Encouraging a Junior Golfer

[slowhand]

My son has recently taken up the game, and I am looking for the best ways to encourage him and nurture his love of the game. Currently he has group lessons at a local club, and I take him either to the range or out on the par 3 course once a week. I always tell him that I am not bothered how many shots he takes, nor how he plays, as long as he tries to play with a smile on his face and tries to adhere to golfing etiquette.

Does anyone have any other things that could help foster a love of the game? What have you done to encourage your kids?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

My son has recently taken up the game, and I am looking for the best ways to encourage him and nurture his love of the game. Currently he has group lessons at a local club, and I take him either to the range or out on the par 3 course once a week. I always tell him that I am not bothered how many shots he takes, nor how he plays, as long as he tries to play with a smile on his face and tries to adhere to golfing etiquette.

Does anyone have any other things that could help foster a love of the game? What have you done to encourage your kids?

My club has a junior academy where they get an hours coaching on a Sunday and the very young ones play the starter course set up on the practice ground and the older ones are accompanied out for nine holes after. Beginning to grow and grow and few talented youngsters coming along.

 

[fripnchips]

I played a little as a junior (football took up most of my time) and looking back i loved going out and spending time with my dad so just that was motivation. But i probably would of played more if i had more friends who played. So yeah group lessons and encourage him playing with others around his age can't hurt as long as he's enjoying it.

 

[pokerjoke]

My son has recently taken up the game, and I am looking for the best ways to encourage him and nurture his love of the game. Currently he has group lessons at a local club, and I take him either to the range or out on the par 3 course once a week. I always tell him that I am not bothered how many shots he takes, nor how he plays, as long as he tries to play with a smile on his face and tries to adhere to golfing etiquette.

Does anyone have any other things that could help foster a love of the game? What have you done to encourage your kids?

How old is he?

Funny enough me and the wife have just been looking at the videos we made of my son playing golf.

He has been hitting balls since he was 2 and we have been pottering around the course quite a lot over the years,however this year I have taken it up a notch.

Over the years I have not pushed him once to play but when we do im full of encouragement and I to have taught him the basics and etiquette.

The great thing about me not pushing him is now he absolutely loves it and we are now playing together 4 or 5 times a week for an hour and a half,basically 9 holes.

He still uses golf clubs bought off ebay and they have always been slightly heavier and longer than they should be but he has adapted well.

He has had group sessions this year about 5 of them but he does prefer the course.

Depending on his age just let him enjoy it as you are doing,but talk to him all the time giving him little snippets as its quite surprising how much they take in.

He now reads Tigers book "How I play golf" and he can now see the things ive been telling him as that's where I read them myself.

My boy is 8 on Wednesday and tonight he went 9 holes in 56 shots all holed out.
On Monday he hit our 8th at 153 yards and had his first birdie putt from 15ft and was gutted he missed but it just makes him more determined.

As I have also not pushed or shouted at him at all he just wants to please me and is always talking about being a professional,a long way to go but what a great age to start.

 

[Ads749r]

But i probably would of played more if i had ANY friends.

Fixed for you.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Par 3 courses are a great idea. Sometimes a full course can look intimidating and kids can feel pressure if proper golfers are behind them. Par 3 courses are more relaxing and people are more forgiving on there. If kids see the game as fun then they will enjoy. If it looks too grown up then they will be put off. You are doing the right thing. Enjoy.

 

[JustOne]

My son has recently taken up the game, and I am looking for the best ways to encourage him and nurture his love of the game.

Cash!! Paying him for good scores will get him used to picking up winners cheques

 

[RollinThunder]

As a (relatively) young player, in my early 20s, I know myself that the key is definitely enjoyment. When I was younger, I definitely would have played more if more of my friends were into golf. But, what got me hooked in the first place was the enjoyment and the great fun of playing with lads a similar age to me. We had a great laugh, and our scores improved no end. I joined a club, and tried to play with older, more serious players, but I didn't enjoy it much, and caused me to have a break from the game.

Make him feel at ease and acknowledge that the whole point is to enjoy it. I also know myself what it's like to be forced into a sport by pushy parents, and all it does is make you hate the game. That's why I have a deep hatred of football and everything about it. Avoid it at all costs!

 

[Guvnor2013]

One alternative to a Par 3 course is to walk to the 150 posts and play from there in the early stages. It makes all the holes very similar but eliminates the discouraging problem of taking double figures to get in sight of the green. Golf IMHO is about improving on how you did last time out so comparing scores to previous rounds may be the way forward rather than setting goals/comparing to others/setting a handicap too soon. Generally nice to hear of people encouraging younger players.

 

[SugarPenguin]

Just scream mashed potato when he hits it.
He will love it.

i think children are encouraged by money in all honesty though. So long as he is enjoying it I don't think you need to encourage him any more. Just smile and play along. Children admire their parents so if he sees you playing along and hitting shots. He will replicate.
just don't shank too many as he may think it's part of the game

 

[Odvan]

My boy is 8 on Wednesday and tonight he went 9 holes in 56 shots all holed out.
On Monday he hit our 8th at 153 yards and had his first birdie putt from 15ft and was gutted he missed but it just makes him more determined.

That's good going, I'm still chuffed if a get a 15ft birdie putt on a Par 3!!

Mines three in September and at the moment he's on the plastic clubs just whacking it around. He occasionally asks me to 'show him' again and this morning his Mum had to take a brand new yellow srixon off him that I found at weekend through fear of the TV 'getting it'.

He helps clean my clubs and I'll be taking him to our short game practise area soon and he can simply watch and hit his club - just the familiarisation for now. If it takes his fancy then I'll be delighted but at the moment Captain America and Spiderman are far more appealing to him.

