Golf For Kids

Golf for kids should be about fun.

Golf is a game and it should be treated that way. Give kids free reign to explore. Their own enthusiasm and sense of adventure will show itself soon enough. As a parent, there are few places that can compete with a golf course as a site you want to have your child pass their time. Now, there are many opportunities where golf for kids can out-compete any other sport as a rich source for personal and athletic development.

If you're thinking of involving your kids in the game of golf, here are some helpful hints that might help you with the process.

Barriers to consider before starting young kids in golf.

• golf for kids is an intimidating sport. Clubs are difficult to swing, the ball hard to control. There are many potential sources of frustration so they can lose interest. From adult tees to green is a long way and, for kids new to the game, there are lot of ways to lose interest.

• not many courses encourage young kids, some even set minimum age requirements that prohibit kids under 12. You seldom see sets of tees for kids on courses.

• equipment costs and availability. Most courses do not have kids clubs available for rent.

What's a good way to start?

• don't be pushy, let the child tell you when they have had enough fun

• young kids have limited attention spans, so be patient

• if they want to come with you when you play or practice, that's a good sign they are interested and open to some involvement.

• when is a matter of interest. Don't be pushy. If the child wants to come when you play or practice, that is a good sign. Young kids have limited attention spans, so be patient. Let the child tell you when they have had enough.

• take them with you when you practice. Let them knock it around casually. Especially the short game where the feedback is immediate. Make up fun games the help with their coordination and get them used to the motions of chipping and putting.

Golf Camps

• golf for kids camps are a great introduction. Learn rules, etiquette, skills. Get to play with their peer group. Facilities for practice and short courses suited to beginner level play keep enthusiasm and incentive high. Clubs are provided.

• when kids want to come when you play or practice, that's a good sign, it signals an expression of interest that they want to go farther.

• put them in a camp with kids their own age. Demonstrate the games finer points and mingle with their peer group will have a more lasting impact.

Courses for Kids

• par three courses starting to get more plentiful; Marchwood, which is part of the Brookstreet/Marshes golf course in Ottawa,is one of the best courses in the city. It can be very challenging, but if you pick the right tees to play from, beginners and kids of all ages can play. It is very close to the outstanding practice area the Marshes provides, so it shines as an example for introducing, building and developing golf skills.

• Par three and executive length (short) courses are great for tuning the skills and interest of new golfers of all ages.

• courses are the best teaching ground of golf for kids. The range or practice area is the site for group lessons, clinics of camps where someone other than the parent can teach invaluable fundamentals to a developing golfer.

• take child to a lesson. Instruction mixes rules with play and skills with etiquette. Some even mix in other sports for variety and interest. Equipment is often provided and emphasis is usually on building short game skills -- a great way to start.

Clubs for Kids

• Equipment manufacturers are begining to focus on sets of clubs for the youth market. It is not a good idea to give children cut down versions of adult clubs. They are too heavy and stiff to swing properly for a child and may lead to compensations that work into swing flaws later.

• Set makeup, starting with the age group 5 - 9 generally consists of: driver, 7-iron, 9-iron, wedge and putter. A junior bag, golf glove, set of tees and a ball mark are the items that round out the set. Add a hat and your child is fully equipped for golf.

• At the 9 - 12 age group, the golf set would add a 5-iron and 3-wood.

• At 5 years or younger, two clubs should be fine, say a 7-iron and wedge plus a putter to get them used to playing around the greens.

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