Introduce Your Child to Golf

Golf has been part of business for generations, with relationships being formed and solidified on courses all across the country. For many years, the game belonged to the father in the family. No more.

Now, everyone plays and more and more beginning golfers are coming from the ranks of the young, even pre-teens. With this, questions arise as to the best way to interest your child in the game and the opportunities for him or her to learn and compete.

The answer to the first question depends on the child’s age.

A four year old has different needs than a 14-year-old. Obvious, but important. Very young children need to have their desire encouraged, but their physical capabilities are such that they cannot be expected to accomplish a great deal on the course. They should be encouraged to join other family members when they play or practice and to enjoy games on the putting green or the short game area. The key to their entry into the game is learning that it is fun. In my experience, if we can emphasize the enjoyment at this stage, we will be forming the basis for a long-term interest in golf.

When the child is seven or eight, it is time to begin learning the fundamentals of grip, stance and alignment. Not too much at one time, but enough that the child can begin to develop sound habits that won’t need to be changed later. At this age, the child has adequate strength to hit the ball down the fairway and will enjoy playing a few holes with mom or dad. There are often local programs for players of this age during the summer months. If qualified instructors conduct them, they can be an important part of reinforcing the child’s interest. Generally, I don’t recommend an intense lesson program for this age. Let’s get their feet wet, but not let the complexity of the golf swing overwhelm them.

By the time the child is 10, there is no reason for him or her not to take lessons on a regular basis from a local instructor. At this age, they can understand the fundamentals and can begin to execute the shots they will need to complete a round of golf.

Don’t just sign-up for one or two lessons, though. If you are going to encourage your child, give him or her the opportunity to learn the game the right way. No one can learn this game with one or two lessons. A full schedule is needed. Otherwise, swing flaws will become ingrained, flaws that later will be difficult to correct. You should be able to find good local clinics for children this age and many summer golf camps cater to this group. Most recently, a number of state golf associations have begun offering camps for children in this age group.

For teen-agers who have displayed a genuine interest in the game, a serious instructional program is the way to go. Mentally and physically, they are ready for the challenge. And, they can achieve excellent results with a structured, progressive program.

As an introduction, there are a number of summer camps that offer a good starting point. The International Junior Golf Academy Summer Camps on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina is an example.

Typically, campers come for multiple weeks. They are paired by ability and work with the same instructor during their stay. Each morning, campers work on the full swing, distance control, chipping, pitching and putting. In the afternoon, they play and receive on-course instruction. It is a full day, but one that will help establish a practice plan for on-going improvement. Once home, a program with a local pro should emphasize consistency, both to keep interest up and to develop good fundamentals.

The serious teen-ager who wants competition has a number of exciting options. Aside from local instruction, there are several golf boarding schools that work with this age group during the academic year. They offer instruction daily, emphasizing swing fundamentals and course management. The International Junior Golf Academy, for example, has a student body of 100 from 23 countries and 22 states in the U.S. Students live together in campus housing, attend a private school for academics and, then, spend three to four hours working with Class A PGA professionals five days a week. Sport psychology and fitness training are an integral part of the curriculum.

It may also interest you to know that most of the students at these boarding programs receive golf scholarships for college. Their games are good and schools want them. If that weren’t enough, these boarding schools have college placement staffs that work with the students to identify colleges and to prepare the application materials, including golf resume that coaches and admissions offices need. They also know the coaches. It is a good recipe for success.

Students at these boarding schools, as well as juniors living at home, can hone their skills on a number of junior golf tours. One tour, the IJGT, hosts almost 50 events over a nine-month period from coast to coast. These tournaments, played on some of the country’s most prestigious courses, are an excellent way for any junior golfer to test his or her ability against others of the same age. During the summer, the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) conducts tournaments in many states. Additionally, most state golf associations and PGA sections have scheduled tournaments running throughout the summer.
Research by the National Golf Foundation is clear on two points:

• Juniors are the only growth segment of the golf business.
• When juniors lose interest in the game, it is primarily because of its difficulty.

Where does that leave us? Simply here.

We have a great opportunity to introduce children to a game so many of us have enjoyed for years. The numbers show they want it. However, we must introduce them with care, choosing an instructional plan that will peak their interest, but will not cause them to fail. Make it fun. Don’t overwhelm them.

Follow these principles and you will find that your children will enjoy the game with you. That will make it more fun for you. And, some day, they, too, may use golf as a means of cementing productive business relationships.

Even if they don’t, they will have added an enjoyable pastime to their lives. That is a worthy gift to give to any child.

Skip Malek is director of Instruction at the International Junior Golf Academy. He has been named Carolina’s Teacher of the Year and recipient of the prestigious Horton Smith award. For information about Malek or the International Junior Golf Academy, visit www.ijga.com or write Skip@ijga.com.