Getting Into the Swing of Junior Golf

Parenting your Junior golfer starts young for some!

Our son, Sam III began his love of golf at the age of five following in the footsteps of his father Sam Jr, who began at 4 in San Antonio, TX. We are the first to say that having golfers already in the family is a bonus but not a requirement to raising successful Juniors.

You can tell by this photo, that getting into the swing of golf begins simply with the desire to hit a little white ball around the yard (as long as you have a clear line-of-sight in front of you that is). This shot of Sam Jr in his front yard is not unlike many taken everyday by parents who see the ‘desire’ in their child and want to nurture it.

Here are a few tips to make your transition into the Junior golf lifestyle as pleasant and profitable as possible:

• Get them started young… Age five is a good. But know, there are great Junior golfers who started out in their teens.
• Get equipment that fits… Yes even for beginners this is important! Clubs that are too long, too short, or too heavy, will severely impede any progress. Dick’s Sporting Goods, Golf Galaxy, and Edwin Watts are three national chains that are very helpful in fitting clubs to your Junior Golfer.
•  Make the sessions short… Begin your Junior Golfer with short golf sessions, 10-15 minutes for ages five to six , due to the short attention span common at this age. Increase the time spent focusing on golf to match their desire and eagerness to learn.
• Make it a habit… Three times a week on the driving range or in your front yard (with whiffle balls) helps your Junior Golfer to look forward to the next time.
•  Make it FUN!!  Be very positive and encouraging.  As much as you want your Junior Golfer to succeed you can’t bully them into loving the game, it will only break their spirit… correction comes later.
• Get involved in The First Tee…  This organization is nationwide and a great kick-start for Junior golfers.

We would love to get your feedback and other tips you’d like to pass along as well. Our goal is to provide an information packed site worthy of your return… you will make that happen by being active in the journey.

Keep your eyes on the ball… the fairway to empowering your Junior Golfer is clear ahead!