NATCHEZ — Baseball sort of carries over to golf for 12-year-old Rossie Olinde.

The Morganza, La., resident likes to hit the baseball hard, and he has a tendency to hit a golf ball hard too, even when he’s putting.

“It’s like trying to hit a home run,” Olinde said.

Olinde was one of a dozen golfers at the Norman Puckett Junior Golf Academy camp at Duncan Park early Monday morning. He said he was already going to be in the area to visit his aunt at Lake St. John, and his local family insisted he come out to the camp.

“I’ve only been playing golf for two years,” Olinde said. “My dad got me into it. He does it for work, in case someone asks him to go play.

“I was going to take private lessons, but (my grandmother) wanted me to come out he and try this out before doing that.”

Olinde said he likes playing the sport, and he’s getting some helpful instruction tips at the camp.

“They’re teaching me how to align my feet and to hit straight,” Olinde said. “I like how you can come out here and just hit.”

John McGough, the teaching pro at Lakewood Country Club in New Orleans, was on hand Monday to assist in teaching young golfers the game. It’s the second year in a row for McGough to be a part of the Norman Puckett Junior Golf Academy.

“We introduce them to the game of golf, and try to make sure there’s another generation to play golf,” McGough said. “If not, then the game dies. Our job is to set the hook and expose what a wonderful game golf is.”

The instructions the children are getting are designed to help them maintain their ability to play the game well as they grow, McGough said.

“We teach them the proper grip, stance and ball position,” McGough said. “With those three things along, it sets them up to at least make contact, get the ball in the sky and put a smile on their faces out of a sense of success.”

Duncan Park Golf Course Superintendent Greg Brooking said this year’s turnout has been the best since the camp was started up.

“With Pete Powell volunteering to help us instruct, it gives each child more attention,” Brooking said. “Last year, John was doing it by himself, but this year, each child gets 10 minutes apiece.”

Children ages 9-12 golf from 9 to 10 a.m., and golfers ages 13-17 are instructed from 10:30 a.m. until noon. Both groups are filled up, Brooking said.

“The children get excited, and when they do, the parents get excited, which means they have a way to come out here,” Brooking said.

The Norman Puckett Junior Golf Academy is every Monday until June 27.