By DAVID PRESZLER

The golf club was almost as tall as Jaime Jo Brown.

And judging from how tough it was for her to swing, the iron seemed to weigh almost as much as the freckle-faced 7-year-old, too.

But that didn't stop Jaime Jo and an estimated 85 other girls from swinging away at Quail Point Golf Course on Saturday. They blasted -- or tried to blast -- an array of beach balls, oversized foam golf balls and standard golf balls around the course's driving range.

The 7- to 16-year-old girls were taking part in the second in a three-session series of free golf lessons being sponsored by the Ken Palmer Memorial Fund and the Quail Point Ladies Golf Club. The final lesson runs from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on May 16. Girls interested in participating should call the pro shop at 857-7000.

"We basically brought her out here to introduce her to it and see if she takes to it," said Brenda Moore, Jaime Jo's mother.

"A little," the shy Central Point Elementary first-grader said when asked if she was having fun.

But by the end of the lessons, an enjoyment of golf began to show through. Asked what her favorite sport was, she smiled and said "golf" through the two front teeth that are just starting to come in.

Moore said Jaime Jo tried more competitive, aggressive sports like soccer but they seemed to scare her a bit. Since her husband plays golf and she's starting to learn, Moore thought it would be nice to see how Jaime Jo liked it.

"It's something we can do as a family this summer," Moore said.

Quail Point head pro Mike Byrd led the group lesson, which mixed basic instruction with fun. The lesson began with the girls working on their grips and stances, before moving to the swing.

After some practice swings, the group progressed through the practice balls, beginning with large beach balls to build confidence and moving to the baseball-size foam balls and finally to the genuine article.

"We're just trying to introduce golf to the girls," Byrd said. "It's just been awesome. We hope that from the girls who signed up that we are going get 75 percent or so to stick with it."

The event was held in memory of the late Ken Palmer, a Quail Point course marshal with a reputation for supporting women's golf and youth golf throughout his life.

"He was always there and encouraging us," said Happy Blue, a ladies club member and one of the event's organizers.

When Palmer died two years ago, the ladies club mulled over several possible memorials -- a bench, a tree, etc. -- before deciding on the free lessons, which began last year.

"I think this is a better idea," said Helen Palmer, his widow. "He was always interested in having young kids play golf."

And there was plenty of that Saturday, as budding golfers wearing bright yellow shirts reading "Palmer Girls" lined the practice range.

"It's extremely fun," said Amy Finney, a 12-year-old Hoover Elementary sixth-grader who showed up with a sunshine painted on her right cheek.

"I like just hitting balls off the range," added Jordan Sies, another 12-year-old Hoover sixth grader.

Alice Yi, a 9 1/2-year-old third-grader at Grace Christian, began playing golf just a few months ago. But she's already taken to the sport, popping consistently good shots off the tee.