Where do I Take My Child to Play Golf?

Alrighty then, we"ve got a keeper in our child who exhibited some athleticism in his or her first several sessions on the range. Now, where can we take our kids to, actually, play golf?

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You've got a keeper!!

​Whatever you do, don't show up with your seven year old at 7:30 AM on a Saturday expecting an open armed welcome from your pro shop attendant!!

​Most players on Saturday morning are like rabid dogs as they protect those weekend tee times. The pro shop attendant will scoff you outa the shop.

Your best bet is to map out a hole in your back yard and if not big enough, head to a local open space, map out a hole or two and let your child go at it. Next search around and see if there's a pitch & putt or a six hole course around your area. Sometimes local clubs have a practice hole or a chipping area where, under supervision, you can let your child knock it around.

TRY TO AVOID THIS....

Now comes the time where you might be looking to get your child serious about playing the game. 

Depending upon the age of your child and we'd say, in general, to only attempt to get your child on a real golf course when he/she can hit the ball consistently without wiffing five or six times on each shot. And, at that point you're going to want to be on the course when no one else is behind you. It does pay benefits to get your child on the 'real' course as they get a better feeling of how the game is played, tee boxes, fairways. rough, bunkers, greens (putting and chipping), etc.

I recently had a golf course owner give me a great idea; take your kid our to the course (on a not so busy day). Have him/her play nine or eighteen holes from 40 yards in and see if the child can break 50 for nine or 100 for eighteen holes. Once he/she can do that, move 'em to 60 yards and play, etc.

Great idea, huh?

Once again, if you're witnessing a kid who is pretty good at the game, it's time to get him/her on the course and in a program that they can grow their game and comradery with others who are growing in the game.

I'm sure you've heard of the PGA Junior program as well as others like the First Tee.  The PGA encourages their PGA of America Professionals to keep a steady stream of youngsters flowing out of their golf clubs.  So, they, normally, conduct special instruction times for their members and through public courses the club would do the same. 

The PGA Júnior League (https://pgareach.org/services/youth/) is a fairly new program that encourages kids to join with others in a scramble format for competition and comradery. 

​The First Tee program was established many years ago now as an initiative of the Tiger Woods Foundation and many other "grow the game" initiatives to help inner city kids get into the game.  First Tee has grown more inclusive over the past few years.  They conduct regular programs to teach kids golf, but, include character development as a staple for their program.

Either way, getting your child into the next level of golf is as easy as sending an email or picking up the phone to learn more and get your kids into the game.

We, of course are developing our Golf Program in Schools (GPS). We have several locations now with our main emphasis in the Phoenix, AZ community.

We are hoping to have you engage with us her online in order to learn more about us so that we can create your young golfer into Greatness in their personal life with a loving God and their golf life through our on site programs. 

Check us out here

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