H.F. Johnson Park Golf Course has been a training ground for countless golfers.

It also has been the cradle for one very good pool player.

While growing up in Racine, Jonathan Demet spent a good chunk of his time during the summer at Johnson Park, picking up golf balls.

But on rainy days, Demet and his buddies headed to the clubhouse and picked up pool cues.

"I guess I got hooked on pool then; I was intrigued by it," Demet said. "I wanted to learn more about the game. And when I want to do something, I just don't stop."

As a teenager, he'd hop aboard a city bus on the South Side and go downtown to Fast Eddie's Pool Room on Sixth Street.

There, Demet worked on his game while keeping his eyes and ears open, hoping to pick up pointers from seasoned players.

Demet honed his game by taking lessons from Frank "Sailor" Stellman, who heightened Demet's interest in pool with encouragement and an occasional free cue.

"He shed a lot of knowledge on me," Dement said.

That knowledge, along with Demet's inner drive, propelled him into a top-flight player. He has won several tournaments around the state and has been competitive in some of the best tournaments in the nation.

Demet finished second in the KS Cues Tour open event last year at Palm Harbor, Fla. , and placed 15th in the Derby City Classic Banks Division in 2007 in Louisville, Ky., where the field consisted of more than 500 players.

While the 26-year-old Demet is still playing pool, he branched out in August when he became president of the Billiard Congress of Wisconsin.

The BCW works in conjunction with establishments in running tournaments. Demet is driven to take the BCW to another level.

"I feel I have the experience for this," Demet said. "I've seen tournaments run from every aspect in every part of the United States.

"I basically stepped up and said, ‘I'll take it over and try to get it on track and build it up to what it can be.'

"People are excited about pool in Wisconsin because it's always been a big tradition in Wisconsin. There are a lot of good pool players and a lot people interested in pool in Wisconsin."

Count Demet among them.