Teaching your children to play

[Wolfman]

Took my son ( 13yrs ) to the driving range today for his first lesson by me

He has a small set of junior clubs i got for him nearly two years ago and although he has had a go in the past, today was more of a proper lesson.



Hardest thing was getting his small hands sorted, but found the baseball grip the way forward


After about an hour he was hitting them well approx 80 yards with his 7 iron and mostly straight

When i watch him he has a nice looking natural swing, what a great age to start i thought

Any tips for teaching your children and how to keep them focused ?

It will be good if he keeps interested as i can play golf with him as he gets older

 

[DappaDonDave]

my lads 2 1/2 and i've got the fundamentals sorted...when asked..

Who do you want to be when you grow up? (he says)...Tiger Woods!

What do you do when you play golf? (he says)...Swing!

So that's the basics sorted...i'll wait a couple of years before he gets a proper set of clubs.

 

[Basher]

My lad started around a similar age (13)

The thing was he had natural ability. Used to take him down to the driving range for group lessons on a Saturday morning. A great way to start because a 13 year old kid will listen to a teacher. (I'm not one to advise on golf anyway)
He got the fundamentals right down at the range, the pro saw he had the ability and suggested I get him playing on a course.
Joined a club and used to go up for the junior coaching sessions on a Sunday morning.
Off the tee he was driving very well, long and straight.

I used to really enjoy the father & son knocks up at the course. Unfortunately his interest wained until he eventually discovered the lure of the pop and girlies.

He hasn't played for quite some time. (He's 18 now) We had a visit down to the range quite recently. Made me sick! He was driving the ball over the perimeter fence with ease. Quite a few guys who were there remarked he had a talent. Shame it's a talent wasted as he realy has no desire to play.............. not yet anyway, I'm working on him!!!

 

[Wolfman]

Yes its a shame as golf seems to be less trendy to teenagers and they lose interest

I think if they can learn at a young age it will be alot easier and it seems more natural

My biggest problem is at 13yrs old his junior set of clubs are only now just about right for him, when i got them he struggled with the weight of the club etc as he is small for his age.

I have concentrated on the basic 3/4 swing L to L

Its when you are teaching you realise the huge amount of skills to play the complete game

 

[papyt]

i found this with my son,he played cricket to county junior level and had superb hand eye co-ordination he could hit the ball for miles and enjoyed the range BUT had no interest in golf he just loved hitting driver after driver was i disappointed, a little bit but its what they want not you,as for teaching them your selves always a bad idea as you can teach them bad habits get a pro to do it and don't try and live your lives through them.

 

[noble78]

My oldest daughter(8yrs) has a set of clubs and shes had a few lessons, she enjoys it but is still a bit too young yet

 

[Evesdad]

My daughter is 8 and likes to come down the range and hit some balls, she's had a few group lessons down there and seems interested. She's a great putter though! Unlike her dad! Hope to get her out on a course soon her biggest problem is getting her to turn her hips! All arms and alot go left but also loves getting her 3wood and smacking some !

 

[nufc86]

I think more kids be more interested in golf if the parents egg them on a bit like a few of you here, I reckon parents know golf can be be dear hobbie so tend to try stay clear.

 

[Slicer30]

My Daughter is 19 months old and at the age where she is starting to replicate everything we do. I putt on the carpet some times and she likes to sabotage it by either removing the putting cup or lift the balls while they on there way.

I was swinging in the living room in front of the mirror and the wee darling was right in front of me doing the same. Brilliant moment, will hopefully be able to capture on the camcorder next time.


Out of interest, she had a nice wee shoulder turn but the head and feet had too much movement

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I started at 10. Dad got me a week of lesson in the school hols (an hour a day) and got the basics sorted and we'd go to the range once a weekend. Once he was happy I could hit it well enough we progressed to a par 3 course, then a cheap and cheerful 9 holer and finally that magical day at Coulsdon Court when I had my first 18.

I haven't got kids myself but one of my biggest bugbears not just in golf is the pushy parent who tries to fill their kid with so much crap it sucks every essence of enjoyment out of the game. I've seen it at football, cricket, rugby etc where every mistake is berated and never a word of praise or encouragement. I've lost count the number of times I've seen dads at the range who can barely get it off the mat let alone straight and airborne themselves really lay into their kids. You'd think the dad knew what they were talking about but some of the crap advice makes me laugh and I usually don't hide the fact. It has to be fun for them or they'll never keep the game up. Get lessons for them, let them make their own mistakes and learn from them and let them have fun. Simples

 

[nufc86]

Not sure I like the idea of lessons at young age, seeing 2 kids in a park with a pitching wedge is a rare site now too right enough

 

