Golf etiquette for kids

February 3, 2021

The great Bobbi Jones once said “In golf, the customs and etiquette and decorum are as important as the rules of play.”

For non-golfers, etiquette can seem to be about snobbery or being stuck up. That cannot be further from the truth. Etiquette is simply how we conduct ourselves on the golf course so that we can all play fairly and amicably.

They are a set of rules that are not rules of the actual game but rules about behaviour. Get your junior golfers used to following this code of conduct and it will not only stand you in good stead on the golf course but also off it.

Most of the time, any golfer who has played for some time behaves naturally in such a way that has, over time, been shaped by this code.

It is amazing to be able to watch a child behave in such rayon the golf course that they would never behave at home. Check their bedroom in the morning after they have left for school and you will likely find it untidy, unmade bad, crisp wrappers left on the chest of drawers, shoes all over the floor not to mention yesterdays’ clothing all over the place.

Get them on a golf course and watch how they will politely wait their turn, keep quiet whilst someone else plays their shot, replace divots, repair pitch marks, rake bunkers…etc. none of these things are rules of the game but it is how we expect each other to behave on the course.

(Maybe for those who play with their own child, they mayn’t see quite the same level etiquette shown but that’s just kids and their parents!)

As adults / Junior Organisers on the course we often teach the juniors about etiquette before we even show them some of the rules. At least this way they can play with others as they learn about how to play within the rules.

After all at the start it is about getting them out there and used to being on the course rather than competing in competitions.

Some of the key points for junior golfers to remember are:

Always make sure that you know the dress code for the particular course on which you are playing. Most courses have more relaxed rules for juniors but still within certain parameters. i.e. a collared shirt, usually a polo shirt, no jeans or tracksuit clothing and no trainers, correct golf trousers or shorts and no football team shirts.

When a junior is just starting out, golf clubs usually show a little discretion as it takes time to decide whether they will continue to learn and play before paying out for clothing and equipment.

Be polite from the start, when you’re at the first tee, if you don’t know your playing partners then you should introduce yourself and, where appropriate, shake hands.

Show each other your golf ball and point out the marks you have made on it to show that your ball is individual to you. e.g. I put 2 blue dots on either side of the manufacturers name so that if there is another ball in the rough near to where I believe my ball has landed I can clearly tell which one is mine.

Keep up your pace of play. There’s no need to runaround, in fact you shouldn’t be running on the golf course as it can be distracting to other golfers, but get to your ball and work out what shot you are about to play whilst your playing partner plays their shot.

There is no need for you to stand with them while they play your shot and then they come over to stand with you. Don’t wait for them to play their shot then get out your rangefinder and start to consider which club you’re going to take. This can be done while they are playing their shot.

The only caveat to this is that you should also try to watch where you playing partners ball goes to in case they need your help in finding it. When you have all taken your shots make sure you get a move on to your next shot or to the next tee if you have finished that hole.

You will find that there is plenty of time for a chat whilst walking between shots so there’s no need to stand around talking when you should be playing.

Golf is a very frustrating game at times as well as rewarding, you should control your temper when something doesn’t according to plan. Shouting or slamming your clubs is a no no and throwing a club or breaking it in a fit of anger is a sign of very poor etiquette indeed.

There is nothing with being upsetter annoyed but you must keep it under control. Golf should be enjoyed and when you do something good, you are allowed to enjoy it with a cheer or a fist pump but there’s no need to go running around in celebration, especially when your playing partners are waiting to play or to shake your hand at the end.

When you are on the green make sure that you keep still and quiet while your playing partners are putting. Also try to stay out of their sight so that they can concentrate on what they’re doing. If you don’t make the put decide whether you want to mark your ball or put out. If you decide to put out make sure that you don’t step on your playing partners’ line. Decide between yourselves who’s turn it is to go so that you don’t all go at the same time.

Make sure you repair your pitch marks on the green and replace any divots on the fairway.

