How can we compete?

[pokerjoke]

Probably not the best thread title but watching the Asian "Open" today[sorry I mean British "Open" it got me thinking.

What does it actually take to get to the top.

I remember seeing somewhere in Asia where they had massive ranges with hundreds of bays filled with kids each having personal lessons with coaches.

This is now reaping the rewards with lots of Asian golfers at the top of the womens game.

A few questions.

Have we got the facilities to compete.
Have British kids got the drive
Do we want to push our kids as much as other countries seem to do.

We mentioned in our practicing with kids thread that we should just let them enjoy themselves,but why shouldn't we push them harder.
It seems that even though they have been pushed they are actually happy.

 

[JustOne]

Have we got the facilities to compete.
Have British kids got the drive
Do we want to push our kids as much as other countries seem to do.

No.
No.
No.

 

[Pin-seeker]

But we haven't seen it in the men's game.
Have we?

 

[Alex1975]

If we push our Juniors then down the line when they have other life options will they not consider them as its their path rather than the path we put them on.

Big cultural differences.

 

[FairwayDodger]

But we haven't seen it in the men's game.
Have we?

No, we haven't. I wonder why that is?

 

[Fish]

I think the Asia countries have a totally different mind set from a very young age, you can't compare them to our brats (sorry kids) :smirk:

 

[Pin-seeker]

No, we haven't. I wonder why that is?

Not sure tbh.
Maybe it will happen in the future.

 

[bobmac]

Dont the men have to do national service for a couple of years?

 

[Hobbit]

"Don't panic Mr Mainwaring!"

The UK has been producing top golfers, male and female for donkey's years. All achieved with relatively poor facilities compared to those available today. Its not just about facilities, its about mindset. If someone wants to do it, they will.

30yrs ago everyone was hailing Sweden's golf programme. Can't say we've ever seen a huge glut of Swedish players come through in the sport, and certainly no more or than we've seen from the UK. However, bearing in mind the populations of the various countries in asia, I'd be very surprised if they don't eventually make up a large proportion of golfers on the various tours.

 

[Tiger]

There is a very different culture in Asia. The concept of face is very important - particularly in China. It's a complex concept but it leads to a great deal of respect. In sporting terms a child will try their best and practice hard to avoid losing face or causing their coach or family to lose face. It creates a totally different environment and nurtures a very strong work ethic.

In terms of the men/women difference I'd say it could simply boil down to the fact that they invest in and promote the women's game and in the West we don't. And on the men's side golf is more of a pastime than a serious career choice. But I could well be over simplifying and generalising...

 

[North Mimms]

I think that National Service at a crucial age is why we don't see many male Korean top golfers

 

[Pin-seeker]

I think that National Service at a crucial age is why we don't see many male Korean top golfers

Have they now done away with it?

 

[Spuddy]

Have they now done away with it?

No, it was in the news last week that Sang Moon Bae lost in court when he tried to get out of it and so will head back to Korea at the end of this year to do his 2 year stint.

 

[Foxholer]

30yrs ago everyone was hailing Sweden's golf programme. Can't say we've ever seen a huge glut of Swedish players come through in the sport, and certainly no more or than we've seen from the UK. However, bearing in mind the populations of the various countries in asia, I'd be very surprised if they don't eventually make up a large proportion of golfers on the various tours.

Er...Given that the UK population is roughly 7 times as much as Sweden's, then I'd say they have done remarkably - or UK has been rather poor! There are certainly plenty of notable Swedish names in the top 100 or so, but certainly not 7 times as many UK ones!

With regard to the Asian approach....That's certainly been rather 'cultural' where parents 'push' the kids and the kids react positively. In UK (and many other Western cultures) the 'pushing' of kids is neither encouraged, nor particularly successful!

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I have seen plenty of pushy parents on the sidelines of my sons football team. Not a pleasant sight and to be honest their kids never seem to smile when they play. You can keep that.

The British approach in golf and most sports tends to be encourage and then step up the intensity, if you have talent, as you reach 14-15. Development will come 14-19. That brings about more rounded people, people who can cope if they are not good enough and people who will occasionally smile. If that means some slip through the net then I still think it is preferable.

Check out tennis and the young female, Eastern European cast offs to see if the all or nothing approach is what you want for your kids.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

No.
No.
No.

And I can't see that changing soon. We don't have the facilities although I'm sure we have kids we drive is it the British way to push them as strongly as they do in Asia

 

[michaeljpoole]

I live in Hong Kong and just to say Asian is a massive over simplification of a lot of different countries and cultures. However playing often in HK you see a lot more woman play as opposed to in the UK so i think a lot of it is to with the fact there are more woman playing golf in Asia as opposed to the UK. I guess its a sport girls are happy to do, whereas this seems to be very rare in the UK

 

[delc]

Maybe the Koreans in particular have had some good female role models, such as Se Ri Pak and Grace Park, and see golf as a way of becoming rich and famous, rather than just a pastime for old guys and the children of the rich!

 

[Hacker Khan]

There is a lot of hothousing in many areas including sport and education in some countries. Which does get results, but it's often brutal if you don't succeed, and also leads to a lot of stress and mental issues. To be honest I'm glad we do it our way most of the time.

 

[delc]

There is a lot of hothousing in many areas including sport and education in some countries. Which does get results, but it's often brutal if you don't succeed, and also leads to a lot of stress and mental issues. To be honest I'm glad we do it our way most of the time.

So how do you explain Minjee Lee who was born in Australia of Korean parents, and Lydia Ko who was raised (although not born) in New Zealand. Must be something in the Korean genes?