[garyinderry]

i can still remember the sales man at neveda bobs telling my da i had a natural swing when he was buying me my first adult set of clubs all those years ago. never even clicked that he was just doing a smooth sell. natural swing my arse. :rofl:

fell away from golf but played a few games each summer. got addicted four years ago and never looked back. kinda glad i didnt get to into it when i was young. id probably be playing off a low number and breaking clubs in a rage over bogeys. really enjoying the challange of the game now in my 20's.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Not sure I like the idea of lessons at young age, seeing 2 kids in a park with a pitching wedge is a rare site now too right enough

I guess it depends on how young they are. 6-10 then no probably not and let them just have fun swinging the club but I think once you hit 10 then getting some building blocks such as grip, stance, posture and alignment will help take their interest on

 

[Dreamer2]

both of my girls played tennis for nottinghamshire county level


if your interested for him to play golf for a career then forget it, thats for him to decide ,,i would try and get him involved in club comps,,squads,,play 4 times a week course or range one pro lesson a month & hope he makes friends within the golf game ,,when ever he wins or loses let him tell you about the game hes played ,,


your there to give him praise at all times

 

[Slicer30]

I started at 10. Dad got me a week of lesson in the school hols (an hour a day) and got the basics sorted and we'd go to the range once a weekend. Once he was happy I could hit it well enough we progressed to a par 3 course, then a cheap and cheerful 9 holer and finally that magical day at Coulsdon Court when I had my first 18.

I haven't got kids myself but one of my biggest bugbears not just in golf is the pushy parent who tries to fill their kid with so much crap it sucks every essence of enjoyment out of the game. I've seen it at football, cricket, rugby etc where every mistake is berated and never a word of praise or encouragement. I've lost count the number of times I've seen dads at the range who can barely get it off the mat let alone straight and airborne themselves really lay into their kids. You'd think the dad knew what they were talking about but some of the crap advice makes me laugh and I usually don't hide the fact. It has to be fun for them or they'll never keep the game up. Get lessons for them, let them make their own mistakes and learn from them and let them have fun. Simples

Homer - totally agree.

I grew up playing Gaelic football at home in Co. antrim. All my mates had someone from the family watching - ie Ma, Da brother etc. All of them were tortured and chastised on the way home with "should have done this" and other nonesense.

My Da hated football and thought I was mad as I would be out 5 nights a week in my late teens playing and came home from the hospital a few times. Was great to be able to leave the football at the front door when I got home as I knew a few who either packed in the sport or fell out with the oul fella over the head of it.

 

[Wolfman]

I agree about lessons, but as a dad or mum its like having a kick about with a ball for the first time !

No need for a Pro in my opinion unless you are golf numpty and do not know the basics yourself and how to teach them some simple moves, as long as you are not too pushy and do not teach them bad faults

 

[Alkydale]

Hello, just joined and thought I'd get involved!

I've taken my 4 yr old son and 6 yr old daughter to the range and they both enjoy it, you can get really cheap kids clubs (£5/6) from Sports Direct which are tiny enough for them, although they do tend to be a little heavy in the head.

I think the best advice is to let kids just have a go, get their grip right and then if they like it pay for some coaching about aged 8. I started aged 10 and loved it, been at it ever since, 38 yrs now, where did that go?

 

[Evesdad]

Totally agree that's why I don't push my daughter if she wants to come to the range great, if not I can just concentrate on my own game! Just want her to enjoy herself

 

[Bythesea]

I could write a book,my two sons got interested when the eldest was 12 youngest just over 9 years old, finance was a problem, but I told them if they took up golf that was it I could not afford anything else, to cut a long story short they never wanted play any other sport, and are now both well into their 40s, youngest plays off 4 and oldest off 10.
I have been a member of my club for 33 years and them almost as long. The youngest played County golf as a Junior also British Boys and Carris Trophy etc, a consequence of which I got to play and caddy on some of the greatest pieces of real estate in the country, they are great pals and highly respected at the Club and in the surrounding area, golf taught them to behave and interact well with everybody. As you can gather I am a proud Dad, and it's great to play with them and to receive complimentary comments about them.
So I recommend you to encourage your children to play the greatest game ever invented. Lessons with a good teacher are important,our Pro's do groups during the school holidays which are good for a start.

 

[Yer Maw]

take my 6yr old to the range quite often and has his own clubs. Just about bashing the balls and having some fun seeing how far he can whack it. Always tee up every shot whether driver or iron so he can hit it easy. Best fun is the short game area where we do putting contests but even at 6 he is a bad loser when it doesn't go his way, so make sure he doesn't win all the time. He gets it out of bunkers with ease and now knows you have to be gentle with the putter and that is the only club you use on the green!! Kept all the coloured balls I found in the rough for him which he likes as he has yellow, orange and green. When he gets bored we come off as no point making it purgotory.
If anyone has other ideas for games to play either on the range or practise area let me know. Ta