Always rake the bunker after you have been in there and shake any sand off your shoes in or near to the bunker instead of walking it onto the green.

When your game is finished remember to remove your hat if you’re wearing one and shake hands if permitted. Thank each other and whether you have won or lost you should be able to walk off the course together.

Follow these simple etiquette guidelines and you’ll find that you will all enjoy playing the game together.

By CharlieAIn Uncategorized0 Comments

Which tees do kids play from?

January 29, 2021

Traditionally, kids have had to play tee shots from various parts of golf courses.

Some courses have them playing from the red tees, some from the yellows and some allow the smaller players to play from 150 yard markers.

There is no set standard from one course to another.

England Golf don’t really have any instruction on where this should be and that may be because, just as each course is different, so is each junior or group of juniors.

One good thing now is that we no longer refer to red tees and ‘Ladies’ Tees’ or White tees as ‘Men’s Tees’ we should just refer to them by their colour. This takes away any stigma of young boys playing from red tees.

As a Junior Organiser at my own golf course I play the junior 18 hole competitions the same way an adult mixed competition would be played. That is to say that the boys play from the white tees and the girls from the red tees.If your juniors are competent and you have enough to run full competitions the this is the way to go.

Many golf clubs don’t have enough juniors to be able to play them all from the full length tees, this is where an organiser needs to be more imaginative.

If you’re lucky you’ll have enough older juniors to play in the full 18 hole competition and then you can run a smaller one for those who may not be able to play the whole course.

Make golf as simple as possible to start

The worst thing you can do is to make a new or younger golfer play from tees that clearly make every hole too long. That is to say that it takes them 5 or more shots to reach the green on an average par 4 hole. This will only serve to break their spirit and they’ll quickly get fed up with the game.

There is also a school of thought that up to a certain age, boys and girls are roughly as strong as each other and should therefore play from the same tees. This is usually the case for the smaller ones.

I have seen 12 year old boys playing in the same competition as 18 year old girls only to find that the girls have over 700 yards advantage as they play from Red tees. More often than not they also have a shot or two adjustment in their favour on the final stroke play scores.

It is difficult to manage the expectations of the younger ones in these circumstances. It may well be prudent to have all of the juniors under 14 yrs to play from the same tees and allow any older than that to compete in the more traditional way.

There are plenty of Junior Golf Tours out there in the UK that are lucky enough (after years of hard work and promotion) to have enough competitors to have age group categories as well as separate one for boys and girls.

The older the junior golfer the longer the course is that they play on until they get to an open age category which is usually around 14 or 15.

If you’re not a member of a golf club then choosing one of these Tours is a great idea to get regular competition golf. You could even do so if you are a member but just want the opportunity to compete against others and play at different courses.

One of the biggest tours in the UK for this is one called the British Junior Golf Tour https://juniorgolftour.co.uk/ They have a competition almost every week of the season and they usually hold a 3 day summer event which is a great way to meet other parents and the kids have a great time playing with kids from different parts of the country. The only slight downside to this tour is that most of their events are in the southern half of the country.

US Kids Golf have developed what they think is the perfect way to stagger tee boxes for kids golf. They call it the ‘Longleaf’ system and it can be found here. If you have a golf club willing to lay out new tees then this is the perfect way to attract junior members. http://www.longleafgfc.com/longleaf-tee-system/longleaf-tee-system-executive-summary

At their home club in the United States they have added quite number of extra tees to accommodate all of the sizes of golf clubs that they sell. This is after all their target market. Here you can pick and choose some or even just one of the distances for each hole and see if your golf club will create tees from those distances to accommodate juniors.

This is what I did at my home course at Grange Park GC in St Helens. I worked out a reasonable distance for a 12 year old to be able to hit a Green in 2 shots and that was a distance for a par 4. I chose distances for them to be able to hit an iron into a green for the par 3s and then used the same principle for the par 5s.

