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By Greg Hardwig
Naples Daily News
The 80 schoolchildren at Pelican Marsh Elementary School looked on, some of them in awe, as the Shark strode into the pavilion area.
And so did the teachers and administrators as well. Many of them took pictures or video.
 | | Norman fielded such questions as, "Have you ever played with Tiger Woods?" and "How much money do you make?"
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After all, Greg Norman was once one of the top golfers in the world, and is perhaps the sport's most successful businessman. Tuesday, he was at Pelican Marsh to impart his knowledge on golf and life.
As he will on Friday during the CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation Family Clinic at The Franklin Templeton Shootout, Norman faced a tough crowd.
Best question?
"How much do you make a year?" one of the schoolchildren asked without hesitation.
Norman did hesitate a bit before giving a diplomatic answer.
"Can you imagine any adult walking up to you and saying that?" Norman said afterward. "They were good questions. That's the innocence of youth right there."
Norman, who fielded 25 or 30 questions during the 15-minute session, also had his longtime personal trainer, Pete Draovitch, talk briefly about physical fitness with the children.
"Sometimes it's tough to keep their attention," Norman said. "For those who don't understand sport or who don't understand what you're saying, it's difficult. That's why you have to keep it as simple as you can possibly keep it and make sure your answers are as concise as they possibly can. But I loved it."
 | | Norman: "They were good questions. That's the innocence of youth right there." |
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SNAG (Starting New at Golf) equipment was up against the wall behind Norman and Draovitch. The introductory golf clubs are part of the First Tee National School Program, which is entering its second year in Southwest Florida. The Shootout and The ACE Group Classic, Naples' Champions Tour event, are behind the cooperative effort in the area.
"Greg has always had a soft spot for kids and its great when we have him in our backyard and he can reach out with a positive message to a captive audience like the students at Pelican Marsh Elementary School," Shootout tournament director Taylor Ives said.
So far, a total of 13,000 students in 22 schools in Collier County and 11,800 students in 16 elementary schools in Lee County have been reached through the program. More schools are scheduled to be funded in 2007.
"I think from both of our perspectives, it's gone the best we ever could have expected," ACE Group Classic tournament director Jason Camp said. "It's been great to work with the PGA Tour and the First Tee program nationally."
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