouldn’t want to come out and enjoy a free Saturday at The Broadmoor?”

The Junior Golf Center opened Wednesday and will operate from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. for the remainder of the tournament. Throughout the week, an estimated 100-200 kids come through each day with Saturday being its busiest day so far.

With concessions and restrooms nearby, the Junior Golf Center is in a convenient section of the course for families.

“It’s great to give kids an opportunity to experience golf while we are at something like this,” Kate McCall, a parent of a 7- and 10-year-old, said. “It’s a nice break for them and us as parents. They love golf.”

The Junior Golf Center is run by 40 or so volunteers and staff throughout the week from the Colorado PGA Section, including PGA teaching professionals.

Colorado PGA was also in charge of the Drive, Chip and Putt competition that was supposed to run Wednesday but was rescheduled to August due to rain.

“They love working with the kids,” Kinmartin said of the volunteers. “Our goal is to grow the game of golf and that’s how we are doing it.”

One of those teaching pros is Ray Sowers, a 32-year PGA teaching professional from South Florida who has worked for Colorado PGA the last three years. Sowers volunteered Saturday, enthusiastically engaging with kids and giving them tips on their set-up.

“I volunteer because of this right here, the juniors,” Sowers said. “The juniors are the future of the game. At one point you had as many people quitting as you did starting. If you get frustrated you will find something else to do. I take it personally, it’s our job as teachers to get people committed.”

Sowers says he is after getting kids to understand the fundamentals when working with them.

“There’s nothing like a look on someone’s face and they don’t think they can do it and then all of sudden it’s ‘wow, there it goes.’” Sowers said. “80% of what you do before you swing is usually the problem. If you’re set up badly, everything else falls apart.”

“I don’t care about mistakes, never have. Because I experienced it as a kid. So what you make a mistake, you can’t change it. Forget it. Was the mistake a bad choice or a physical mistake? You will make physical mistakes but it’s the bad choices you want to get rid of.”

On Saturday, Sowers had kids focus on the inflatable targets rather than how far they could hit it. He says the inflatable hippo, alligator, and shark at the Junior Golf Center bring fun to learning golf.

That’s not only important for the Junior Golf Center, but for the future of the sport.

“We are here to give the kids a good time, give the kids a second to breathe,” said PGA WORKS fellow and volunteer Bryan Sandoval. “Let the kids learn about golf and how to play and have some fun with it. At a young age I think it’s important to know that golf is fun.”