This created an 18 hole par 72 golf course with a standard scratch score of 61. Based on an average of 220 yards for a par 4, a junior of around 12 yrs old should be able to hit their tee shot around 150 yards leaving an iron shot into the green. Here you can see the scorecard I created with some longer and some shorter like all golf courses. I was lucky enough that my golf club decided to invest in permanent tee markers which made this course a great feature. I decided that any kids able to hit the ball longer could progress to red, yellow or white tees and any smaller / younger players could use play a few holes from a distance decided by their organiser on that day. After all the smaller ones will only be playing a few holes.

If your club has any kind of cadet membership, i.e. very young beginners the course could always utilise the practice ground to formulate 3 short pitch and put holes which will add competition from an early age without it seeming like a chore to walk those huge distances.

What is crucially important for junior golfers is to get them from lessons or from the Driving Range and onto the golf course as soon as they feel confident to do so. They need to see that hitting a ball on a practice ground or driving range has an ultimate purpose. This can be done by introducing them to playing 2 or 3 short holes and gradually building it up to playing more or longer holes. It has to be done in a fun way where some of the more obvious rules and etiquette can start to be introduced.

By Carlo AlbaneseIn Uncategorized0 Comments

Best junior golf clubs

January 11, 2021

The greatest thing any golfer can hear is when your child says, “I want to take up golf!”

You’re either a golfer yourself or you’ve never played and think “where did that come from?” Either way you may need help when choosing the right clubs for your child. Here we will look at choosing the right clubs for a complete beginner to advanced juniors transitioning into adult clubs.

There are too many things to be considered when doing a comprehensive club fitting to be able to list here. Fortunately there are junior golf clubs available that have already done the hard work for us. Companies like USKids Golf have years of experience in creating the right club for specific heights and abilities so that you don’t have to worry whether you are doing the right thing. Below I have listed a few (not too many to confuse) options for your budding / advanced junior golfer. The temptation to pay a fortune thinking that you’re doing the right thing may not necessarily be the correct choice in these circumstances. It is often wiser to choose the expertise of specialist manufacturers than ones who’s main business is for adults but they offer a token gesture to juniors.

As an experienced club fitter I have specialised in fitting juniors for the past 10 years and I can honestly say there are 2 types of customers. Those that will take on board your advice and those that think their youngster is far stronger, faster and more advanced than any kid has ever been. The latter often want adult clubs cut down. Both categories are fine as there are usually solutions to fit all of the child’s’ wants and needs.

To start with, a beginner doesn’t need to complicate things. Size and strength don’t necessarily translate into club head speed. Any beginner needs the right clubs to be able to build a correct swing plane in order to advance to the next level. This usually means something light and flexible. Light so that the club isn’t too difficult to control through the swing and flexible so that it increases club head speed and helps to get the ball in the air. This is important to try and get used to a correct ball flight and ultimately it goes further. (More about that later)

There are a couple of offerings that are ideal for beginners.

US Kids, in my opinion, make the best junior golf clubs around. They generally cater for all stages of the child’s’ advancement. They only make junior clubs and therefore don’t concentrate on the more lucrative adult golf market so what they make has to be good.

They essentially make 2 different types of golf clubs. (3 if you count ‘The Yard Club, which is a single club with an oversized head, aimed at allowing toddlers to have their first experience of hitting a golf ball.)

These are the ‘Ultralight’ series and the more advanced ‘Tour Series’ (TS3)

For the child who is relatively new or a complete beginner the ‘Utralight’ series provides different length club sets depending on the height of the child. Each length is colour coded and is designed to have the perfect swing weight and lie angle together with the right loft for any golfer using those clubs. All the work regarding fitting has essentially been done for you, you just have to choose the correct length. (This is the best chart to use) By doing this your young golfer will learn to build their swing around the perfect club. This means that as they grow they will develop a good swing plane which will leave them in good stead as they improve.

