J.R. Smith opens learning center for child golfers

J.R. Smith recently opened the J.R. Smith Learning Center, which sounds like a really kind, straight-forward endeavor. And it is. But like with all things J.R. Smith, it's also a little strange.

That's because the center, located in his home state of New Jersey, is a three-hole golf course for children.

The Asbury Park Press provides the detail:

But the learning center — a three-hole short course — marks their first facility designed specifically to draw young players into the game. The undulating greens, which average around 4,800 square-feet, are similar to putting surfaces you’d find on a regulation course.

While the First Tee will run their clinics and programs at the facility, as well as maintain the course, it will be open to the public.

Smith's goal is to get more children interested in golf, something he's done in the past with the J.R. Smith Youth Foundation Golf Classic. He's on record as being a big fan of the sport, as Ananth Pandian of Hardwood Paroxysm outlined on Thursday.

As nice a gesture and effort as this may be, it's really difficult to hear "J.R. Smith Learning Center of The First Tee" and not think of this: