| OK - you love to go golfing and you always, well | | | | possible. |
| almost always, have a great time on the course. | | | | Tip #3 - Get the clubs into their hands as much as |
| Getting outdoors in the sunshine, on beautiful park-like | | | | possible. If there's a driving range nearby, perfect. Try |
| grounds does something to remind you how much fun | | | | to get them down there as much as possible, and |
| life can be. You've thought about it - wouldn't it be | | | | make sure to not skimp on the sodas or trips to their |
| great to share the experience with the kids? You've | | | | favorite fast food restaurant afterwards. Or set up |
| imagined giving each other high fives after a great | | | | some cups in the house or backyard. Pins and cups |
| shot, even sharing memories for years to come after | | | | are available on-line for the backyard; tournaments can |
| a great trip to the course. You haven't brought them | | | | even be set up with neighborhood kids. Our kids even |
| along yet, because you're concerned about them | | | | constructed trophies using cardboard, felt pens and |
| hitting the ball all over the place, keeping up with the | | | | scraps of wood. |
| group ahead, and the resultant stress turning your | | | | Tip #4 - Contact the local course to find out the best |
| beloved sport into an exercise in discipline and | | | | times for kids to play. Your local Par 3 is the absolute |
| disappointment on all sides. | | | | best place to take kids when they are just starting out. |
| I'm here to tell you you're not alone. As the father of | | | | Tip #5 - When you arrive, make sure to give them the |
| three boys (I began teaching them how to play golf at | | | | following guidelines: no running on the greens, do not hit |
| 5 years old - they're now 17, 19 and 21), I too was | | | | until I tell you it's OK to hit, do not set your clubs on the |
| hesitant in bringing them to my "outdoor sanctuary". I'm | | | | green, and last but not least, we're here to have fun. If |
| glad I gave it a try as it has resulted in a lifetime of fun | | | | at any time you are not having fun, let me know and |
| for all of us, and I'll share some tips in the hope you too | | | | we'll go home. Let them know it's OK to get frustrated, |
| will give golfing with your kids a try. | | | | just keep trying and remind them it took you a long |
| Tip #1 - Get them some good equipment. Junior golf | | | | time to learn to play. If they lose interest, leave right |
| clubs have come a long way since we used cut down | | | | away before it turns ugly. |
| clubs as kids. There are now even junior hybrid clubs! I | | | | Tip #6 - To keep score or not to keep score - you be |
| have been building custom junior golf clubs for a little | | | | the judge. As a tee ball coach we were told not to |
| over nine years now (over 20,000 clubs at last count) | | | | keep score, but many of the parents did anyway. It's |
| and the quality and technology that's available for | | | | part of our competitive nature to know "who won". If |
| juniors these days is spectacular! | | | | you do keep score, that's fine, just remind them they |
| Tip #2 - Teach your kids the basics of the grip, stance | | | | are there to learn, not to score well on every hole. |
| and swing in the backyard, or in the house with plastic | | | | What matters most is that they have fun, learn more |
| whiffle balls. At this point there is no need for formal | | | | about the game and want to come back and do it |
| instruction for the youngest ones, as they need to get | | | | again! |
| out there and have fun right away. All they need from | | | | Golfing with kids can be a blast or it can be a disaster. |
| you is to show them how to place their hands on the | | | | Hopefully these tips will help you eliminate the disaster |
| club, not grip it too tight, and how to swing with | | | | part and replace it with a lot of fun and great times out |
| smoothness and tempo, rather than as hard as | | | | on the course! |