College Bound Tip #2 for Parents of Junior Golfers – Persistence

As I mentioned in part one, college bound tips #1 and #2 are must haves for families where the Junior Golfer is considering playing college golf!  We call them the Two P’s and without them the odds of your child playing college golf are slim to none.

So Parents, “Fasten your seatbelts!”  The second P is Persistence-as in your persistence to relentlessly do the behind-the-scenes work necessary for your junior golfer’s success.

Persistence, as defined by the Urban Dictionary, is to be unrelenting, someone who never gives up. Ceaseless.

Yes, to use some old show business terminology, your child is the show and you are the go.  You, Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt or Uncle are the ones who must always be there for your Junior Golfer.

Taking care of the details required to pursue junior golf takes some getting used to, but depending on your attitude it can be a lot of fun.

Your responsibilities include:

1.  Encouraging your child to make good grades-no pass, no play starts in high school if not earlier

2.  Providing the funding for proper clothing, equipment, range fees, green fees and tournament entry fees

3.  Researching and scheduling the tournaments in your area and getting your kiddo’s entries in on time

4.  Driving or arranging transportation to and from practices and events

5.  Confirming with your Junior Golfer that you and the whole family support their efforts

6.  Taking on all the behind-the-scene organizational details so your Junior Golfer only needs to focus on scholastics and golf

7.  Immersing your kiddo in the wonderful world of junior golf by setting up as many practices and tournaments as your wallet and their psyche can handle

Together, the Two P’s – Passion & Persistence, give your Junior Golfer a great start down the road to college golf.

Let’s get out there and play some golf… Sam

College Bound Tip #1 for Parents of Junior Golfers

Sam Goldfarb III

These college bound tips #1 and #2 are must haves for families where your Junior Golfer is considering playing college golf!  We call them the Two P’s and without them the odds of your child playing college golf are slim to none.

The first P is where it all starts-passion-as in your child’s passion for the game of golf.  

Passion, as defined by the Urban Dictionary, is: when you put more energy into something than is required to do it. It is more than just enthusiasm or excitement, passion is ambition that is materialized into action to put as much heart, mind body and soul into something as is possible.

Does the above definition sound like your Junior Golfer?

Does your child have passion for the sport of golf?  Is he or she asking to go hit balls or play a few holes before it gets dark?  Are they practicing putting on the carpet or hitting whiffle balls in the back yard?  Is golf their default setting when it comes to exercise and outdoor activities?  Are they willing to commit to the hours of physical and mental work that are required to get their game good enough to be considered for college golf? If the answer is “yes” to these questions, then your kiddo may very well have a passion for this great game.

Please understand that every youngster who enjoys golf does not have a passion for it.  Some kiddos are content with hitting balls every now and then and playing a round of golf with Mom or Dad maybe once a month or so.  This is still a great thing!  You have a child who enjoys a “sport for life” and who likes going out and spending 4 or 5 hours with you on a beautiful golf course!  Quality time on a golf course with family members is one of the great joys of life!

And some kiddos may begin with a casual interest in golf that can end up being a passion for golf.  Please be excited if your child enjoys any aspect of golf.  Be an encourager and see what happens.  We have seen countless examples of junior golfers who have grown in their passion for the game!

So, does your child have a passion for golf?  If you believe so, then the next P is on you.  Yes Dad and Mom, Grandpa and Grandma, it is all on you and all about you.  What is it?  You’ll find out in the next installment, tip #2.

Getting Started in Junior Golf Made Easy – part 2

Welcome back!

I’ll share from Linda and I that we are truly enjoying the opportunity to share with you our experience as golf-parents. Our road has been a long and adventurous one and we are so glad to help you in any way we can. Shoot us an email with any questions or concerns and we will get back with you ASAP thegoldfarbs@parentingjuniorgolfers.com

Be sure to check out our previous post for part 1, which includes tips 1-5.

6.  Get an eye exam.  Golf demands excellent vision at all distances.  You would not believe how many juniors had no idea they needed vision help until they had an eye exam. We want our JG to start off on his or her best foot right from the beginning.

7.  Get a general physical exam.  Golf has its own types of physical requirements – a lot of walking for sure, carrying a golf bag, dealing with heat and cold, as well as the everyday stress and strain of growing up. You certainly want to know if your JG has any physical issues that need to be addressed before he or she gets out on the course.

8.  Buy a cap or hat.  These keep hair and the sun out of the eyes and sweat off of the forehead. You have so many styles to choose from, visors, floppies, wide-brim, flat-brim, baseball caps, or cowboy hats – if it works for your JG it will work in the game.

9.  Corrective lenses.  If your kiddo wears corrective lenses, you will want to discuss with their eye doctor the best lenses to fit them with for a combination of these types of vision needs:

• distance-so they can see where their shots go,
• close up-3 to 4 feet so they can clearly see the ball at address
• close up wide view-in other words a big field of view so the ball stays in the same vision plane on their lens when they make a swing-if the head moves during the swing, the ball can go in and out of the vision plane and this is very distracting.

10.  Lessons and practice.  Please refer to our post on 7 Tips to Finding Your Best Golf Coach. 

11. Be a Junior Golf Encourager for your kiddo!  Your excitement and enjoyment of the game will be   contagious.

If your young person is not “on fire” for golf right now, be encouraged by this real life example:  A very dear friend and scratch golfer has been offering to take his wife and three daughters out to play golf for a number of years.  And the response has been lukewarm at best.  Now all of the women in his life want to learn how to play golf, and they decided to get into the swing of things at the same time!  Explain it?  No way!  But Seth has been leading these ladies down the “golf” path, not pushing them into it. To say he is very excited at their increased level of interest would be an understatement.

OK.  Print this out.  Stick it in your purse or pocket and get started on having some of the greatest times of your life with your Junior Golfer!

Get out there and have fun! – Sam