getting your kids interested in golf

[kev_hutch]

Hi All, new to the forum so go easy.......!!

Trying to encourage my little lad to get into the game (ulterior motive being I'll get to play more!!). He is 5 in December, had him to the range a couple of times with mixed results, try to make it as fun as possible, targets are bad guys, balls are bombs to blow them up etc. He has decent co-ordination and has grasped the basics but its the interest levels that are the hardest to maintain. Most junior coaching programmes seem to start at 6 or so, and before I even think about that I just want to see if he has a passion for it and try to build some interest.

Has anyone got first hand experience of encouraging their kids to play and if so any suggestions on how to encourage it without the overkill? Thanks in advance.........

 

[Sirmol]

Plastic golf sets? I don't mean the toy ones but the ones schools use for pe sessions?

 

[kev_hutch]

Plastic golf sets? I don't mean the toy ones but the ones schools use for pe sessions?

yeah we've been through all that, he's got a proper little set of clubs I picked up in St Andrews last year, we have a bash about in the garden with the plastic ones but they very quickly become pirate swords or guns!!! He's at that age!!

 

[Rooter]

i take my lad quite a lot, he was 5 in June. We go to golf either to whack the ball or do putting, sometimes both. When he has 7 iron in hand, as long as he is pointing roughly the right way, he can do what he wants. All i do is ensure he is holding it properly (not like grip wise, just the right way up etc!) and tell him to hit it as hard as he can. thats it.

He went through 50 balls earlier, none further than 30 yards but he loved it.

Putting is fun too, he i think enjoys the "goal" of getting the ball in the hole.

Thats it, I am never going to "coach" him, when he is a bit bigger, stronger and will listen for longer than 3 minutes he can have golf lessons if he wants them and enjoys it.

Its the 3 F's. Fun, Fun and Fun. Without that, kids will resent the game.

 

[kev_hutch]

i take my lad quite a lot, he was 5 in June. We go to golf either to whack the ball or do putting, sometimes both. When he has 7 iron in hand, as long as he is pointing roughly the right way, he can do what he wants. All i do is ensure he is holding it properly (not like grip wise, just the right way up etc!) and tell him to hit it as hard as he can. thats it.

He went through 50 balls earlier, none further than 30 yards but he loved it.

Putting is fun too, he i think enjoys the "goal" of getting the ball in the hole.

Thats it, I am never going to "coach" him, when he is a bit bigger, stronger and will listen for longer than 3 minutes he can have golf lessons if he wants them and enjoys it.

Its the 3 F's. Fun, Fun and Fun. Without that, kids will resent the game.

fantastic, (another f!!), great to hear I'm not alone. I seen a Dad yesterday berating a lad no older than 6 as he wasn't holding the club how he had shown him.

Like I say, any suggestions of games or ideas to increase the fun element greatly appreciated. Mind you he thought it was hilarious when I carved one (unintentionally) over the trees towards oncoming traffic.

 

[Rooter]

just get him to whack it. while at the range today, the pro and his assistant had 10 kids with them for some summer hols club they are running, nothing technical, just fun. Kit at targets or just hit it as far as you can. OK the better ones were getting a little bit of technical help, small adjustments etc, but they were PGA pro's doing it. The kids all looked happy to me!!

Cant wait for my lad to come out and play 9 holes in a couple of years, but for now when he wants to go, we go!

 

[Doh]

The best way to get him into golf is for him to do it with other kids supervised by a pro. Our pro runs a kids session for little ones every Saturday and the cost is minimal. And like has been said it,s all based around having fun. So just enquire at clubs and ranges there will be something out there for you.

 

[Hallsy]

My club is the largest adult/kids training centre about. Its heavily funded to get people into golf and as im a member my little one who is 5 in august gets to be a member for free until he is 7. Problem is concentration at present. Ive taken him to the range a handful of times but hes not ready yet and im not pushing. Im hoping he will get into it as there are some excellent youngsters playing at ours with great swings, Plus the other half said i could play more if he comes with me

 

[pbrown7582]

My lad was 5 in May we go to the range if he wants if not just the crazy putting course if he doesn't want to go then that's fine.

We went to a golf show back in April and the junior coach there told him 3 rules are all he needs to know at his age.
Relax
Aim
Have fun.

 

[Piece]

Echo most of above. My son is 6.5 and we go down the range about three times a month. He has his own US Kids driver and 7i that has a jnr training grip on it.

The emphasis is always on fun. We play a game with a game, giving scores out of ten for length, distance or strike. Then he has a break for a bit and goes again. I give him the basic stance and then just say 'turn the shoulders' and let him do the rest! Some are nailed, some are fluffed and some are fresh aired! But it doesn't matter as it's all a laugh! We finish off by doing some putts with his little putter, again adding a game within a game to get the fun element. Any sign that he's not enjoying, we walk away and come back another day.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

My club set up a junior academy last year run by the assistant pro and two lady members. Been very successful at getting some youngsters interested in the game from a very young age.