Children's Golf - Do I give a helping hand.........

[BunkerMentality123]

My young lad (10 yrs old) has fortunately picked up the golfing bug from his old man. He now plays regularly with me on our local par 3 course (also has 2 shortish par 4's) and is making very solid progress. Last outing posting a score of 37 for 9 holes (par is 29).

He uses the Young Masters set that we bought him last yr (and is still relatively small for his age) but compenstes with a lovely swing and is a demon round the greens which makes up for his lack of length.

Now, my twofold dilema is this:

1) Is there any benefit in investing in more expensive equipment at such a young age?

2) He played in his first open comp last month at a local club in Kent (9-11 age group) and came 4th out of 26 entrants (obviously we were thrilled with him!!!) Whilst there a chap suggested that he might like to pursue "the Wee Wonders" (Faldo run I think) or something similar.

We are not sure whether to pursue this direction or let him continue playing for fun, making up his own mind later on....

Does anybody have a helpful opinion, as I certainly do not want to do the pushy parent thing and put him off golf for good, but on the other hand am I denying him a good opportunity by not giving this a go?????

Cheers Andy

 

[steve]

hi,my lad has been playing since last christmas he has broken 100 a few times off the yellows and hit 107 off the whites last weekend he has had two lessons in the last month ,he has a set of ping moxie which cost about 180 and are a very good set which will do him for a couple of years he is 11.

 

[stevelockie]

My young lad (10 yrs old) has fortunately picked up the golfing bug from his old man. He now plays regularly with me on our local par 3 course (also has 2 shortish par 4's) and is making very solid progress. Last outing posting a score of 37 for 9 holes (par is 29).

He uses the Young Masters set that we bought him last yr (and is still relatively small for his age) but compenstes with a lovely swing and is a demon round the greens which makes up for his lack of length.

Now, my twofold dilema is this:

1) Is there any benefit in investing in more expensive equipment at such a young age?

2) He played in his first open comp last month at a local club in Kent (9-11 age group) and came 4th out of 26 entrants (obviously we were thrilled with him!!!) Whilst there a chap suggested that he might like to pursue "the Wee Wonders" (Faldo run I think) or something similar.

We are not sure whether to pursue this direction or let him continue playing for fun, making up his own mind later on....

Does anybody have a helpful opinion, as I certainly do not want to do the pushy parent thing and put him off golf for good, but on the other hand am I denying him a good opportunity by not giving this a go?????

Cheers Andy

I think you should definitely take him along. He's obviously into his golf! You would only become a pushy parent if you were forcing him to do it. Keep us posted though, he does sound promising. I was rubbish in my junior medals as I was shitting myself every time I played. To come 4th in a first attempt is superb!!

 

[birdieman]

Just let him whack it innocently till he's in High School then get him into a serious coaching program if he's getting it round under 75.
When he discovers beer and women -that will be the true test!!

 

[BunkerMentality123]

I think I'm with you Birdieman, it really is fantastic that he shows such a keen interest, but I definitely do not want to take the fun out of it for him.

All the time he's progressing under the guidance of a local pro and as long as he's happy, so am I.

We've enroled him as a junior member in a local section called the panthers and he seems to thrive on the competition, watch this space!!!!!