The quality of these clubs is second to none for the purpose they serve.

https://everyshotcounts.co.uk/collections/us-kids-ultralight-series/

Alternatively, there is the offering from Masters Golf. A slightly cheaper set which are measured in height like the USKids clubs and are colour coded, like the USKids clubs. Again there is no need to have them fitted other than to the right length as you’re trying to encourage your young golfer to develop a standard shaped swing. These are perfectly good golf clubs but the lower price, in my opinion, shows in the lower quality. The old adage, ‘you get what you pay for’ does apply here but there’s not that much in it. The difference is in the quality of materials used for the shafts and the iron itself. If it’s a cheaper set you’re looking for, just to get them started, then these are a reasonable alternative. Probably not a bad choice for younger beginners as they do have a look about them for younger kids.

https://www.mkidsgolf.com/shop/sets

Advanced junior golfers have a little more choice. My first and best recommendation is again USKids Golf, but this time, we can choose the Tour Series (TS3) These look very similar to most cavity backed adult clubs but are designed perfectly to have the correct swing weight and lie angle that your child should be playing with to keep / develop a great swing. These come in a choice of graphite shafted irons through all of the sizes or steel shafts in irons from 57” upwards. The reason for this is that we can have advanced golfers who are still young and small so that they may have grown out of the ‘Ultralight’ quality but not size. It would be a big step to go from ‘Utralight’ to steel shafted TS3 so the option for high quality graphite shafts keeps the club lighter and in turn doesn’t flatten the swing. These also come with the option to add specialist wedges to the set e.g. gap wedge and lob wedge.

If your youngster is swinging a Driver with a club head speed of 80mph or lower these are the clubs for them. The woods and irons compliment each other for great consistency through the set. (Your local golf professional or fitting centre should be able to tell you a club head speed)

If the swing speed for the Driver is anything above 80mph then I would start to consider upgrading the woods only to one of the main adult brands. This is because the shaft length in a wood can be altered to fit much easier without affecting the clubs performance or weight. There are many adult shafts available for each adult driver and a good fitter would be able to help you choose the correct one.

I would, however, still recommend the TS3 Irons until such a time that the junior is of a height and strength to use adult irons without more than half an inch cut off the length.

https://everyshotcounts.co.uk/collections/us-kids-tour-series/

Another alternative is the Ping Prodi G Junior Clubs

This is what Ping say

“Prodi G junior sets offer the same score-lowering technology of our adult sets custom-engineered to fit golfers ages 7 to 13 and between 4′ 5″ and 5′ 2″. With the “Get Golf Growing” Programme, buy at least five clubs and you’re entitled to a one-time, no-charge service to have the clubs re-shafted or lengthened, re-weighted, and re-gripped as the golfer grows.”

They are very good quality but are priced way higher than the others to account for them being reshafted in the future. The height range is minimal so you’d really need to be close to the bottom end of the scale to be able to take advantage of this feature. Not all golf retailers can get hold of these clubs and being fitted for them is difficult as fitting centres don’t have the same level of options available as they do for adult clubs. You can always opt for the standard lie angle (Black dot for Ping clubs) and just be fitted for length. If money is no object then you could always book a fitting at the Ping centre in Gainsborough.

If you do take your child to be fitted for clubs be aware that most golf shops don’t specialise in junior golf or even stock any junior equipment. They may therefore try to convince you to opt for adult clubs with shorter graphite shafts and as I have previously stated this makes the swing weight all wrong.

Don’t be overwhelmed by this, it really is a lot more simple for junior golfers than it is for adults. Work on height first. If you can get the clubhead speed measured that can help you determine which model of club you should go for, e.g. Ultralight or TS3. This should also help you decide whether they should be graphite or steel shafts.

For an example of checking which clubs are best for which speeds click here https://www.uskidsgolf.com/60-player-height

If you have any questions as to which are the right ones for your child email the guys at www.everyshotcounts.co.uk and they’ll offer great advice

By charles albaneseIn Uncategorized0 Comments

Best Junior Golf Shoes 2021

January 6, 2021

Are you struggling to find the best junior golf shoes? You’re going to be out on the course for over four hours so it’s pretty important that you choose a shoe that’s going to be right for you.