 

[pbrown7582]

That's good going, I'm still chuffed if a get a 15ft birdie putt on a Par 3!! not to mention hitting it 153 yards :rofl:

Mines three in September and at the moment he's on the plastic clubs just whacking it around. He occasionally asks me to 'show him' again and this morning his Mum had to take a brand new yellow srixon off him that I found at weekend through fear of the TV 'getting it'.

He helps clean my clubs and I'll be taking him to our short game practise area soon and he can simply watch and hit his club - just the familiarisation for now. If it takes his fancy then I'll be delighted but at the moment Captain America and Spiderman are far more appealing to him.

my lad is just 6 and has only venture on the range and crazy golf attached. If he doesn't want to go then we don't. Just let them whack the thing and enjoy. Group lessons and par 3 course are a great start. Then look for courses with academy tees, my course has a set approx 150 yards in front of yellows on par 4/5 so the youngster can move onto the full course as a gradual progression from par 3 courses.

 

[Paul77]

Keep it fun. Don't do what the guy up the range last night was doing with his lad. Every bad shot he was grinding his teeth at him and telling him what he was doing wrong. It all felt a little awkward. Loads of clubs up my way encourage young folk to come down to the courses for lessons at great rates. Wish I had all that when I was a lad. It was find golf balls and get a 7 iron from a jumble sale and go into a field.

 

[londonlewis]

How old is he?

Funny enough me and the wife have just been looking at the videos we made of my son playing golf.

He has been hitting balls since he was 2 and we have been pottering around the course quite a lot over the years,however this year I have taken it up a notch.

Over the years I have not pushed him once to play but when we do im full of encouragement and I to have taught him the basics and etiquette.

The great thing about me not pushing him is now he absolutely loves it and we are now playing together 4 or 5 times a week for an hour and a half,basically 9 holes.

He still uses golf clubs bought off ebay and they have always been slightly heavier and longer than they should be but he has adapted well.

He has had group sessions this year about 5 of them but he does prefer the course.

Depending on his age just let him enjoy it as you are doing,but talk to him all the time giving him little snippets as its quite surprising how much they take in.

He now reads Tigers book "How I play golf" and he can now see the things ive been telling him as that's where I read them myself.

My boy is 8 on Wednesday and tonight he went 9 holes in 56 shots all holed out.
On Monday he hit our 8th at 153 yards and had his first birdie putt from 15ft and was gutted he missed but it just makes him more determined.

As I have also not pushed or shouted at him at all he just wants to please me and is always talking about being a professional,a long way to go but what a great age to start.

This is awesome!

 

[londonlewis]

Keep it fun. Don't do what the guy up the range last night was doing with his lad. Every bad shot he was grinding his teeth at him and telling him what he was doing wrong. It all felt a little awkward. Loads of clubs up my way encourage young folk to come down to the courses for lessons at great rates. Wish I had all that when I was a lad. It was find golf balls and get a 7 iron from a jumble sale and go into a field.

I couldn't count the number of times I have seen this.

Fathers at driving ranges seem to fall into a few different categories;

1 - too busy focussing on their own game when all their child wants is a little attention
2 - picking holes in everything their kid does, giving them negative feedback after every shot
3 - reading a book or using their phone, not paying any attention to their child who keeps asking 'did you see that dad?'
4 - supportive, attentive, keeping it fun, not focussing on the end result but concentrating on good fundamentals etc...

I've seen an enormous number of people fit in categories 1-3.

Genuinely, I've seen a couple in category 4 and this is after playing golf for 6 years and being down at the range too many times to remember. Sad state of affairs.

 

[Paul77]

I wouldn't try to teach my girls maths, so I leave that to the school. If I wanted to support them playing golf I'd get them lessons. I saw one guy kick his son on the leg for duffing it into the wooden boards at the side of the range bays. There was a erie silence across the range.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Things have come a long way in the thirty years or so since I was a junior. We weren't allowed in the bar and had to go to the back kitchen door to buy our drinks and crisps. We could only sit in the locker room, not allowed in the snooker room or anywhere else. We could only play at set times and there was a general feeling that we should be seen rarely if at all and definitely not heard. Many clubs are so much better now. Some aren't and I doubt they'll ever change for the good.

 

[Marshy77]

Played Formby Hall yesterday and following us was a young boy of about 9/10 with his mum and dad walking with him. He had the most fantastic swing, such a great looking swing that just flowed and he could hit it about 130/140 from the fairway. Stood and watched him whilst waiting for my playing partner's and he was a joy to watch.

 

[Crawfy]

In addition to group lessons at my local range, and taking my 6yr old daughter down there myself (we also get a sneaky milkshake on the way home as a treat) I try and get her to watch snippits of LPGA so she see's girls hit the ball really well and wearing cool clothes. (she loves clothes!)

Taking Abigail to The Open was also great as it sparked her imagination, especially as she met some players ( and Sheils & Finch)
Overall we try and have as much fun as possible...laugh at bad shots and high five the good ones.

I am rewarding her improvement with new equipment/accesories i.e after some progress with a wedge, she got a putter. Next week she is getting a 7 iron, with the target of getting a driver from Santa.

For me its not really about golf, but having a connection with my daughter and quality time together, as she will no doubt hate me soon enough when boys come on the scene haha !!

 

[ScienceBoy]

I hope to bet weekend chores on the outcome, mine is due in three weeks so I still have a bit of a wait.

Plan is to just have the stuff lying around, if he plays great, if not then that's fine too as I will have various sports gear around for him to choose from.

Hopefully the lure of wanting to follow me when I disappear off early on Sundays will work!