U.S. Kids Golf traces its start back to founder Dan Van Horn’s realization that his kids, ages 6 and 3, found the game too heavy — literally and figuratively.

They struggled with the weight of the clubs and the pressure to perform. Van Horn saw a niche, and another way to inspire his kids. He developed Ultralight Kidsklubs, 25 percent lighter than adult and most junior clubs, and formed U.S. Kids Golf in 1997.

The U.S. Kids Golf Foundation now conducts more than 400 events locally, nationally and internationally. Later this month, the second annual U.S. Kids Golf Regional and Teen Regional Championships — better known as the Kaanapali Hawaiian Classic — will be played on Maui.

Entry deadline is Monday, with registration online at uskidsgolf.com.

“We already do the HSJGA Match Play every year,” says Kaanapali General Manager Ed Kageyama. “We’ve hosted state high school, done Junior World qualifiers and those types of things. For this we were looking more international, to get more kids to come play and have the local kids play against and with a broader group of people from around the world.”

Hawaii’s Allisen Corpuz, already one of the state’s finest golfers at age 13, is a two-time U.S. Kids World Champion. She won the Girls 11s two years ago, about the same time she captured her first Hawaii State Women’s Match Play Championship.

The two tournaments are worlds apart. U.S. Kids is designed to be competitive, but comfortable. It’s an introduction to the game as well as a source of tournaments and, of course, equipment. The organization’s mission statement is “To help kids have fun learning to play golf and encourage family interaction that builds lasting memories.”

Fun is a priority as are families. Parents are encouraged to caddie for their kids. U.S. Kids is pushing family courses as a new way to bond and make a complicated game a bit simpler. Kaanapali hosts a luau.

All because Van Horn was afraid of being too technical with his kids too early.

“Over the long term, what’s really going to make our kids great is their joy for the game and the fun they have playing it,” he writes. “That is why U.S. Kids Golf exists. It’s why we make clubs that are easier to swing and why we encourage parents to caddie for their kids. We want learning the game to be a fun experience full of special moments for kids and memories of fun with their families, coaches and friends.”

The younger demographic is something Kageyama likes.

“These kids are younger in age because that’s their market for their products, compared to a lot of tournaments that don’t offer younger age groups,” he said. “I like the format where the younger kids play tees from the fairway for nine holes. Things are very age appropriate. I like that format.

“And then, to be associated with a company like U.S. Kids and their foundation, is nice.”

More than 200 families from Hawaii, the mainland, Japan, China, Australia, Singapore, Mexico, Guam and Canada will be here for the tournament, Dec. 19-21. Kids ages 6-9 play three nine-hole rounds and those 9-18 play three 18-hole rounds.

Two of the returning champions are familiar faces. Kahului’s Justin Ngan is back, along with Kapolei’s Aneka Seumanutafa. Ngan, 12, won by a shot over a guy he now calls a friend, one of many he made a year ago. The HSJGA member’s goal is to shoot in the 60s this time.

Kaanapali is one of six regionals. They serve as qualifiers for the 2012 U.S. Kids World Championship and Teen World Championship. Those annually draw some 1,700 golfers, from 35 countries, to Pinehurst, N.C., one of golf’s most treasured places.

A year ago, 40 kids from Hawaii got to experience the golf mecca. What did Ngan remember most?

“It was hot,” the Iao School seventh-grader said. “And the thunderstorms … so scary. Every single night.”