‘everyshotcounts’ was created because we understand the difficulty in acquiring good quality, good looking affordable golf attire for juniors. We’re working stocking some ourselves but until then we have put together a small list of junior golf shoes to suit most requirements.

Making the right choice

Possibly the most difficult item to get right for kids is finding the right golf shoes. In our list below there are spiked and spikeless, waterproof and breathable and prices to suit most pockets.

At the time of writing this article the links provided have stock of the shoes reviewed but obviously this is subject to change and I cannot speak for the the individual retailers. The retailers listed are just examples of where these shoes can be obtained.

Manufacturers only make a comparatively small number of junior golf shoes each year so finding the right pair to fit isn’t as straight forward as finding kids football shoes for example.

What’s hot at the moment?

The list is in no particular order and one or two of the brands may not be as familiar as the others but don’t let that deter you from choosing them.

As we have found here with our ‘everyshotcounts’ junior golf clothing range, trying something new can be an eye-opening and surprisingly pleasurable experience.

Adidas Adicross Retro Junior Golf Shoes £44.00

Available in plenty of sizes and in 2 colours, black or white, these shoes are spikeless and waterproof. The simplistic design looks as smart in the clubhouse as it does on the course. The soft Cloudfoam inner makes the shoe mould to your foot for maximum comfort. The unusual fish scale spikeless sole gives great traction helping you keep your posture through your swing. These are a classy looking shoe for the classy looking junior golfer.

FootJoy Pro/SL Junior Shoes £46.99

Widely regarded as the number one shoe in golf Footjoy don’t disappoint with their junior version of the Pro SL shoe. The same in every way apart from how waterproof it is. Unlike the adult shoe it doesn’t come with a one year waterproof guarantee but it will keep the rain off for the most part. Built just as well with very good support for those young feet you can’t go wrong with these.

Skechers Go Golf Blaster Junior Golf Shoes £49.95

Skechers are better known for their casual, comfortable training shoes / day wear shoes. It’s great to see that they’ve used all of their knowledge and technology to make golf shoes. And more specifically they have started to make junior golf shoes.

These are not a cheap option but they are a spiked shoe with a 1 year waterproof guarantee. This tells us that they’re serious about the quality of this shoe. They contain all of the benefits of the usual Skechers shoes such as the cushioned sole and the cushioned insole.

Comfort is a real benefit of this shoe. The spikes are replaceable and they are the soft spike version so there’s no issue walking around the car park or the clubhouse. They start at size 2 and go up to size 5 so there’s a decent offering.

Nike Roshe G Junior Shoes £39.95

Available in various colours and with sizes from 1.5-5.5 these shoes have the best choice amongst those in our list. They are as comfortable as a training shoe as they are as a golf shoe so can be worn on and off the golf course

This shoe isn’t waterproof but has a mesh upper which allows the feet to breathe. The sole is more suited to drier conditions also where it is more than capable of stability through the golf swing.

Nike have used the Roshe design in training shoes before so this design will look familiar to the younger generation. The large swoosh also panders to the more brand conscious of junior golfers.

The flexible and soft midsole feel more like a running shoe than a golf shoe making them as comfortable as any golf shoe on the market.

Puma Ignite PWRADAPT Junior Shoes £63.50

Sizes: 1-7 Then continue into mens sizes

Sporty looking and extremely comfortable.

These shoes are the exact same as the larger mens version. They have the IGNITE foam cushion midsole and the Tornado Cleats provide extremely good traction. They have a microfibre upper combined with premium leather outer layer and they come with a 1 year waterproof warranty. As with most junior golf shoes they are hard to get hold of and as such prices vary drastically. As they are made the same as the adult version, the price isn’t dissimilar. The cheapest I could find them was at the price above. But sizes are limited so you may need to shop around.

