Walking the course... with a 5 year old

[vkurup]

Yesterday, i took my 5 year old to 'play' at our par-3 short course. The holes range from 160y to 70y on the front nine and a relatively flat. It is also our FootGolf course, so has a big footie hole on every green alongside the regular course. He has had some lessons including one earlier that day, but it was his first game with daddy, so was super excited. So armed with a 7-iron and putter he set off. I took along my 8-iron - just in case I had to show him how to do it. It turned out as nothing I had expected.

1) Ability>> He got onto most greens in 2 or 3 strokes. It was fairly military golf and the ball just about got up in the air, as it was mostly topped. He does inherit his dad's genes as he 3-4 putted most of the holes. We did not keep any scores
2) Following advice >> I did not play and any attempt at giving advice was ignored... On the 8th, I finally took my club and hit a ball, just to see it land on the green. I turned around to say 'did you see that...' only to find him lying on the grass and looking at the sky
3) Distraction >> He ran off to chase some rabbits who promptly darted into the rough. Was very disappointed as he could not catch any. While he was about to tee off on the 5th. he addressed the ball, and on his backswing, a butterfly flew between him and the ball. So off went the club and he chased it down!!.
4) Following rules >> It was too boring to change clubs, so he putted with his 7-iron and he tee-ed off with a putter. By the 8th hole, we stopped trying to hole any balls, instead tried putting to the footgolf hole. Retrieving the ball from the footgolf was also funny, as he could step inside and squat there..
5) Exercise>> It tired him out, because he ran most of the course.. so a good convert for RunGolf

It was my first experience with him on the course. I can see all the mistakes he was making - alignment, grip, head down etc. but trying to get him to fix those was painful. I realised that trying him to focus was putting too much pressure on me while he ran around. I admire how our PGA trainers who specialise in junior golfers keep their sanity. Also trying to live your dream thru your kids is injurious to health..

 

[Sats]

I know this senario all too well. My son has autism so the 'noisy' sports are too much for him and he's not all too into them. However, playing golf with me is a joy for both of us.

 

[farfaeforfar]

I had my 6yo son out on Wednesday night for 5 holes. We tee'd off late. Basically I played the 5 holes as normal and dropped a ball about 50-70yds out in the first cut to let him hit on and putt out. My experience was exactly that of the OP. However I have taught a friends son the same age to grip and hit the ball. I think as we're parents the kids sometimes like to ignore us.

I never made any comment unless positive to keep it a happy memory. Although it was a painfully slow walk for 5 holes!

 

[virtuocity]

As long as he enjoyed it :thup:

 

[Chrisb83]

My little lads three and I can't wait to take him to play, bit early yet though where still at the stage of swinging plastic clubs in the back garden upside down!

Main thing is that they enjoy it but nice if you can at the same time

 

[richart]

At least he plays quickly (until distracted)

 

[HomerJSimpson]

At least the seeds are sown

 

[Hendy]

Yeah as long as he enjoys it. Very important to make it as much fun as possible for them at a young age. My sons only a few months old now! Tho already I find myself thinking on things I can do with him to not only get him into the game but to keep him in it.

 

[NWJocko]

I know this senario all too well. My son has autism so the 'noisy' sports are too much for him and he's not all too into them. However, playing golf with me is a joy for both of us.

Nice to read this. :thup:

My older daughter is autistic and I'm hopeful, one day, of getting her into golf as a way to spend some time with her when she's not overloaded with everything else going on.

 

[mcbroon]

Yesterday, i took my 5 year old to 'play' at our par-3 short course. The holes range from 160y to 70y on the front nine and a relatively flat. It is also our FootGolf course, so has a big footie hole on every green alongside the regular course. He has had some lessons including one earlier that day, but it was his first game with daddy, so was super excited. So armed with a 7-iron and putter he set off. I took along my 8-iron - just in case I had to show him how to do it. It turned out as nothing I had expected.

1) Ability>> He got onto most greens in 2 or 3 strokes. It was fairly military golf and the ball just about got up in the air, as it was mostly topped. He does inherit his dad's genes as he 3-4 putted most of the holes. We did not keep any scores
2) Following advice >> I did not play and any attempt at giving advice was ignored... On the 8th, I finally took my club and hit a ball, just to see it land on the green. I turned around to say 'did you see that...' only to find him lying on the grass and looking at the sky
3) Distraction >> He ran off to chase some rabbits who promptly darted into the rough. Was very disappointed as he could not catch any. While he was about to tee off on the 5th. he addressed the ball, and on his backswing, a butterfly flew between him and the ball. So off went the club and he chased it down!!.
4) Following rules >> It was too boring to change clubs, so he putted with his 7-iron and he tee-ed off with a putter. By the 8th hole, we stopped trying to hole any balls, instead tried putting to the footgolf hole. Retrieving the ball from the footgolf was also funny, as he could step inside and squat there..
5) Exercise>> It tired him out, because he ran most of the course.. so a good convert for RunGolf

It was my first experience with him on the course. I can see all the mistakes he was making - alignment, grip, head down etc. but trying to get him to fix those was painful. I realised that trying him to focus was putting too much pressure on me while he ran around. I admire how our PGA trainers who specialise in junior golfers keep their sanity. Also trying to live your dream thru your kids is injurious to health..

