Introducing Kids To Golf
One of the keys to the success of Tiger Woods as a golfer is
that growing up his father knew the system of golf and
generously guided him through it. Now, if you have children
and are thinking of introducing them to golf, you must be
asking yourself: Where should I start? Who should I call?
Should I purchase junior clubs or get a used set of adult
ones that have been cut down to size?
Don't get ahead of yourself! Relax!
Golf is not a pursuit that you can simply sign your kid up
for at any leisure club. However, this sport is become
increasingly popular, and chances are that there are golf
programs and clinics going on in your area. You may want to
contact a local club pro, the YMCA, the Boy Scouts and Girl
Scouts, the golf association in your area, and other civic
organizations. If you are from the United States , the
National Minority Junior Golf Foundation, the United States
Golf Association, the Professional Golf Association, and the
Ladies Professional Golf Association may also know how to
help you. Some of these organizations are, in fact,
specifically involved in programs to introduce kids to golf.
Junior golf clinics are normally free to join; they are
designed to introduce your child to the basics of golf,
starting from how to grip a club, all the way to driving,
chipping, and putting. Emphasis is placed on the rules of
the game and golf etiquette. Clinics are also known to dole
out golf apparel, balls, and sometimes golf clubs to
participants. What is more, your child may be fortunate
enough to receive instruction from a seasoned professional
golfer in one of the clinics! The Black Enterprise/Pepsi
Golf & Tennis Challenge junior clinic has featured Mark
Nance, Kenny Simms, Todd Daniel and Maria Mills in the past.
And their message is: Golf is for everyone.
Of course before forcing your children into playing the
sport, you should take pains finding out how they truly feel
about golf. After your child has been introduced to the
game, you must make it a point to go to the field and
observe whether hitting a few balls on the driving range
brings a smile to his face. Ask yourself if you think the
sport seems to be challenging and enjoyable to your kid? If
yes, the real fun has surely begun.
To ensure that their kids learn the basics of golf properly,
parents are usually advised to hook their children up with a
golf instructor during the early stages of picking up the
sport. If you're having a hard time locating a good
instructor, the local club pro should be able to provide you
with a list of instructors in your area. If possible, watch
a potential instructor with other students before signing up
your kid. Observe whether or not the instructor gets along
with the other kids, and ask yourself if he would fit in
with your child's personality. Proper instruction will
surely increase your child's confidence and decrease the
frustration this mentally and physically challenging sport
is sure to bring about. An instructor will also help you
regarding the kind of equipment to buy for your child.
Experts believe that a 7-iron, pitching wedge and a putter
are all that is required for a beginner. At this point, you
can hold off on the golf shoes and the designer clothes;
tennis shoes and play clothes will normally suffice!
One disadvantage to being a junior golfer is that there are
usually problems regarding a shortage of facilities. To
ensure enough practice (aside from the hours your child
spends with an instructor) you might want to ask the club
pro whether there are any slow times during the week that
your child can slip on the course to play two to three
holes. Additionally, if there are par 3 courses in your
area, you should think about sending your kid there. Keep in
mind that the more your kid plays, the more comfortable he/
she will be with the game. And, once your child has learnt
the basics and is practicing regularly, the competitive
juices will surely start to flow; that is when you should
start inquiring about junior golf tournaments being held in
your area.
As you might have guessed, introducing your kids to golf is
not as simple as it sounds. Children need guidance and
motivation, and if your child really enjoys the sport, you
should make sure you're there to give him/ her that. Good
luck!
Freegolftips.co.uk provides Free golf tips for beginners and
golf putting tips.
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