Inesis Golf Grip Waterproof Shoes £29.99

Comfortable and excellent value

Inesis is the own brand name for Decathlon, the Sports Giant. These shoes come in 2 colours and are a great gateway for beginners. Getting golf stuff you need for your child without it costing the earth isn’t easy. They perform well and look ok. If your kid isn’t too concerned about having a big name brand when they start out then these are perfect. I can’t guarantee durability but they will most likely have been grown out of before you have any issues. It is rare for junior golf shoes to be classed as waterproof so to have a 2-year waterproof warranty gives reassurance. They also start at size 13, a bonus if you’re not yet into sizes 1 or 2 which is where most manufacturers start at. A lot of technology has gone into making this shoe for the price.

By CharlieAIn Uncategorized0 Comments

Getting Kids Into Golf

December 24, 2015

Introduce your child to golf

Golf used to have an image of being a stuffy, old man’s sport that was boring and dull.

Today, those stereotypes are massively out of date. Golf is a rapidly growing sport and more and more golf clubs have relaxed their rules to make it more inclusive. Especially for junior golfers. That includes the dress code, this isn’t to say that you can rock up to a local golf course in any old working gear but the fashion in golf could be just as trendy about town.

That’s where ‘everyshotcounts‘ comes in.

WHAT’S AN APPROPRIATE AGE TO START GOLFING FOR YOUR CHILD?

There’s golf clubs for toddlers aged 18 months plus, so from a general point of view, there’s nothing to stop you giving your kids a child golf set made out of plastic.

To go on a golf course for the first time it’s recommended that your children are of school age, so around 5-6 is perfect for getting on the course for the first time as they are more likely to absorb more of the golfing etiquette that’s required on the course.

ONE BIG QUESTION IS, DO I NEED LESSONS?

At first, the simple answer is no, you don’t need golf lessons before you go on a course. Getting lessons straight away can take some of the fun out of things. It may be best to let your child develop a natural golf swing with hand-eye coordination.

Many kids who play other bat and ball style games, like tennis or cricket for example, seem to have a natural ability for junior golf. That’s not to say multi-sports is a must but it can be an advantage to encourage kids to take part in as many sports as possible thereby gaining multiple skills and, importantly, exercise.

There’s no one correct way to swing a golf club, every one has a different swing and for each individual, if they were put under the microscope, every swing would be unique and have different characteristics.

The golf course can be intimidating and for some places you’ll need a handicap before you can play there, but there are many golf courses where you can play without being a member or having a handicap. So don’t be discouraged.

WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO GET YOUR KIDS INTO GOLF WITHOUT GETTING ON A GOLF COURSE STRAIGHT AWAY?

1. Get a plastic children’s golf set or a starter club.

Incredibly cheap and great for the very young. A set like this is ideal for them to whack the ball around the garden and get the general idea of how to stand and hit the ball. This is a very early chance to teach motor skills and hand-eye coordination. See if they take to it.

2. Crazy golf

Crazy golf is a great introduction to playing golf. It’s fun, cheap and fast and it gives your child a taste of what it’s actually like to get the ball in the hole. Even if you’re not a golfer yourself you can join in the fun here and introduce some healthy competition. Why not get the whole family involved?

3. Pitch and Putt

The next step could be pitch and putt. Pitch and putt is a fantastic way to get kids into golf and even if an adult is curious about the game this is a great way try it out without having to test yourself on a full size course.

The holes are fairly short in length ranging from 20 to 100 yards for some longer pitch and putt courses but it allows you to develop a swing, without worrying about trying to whack the ball as hard as you can down the fairway.

For young kids new to junior golf, they may benefit from using a 7 iron to get around. For older and stronger kids they could use a pitching wedge or sand wedge depending on the distances required to hit it. The people who work at your local pitch and putt should be able to guide you as to what might be the best club to use.

4. Get down to the driving range

At Trafford Driving range in Manchester, for example, they have two levels, you can hire clubs, they have a cafe and in 2018 they introduced Dino golf which is a fun, dinosaur themed, crazy golf course with 18 holes and moving dinosaurs. This can be played by the whole family.