Our pro doesn't teach anyone until they're 7 years old, presumably for a lot of reasons you outline above. Maybe they just can't concentrate well enough for long enough before then.

I take my 4 year old up to the practice ground now and again and she loves it. I try not to 'teach' her anything, though. I want her just to enjoy smashing a ball around on her own terms first. She can learn other stuff later, if she wants to.

 

[vkurup]

I know this senario all too well. My son has autism so the 'noisy' sports are too much for him and he's not all too into them. However, playing golf with me is a joy for both of us.

One of my PP's friend has had some difficulties at learning and unfortunately also got bullied at school. School has done well to get him out of his shell, but he struggles with group sports. He did not do to well with football and cricket - cant handle a moving ball. His dad used to bring him to driving range and thats why the boy picked up golf and now you cant get him off the course!! He may not become a pro, but they have found something that he is now very confident about. His dad had to back off from 'teaching' him and let the pros do it. Equally the other thing that he likes is Judo.... strange bedfellows.

 

[Slab]

My little lads three and I can't wait to take him to play, bit early yet though where still at the stage of swinging plastic clubs in the back garden upside down!

Main thing is that they enjoy it but nice if you can at the same time

This reminded me that a local teaching pro told me that its surprising how many really young kids actually want to hit it left handed (not a conscious thing) and then switch as they grow up

 

[Montezuma]

This thread gets me excited. It's a loooong way off before I get anywhere near this, but my wife is due with our first at the end of September - I can't wait until I can play golf and do other stuff with him/her! (we chose to keep the sex a surprise)

 

[Mr A]

Took my 6yr old to our local pitch and putt, 9 holes between 35-80 yards which was perfect. I tried to be patient, as I've took her to the range and taught her the basics already, and she did really well. Got better on every hole, but the attention span had run its course by the 7th. She just wanted to play with the flags and play in the bunkers. I let her hit one bunker shot after I showed her how to do it, she knocked it to about 10ft!

I tried to keep it fun, and not to do too much coaching, and I think while she was interested she really enjoyed. I think letting them do what they want, and trying to maximise the child's sense of having fun is the way to do it.

 

[pokerjoke]

My son has been hitting proper golf balls from the age of 2 this year aged 7 we have been on the course about 20 times and he does a group session now and then.

I have taught him the basics and some etiquette and when he walks around with me and our group he is so well behaved so much so you wouldn't know he there.

He hits a few good ones and a few duffers but last night I was very proud as he hit his best driver ever when a group was watching,straight up the middle and rolled out to 150 yards.

Let them enjoy it and don't push them they will only rebel,but most importantly praise the good shots it just gives them a massive boost through all the duffs etc.

 

[vkurup]

Took my 6yr old to our local pitch and putt, 9 holes between 35-80 yards which was perfect. I tried to be patient, as I've took her to the range and taught her the basics already, and she did really well. Got better on every hole, but the attention span had run its course by the 7th. She just wanted to play with the flags and play in the bunkers. I let her hit one bunker shot after I showed her how to do it, she knocked it to about 10ft!

I tried to keep it fun, and not to do too much coaching, and I think while she was interested she really enjoyed. I think letting them do what they want, and trying to maximise the child's sense of having fun is the way to do it.

A few weeks ago, my son joined me at the short game practice area... he went AWOL after about 10 mins.. After a quick search, found him building a sand castle in the practice bunker!!! I hate that bunker because it hardly has any sand, so not sure how we managed to make a castle...

 

[Mr A]

A few weeks ago, my son joined me at the short game practice area... he went AWOL after about 10 mins.. After a quick search, found him building a sand castle in the practice bunker!!! I hate that bunker because it hardly has any sand, so not sure how we managed to make a castle...

Ha!

Ours were the opposite, too much sand, was worried they might be being used as a giant cat litter tray.

 

[Ian_Bristol]

My 8yr old daughter has just started to hit the ball sweet and it has gave more of a push to practice a bit more ,my 5yr old son just can't be bothered to play even though he can hit the ball no mater what angle he is addressing the ball.
As for not wanting to teach until a child is 7 depends on if a child is a born golfer. my daughter plays the par 3 course at Thornbury GC but only 9 holes in the junior comps and a young lad who is only 5yrs old went round in 34 shots and all he wants to do is play golf or watch golf on the TV.