Teaching Kids to Play Golf
What is a good age to introduce my child to the sport of golf? Is it best to start them with just striking the ball or should the rules and regulations be introduced at the same time?
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BrandonKTO said,
November 9, 2006 @ 6:15 pm
That is a great question! I would like to first start with the age, children have been shown to have the best golf “learning ability” at the age of 6 years old. Before 6 children have a hard time grasping the concepts of the game, let alone rules and regulations.
From age 6 to age 8 children should be taught to hit the ball, and hit the ball hard. A professional should know, yet we do not always agree upon teaching strategy. If you are teaching kids on your own, its important to teach them to hit the ball solidly, and as far as they can. They can be taught to control length later on, but you can’t teach lenght to students who never had it to begin with. They will always be in control mode, as that is how they started and what you learn first, becomes the foundation for the rest of their learning.
Leave the rules for the course. Teach them actively as children begin to play, maybe starting with one hole at a time. Then two, then three etc.
BrandonKTO said,
November 9, 2006 @ 9:14 pm
Great question. There are different views for Jr. Golf that some say early as you can (i.e. like Tiger) and some say wait. Myself the answer is usualy about 6 years old is a good age to begin your child in the game of golf. Let them hit balls as early as you like, but do not begin INSTRUCTION until at leaset 6 years old. The mind of a 4 year old has not developed to the point of being able to comprehend golf and its complex technique and movements.
As far as where to start with the instruction, my own opinion is as follows.
1) Teach kids to hold the club properly.
2) Teach proper turn of the shoulders, posture & movement.
-Relate to baseball, frisbee anything the child has experience with.
3) Teach young golfers to hit the ball as far as they can.
-You can always teach a long hitter control, but very often can not teach an accurate hitter how to gain length.
I hope this was helpful and best of luck to you and your Jr. Golfer! Any more questions I’d be happy to answer.
Brandon J. Dunham
Golf Professional/Cert. in Advanced Teaching