5 Ways to Start Your Children As Junior Golfers

Parents of junior golfers are no different than sports parents in pee wee football or little league baseball. Although their children are sometimes as young as six or seven years old, these parents already projecting that their child will be playing their sport at a professional level. Unfortunately this does not lead to a positive or fun experience for the junior golfer. Many times they get frustrated and quit the game or the other term is that they get "burnt out" before they even graduate from high school.

Having my own children, I do understand that we all want is best for our children. With that being said it amazes me how many parents make their junior golfer feel pressure to perform or to go through a rigorous practice routine in an effort to make their child "better." I would propose that you try to make your child better by allowing them to enjoy the game by creating different games for them to play. Regardless of age, sex or strength, you and your child can compete on and around the putting green. For junior golfers who are not teenagers, this is where junior golfers should spend the majority of their time. The end goal is to put the golf ball in the hole.

Once your junior golfer is ready to go to the golf course to have fun, then keep the following tips in mind to keep the game fun:

1. Before you start, agree with the junior golfer on what the "max score" per hole will be. This can also make each golf hole fun by making it a game. It is very important not to make a big deal if the max is hit and making the junior feel inadequate. Both the adult and the junior needs to remember "it is just a game"

2. In addition, before you start to play, determine what their "personal par" will be for every hole you will be playing. As the junior improves obviously the "personal par" will go down.

3. Go out with your junior in "non-peak" hours. At some courses this is easier to do than others. This will take the pressure off of everybody at a certain pace.

4. The hole does not need to be the target to end the hole. What does this mean? Some smaller juniors find it more fun to hit it into a bunker than onto a green. This may seem counter-intuitive to many golf purists however, once you think about it, typically the bunkers are smaller than the putting greens. This can only make them better later. In addition, they LOVE to climb into the bunkers and this gives us a chance to teach bunker etiquette.

5. Depending on their age or skill level, allow them to "tee it up" from the 100 or 150 yard marker on all the par fours and par fives to begin the hole. This is not as daunting for them and will help keep the group moving around the golf course.