It seems to be in the genes

of the Nigro family.

It struck Carmine, 90, when

he was in his forties and his son Bill when he was in his

early teens. Bill's son Todd caught the bug when he was

seven or eight and Todd's son Tyler, 22 months (yes,

months), was only 5 or 6 months old when it grabbed him.

What is "it?" It

is the game of golf.

Young Tyler had to wait

until he could walk to swing his first golf club, but as

soon as he was able to do more than watch, he was

swinging a plastic golf club. About four months ago, he

graduated to a special "real" golf club with a

shortened shaft that is just his size.

Todd said Tyler started

watching golf when he was 4 or 5 months old. Todd would

take him to the course in a stroller to watch while he

played.

"He would laugh

hysterically when I hit the ball," said Todd.

"It distracted everyone."

Watching golf on television

is another of Tyler's favorites.

Tyler not only enjoys golf,

but he knows the game, too. When asked, "Who's the

best golfer?" he quickly replies, "Tiger

Woods."

However, during his recent

trip to visit his grandparents, Bill and Martha Nigro, in

Peachtree City, Tyler amended his answer and now says

"Grandpa." Grandpa sent Tyler home with a brand

new putter, which he insisted on carrying onto the

airplane all alone. The youngster was the center of

attention throughout his walk to the concourse.

Tyler concentrates when he

plays. He rarely makes a bad swing and he can knock a

ball a pretty good distance across the green in the

direction he wants the ball to travel. The only

difficulty he seems to have is when it is time to stop

playing.

All of the golfers in the

Nigro family receive high marks for their golfing

abilities.

Tyler's great-grandfather,

Carmine Nigro, didn't discover golf until he was in his

mid-forties. After playing and mastering the game, he was

asked by Sam Snead's brother, Homer, to teach at his

Miami driving range. Nigro worked at the range for six or

seven years before retiring to West Palm Beach. Last year

Carmine and wife Francis moved to Peachtree City.

Carmine watches and

encourages Tyler on his visits, giving him tips to

improve his swing when Tyler is willing to stop playing a

second and listen.

Bill is considered

"the one to beat" by his golfing buddies in

Peachtree City. He has enjoyed the game since his early

teens when he played on a junior country club team for a

number of years.

Todd, Nigro's oldest son,

waited until the ripe old age of seven to take up golf.

He finally managed to beat his father during their last

visit. Bill said with a quick smile, "He had to wait

until I was old and decrepit to beat me."

Todd and his wife, Kristen,

have a two-month old, Jake. Speculation is that his first

word will be "golf."

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