The driving range is great way to give your kids a taste of golf. This is where you can fully test them out before they get on a course for real. The beauty of the driving range is that you don’t have to walk after or collect all of the balls after you’ve hit them.

Some driving ranges have clubs you can hire but some don’t so it’s always best to call and check ahead before you go.

5. Learn through school

As well as reaching out to your local golf club which may have a junior golf program in place you can check out The Golf Foundation. This is a charitable organisation working to introduce boys and girls from all walks of life to the benefits of golf.

The Golf Foundation is more active than ever with junior golf. They have developed their own version of golf that can be used in both primary and secondary schools.

What is Tri Golf?

Tri-Golf is a mini version of golf for the younger kids. It’s a high energy game that helps with kids fitness and introduces them to the game in a fun and relaxed environment.

For school teachers interested in building their own Tri-Golf course at their school, check out the following handy guide provided by The Golf Foundation
https://www.golf-foundation.org/media/1400/guide_to_building_a_school_tri-golf_course-3.pdf

What is Street Golf?

Street-Golf is a game which uses specially designed golf clubs that are extremely child friendly and uses golf balls that are softer and have a reduced ball flight. On their website you can access Regional Development Officers. From here you can find out where your kids can access golf tuition and participation.

They even have a Junior Golf Passport scheme which measures your child’s progress as they develop different skills.

6. Kids group golf lessons with a golf coach

Golf lessons aren’t necessary to get on a golf course but if your child is enjoying golf and wants to take it a bit more seriously then find a local golf club or driving range that conducts group lessons. They’re sometimes called Golf Academies. Kids golf lessons are relatively inexpensive, especially in groups. You can usually find them for as little as £5 per session.

Junior golfers are actively encouraged to participate by Golf Clubs and Academies countrywide. This is because, in order to grow the game, we need to encourage the next generation to play and keep playing.

7. Taking the plunge

If you’ve decided that you want to take the game a little more seriously, well enough to want to get your own clubs. I would strongly recommend that you get the right clubs for you. There are lots of people who will give you advice and some of it will be useful. Don’t be tempted to use a set of adult clubs either at full length or cut down.

This will only make the game too hard and you will lose interest very quickly as you won’t be able to make the ball go where you want it too. I would strongly recommend you get a set of junior golf clubs made specifically for the correct height. This means that the weighting of the club is correct and gives the child the best chance of developing a good swing.

There Are a few options out there from different manufacturers but my favourite are US Kids clubs. They make a selection of clubs from beginners to intermediate to advanced. They measure clubs based on a child’s height and go up to just short of adults clubs. (They also make ladies lightweight clubs if Mum wants to join in!)

If you’re in any doubt then please get in touch for some advice.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF GETTING YOUR CHILD IN TO GOLF?

1. Playing golf will make your child healthier

If your child plays golf just twice a month that could be around 4,000 extra calories being burned. Throw in some practice and that can be up to 5000 calories per month.

The average golf course from the red tees will be about 5 km. There aren’t many activities you can do to convince your child to walk 5 km these days.
It’s not just the walking that makes golf so good for your health but you’re also carrying or pulling your golf bag along which helps to burn even more calories.

2. Better decision making.

The strategy required to successfully navigate your way around a golf course requires great decision making. Everyone can make decisions but there are those who learn from those decisions and grow in confidence and there are those who hit and hope then repeat that process.

Good golf requires people to get their thinking caps on. It isn’t just about hitting the ball as hard as you can, it’s about calculating distances, using the right clubs in the bag for the job at hand and to best come up with a way to navigate that hole.

3. Learn new motor skills

Motor skills are movements of precise muscles, in golf the full swing uses gross motor skills, whereas short chips and putts require use of fine motor skills. Mastering the control of muscle groups is a skill that helps throughout all of life’s tasks from handwriting to having correct posture.

4. Golf can be played alone or with friends.

A great thing about golf is that it can be played alone. Perhaps not ideal for the youngsters, but going in to your teens, if you want to play and there’s no one around you can just get yourself out on the course.

Playing alone has several benefits, there are less distractions, there’s less waiting around, and all of your focus is on your game and how you can improve. Or you might just enjoy the peace and quiet. Either way you’ll probably be a better golfer for it. Playing golf with friends in a cracking atmosphere doesn’t have to be limited to your local course.

With the friends you make along the way, you can travel the world together playing in some stunning locations. Also you can challenge yourselves to play at some of the worlds most famous golf courses. Places where Tiger Woods or Rory McIlroy have wowed the world. Because unlike most sports some of the most famous courses in the world are accessible to us all. Imagine trying to book a game of football with your mates at Wembley or cricket at Lords, wouldn’t that be cool.

Golf is also great for meeting new people and creating life long friendships. At most golf courses you can play in competitions alongside whoever you put your name down with, whether that’s friends you know or friends you haven’t met yet.

5. Golf is affordable

Golf used to be expensive to play but from the year 2000 to today, golf memberships costs have been reducing. This isn’t surprising when you consider the amount of golf courses all competing for your membership. Here in the UK we are lucky enough to have a huge amount of golf courses, so the choice is endless when thinking about which club to play at or to join.

For kids there are some great deals available across the UK. Ask around and find out about what your local clubs are doing for juniors and see how much it is to get your child playing on the course. A lot of them even offer junior membership for free. After all, they are future paying members.

6. Junior golf is accessible and inclusive for kids of all shapes, sizes and ages.

Golf is a rare sport where you don’t have to be physically super fit to play. That’s not to say to perform at the best level you can just turn up and be a superstar but even unfit kids can get out and play on the golf course. It can be a gentle form of exercise that isn’t as intimidating to some kids as other sports.

Once a child becomes used to playing golf, they will be using their muscles more regularly which will help them to become better golfers and better athletes.

The best advice is to start small. Play shortened holes and see how things go. Junior golfers can lose interest if it takes 10 shots before they even get to the green. As they improve they will naturally hit the ball further, that’s when you can increase the length of each hole.

Once proficient at the game it’s up to your child how far they want to go in the sport. Again, unlike other team sports, with golf, if you’re good enough you don’t need to rely on a coach or manager to pick you for the team. If you’re good enough to qualify for events then no-one can stop you.

7. Competition is healthy.

Your kids don’t have to be the most competitive people in the world but you may want to help them to be the best they can be.

With golf you can try to be as good as you want to be. But if you can’t shoot under 80 you can still compete. You might not win your competition but you may have scored your best ever round. You may not win the monthly medal every week but you can aim to get your handicap down. Golf isn’t just about competing against others you can also compete against yourself and against the golf course.

Every time you step out on to the course you’re competing against your previous best scores. So every shot counts.

8. Getting hours of fresh air.

We all know the benefits from getting a dose of fresh air. Not only does it make you feel happier, but also fresh air helps to improve your heart rate and your blood flow.

Not just that, it also helps to keep your lungs healthy too. If you’re not ready for the full 18 holes, then 9 holes can still be a good couple of hours spent outdoors.

9. Become the next Tiger or Rory?

Who knows what your child could achieve with golf. The most important thing is to just let them enjoy playing. Don’t be the overbearing parent who’s forcing your child to practice too much. Just see how they go with it. I guarantee that the first time they hit a great shot they’ll be nagging you to go back for more.

Golf is awesome but it’s not a forgiving sport. Getting in to golf can be difficult for some players but with some guidance you can quickly develop into a good golfer. Although some players don’t stick at it, most do, and the wonderful thing is that it can be a game played from a very young age until long after retirement. So your kids could make life long friends playing a wonderful game.

Unlike most sports, golf can be played by players of all abilities competing on level terms due to the handicapping system. 12 year olds can compete against 17 year olds and have as good a chance of winning. That couldn’t be said for some other sports like football for instance.