Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/309813
Also, teaching your child how to play golf can help them professionally in the future. Golf is a key networking skill in many industries. How many adults have you met who say they wish they had taken the game up earlier? There are several keys to helping your junior golfer want to play the game and stay in the game. Here are some tips that will go a long way to helping you introduce your junior to a great game that they'll play for life. Tip #1: Get Some Special Gear for Them Whether it is a new golf shirt, a set of junior clubs or even a kid-size golf glove, having special gear will make them excited to play. In particular, do not use adult cut-down clubs for your junior golfer. They will be far too stiff and your child will struggle with hitting solid shots that may turn them away from the game. Tip #2: Take a Cart Every Once in a While Kids love riding in a cart. There's a cup holder for a drink and it makes them feel like they're riding 'in style' in a hybrid of a Go-cart and a convertible. Typically the age is 14- 16 years of age for children to drive the cart but if you go slowly in the middle of the fairway with your junior on your lap it will be what they are talking about at school on Monday morning. Tip #3: Play the Forward Tees Have your junior tee it up from the most forward tees. This will make the course shorter and more manageable. Even though you may typically play from the tips, tee off for the first few rounds on the forward tee with your junior. It will make them feel special and part of the group. Even though you may typically play from the tips, tee off for the first few rounds on the forward tee with your junior. It will make them feel special and part of the group. BY LISA "LONGBALL" VLOOSWYK LISA LONGBALL TIP LET YOUR JUNIOR TEE IT UP EVERYWHERE ALL IMAGES COURTESY LISA/ANTON VLOOSWYK 20 How To Help Your Junior Love Golf As Much As You Do GIVE YOUR JUNIOR NICE GEAR Golf is a phenomenal life-long sport that you can play into your 80's or 90's. It creates fantastic family time instead of your junior sitting playing on their iPad or phone. Tip #4: Help your Junior Set Up Having a good set-up is key for a successful shot. Help your child aim at the target and have good posture (a flat back, not rounded, at about a 45 degree angle). Even tee up the ball for them the first few times so they get used to how high it should be teed up (typically you want to see half the ball over the top of the club if you are standing behind the player). Don't worry too much technically about grip and swing technique at first. Let them swing freely. Encourage them to finish with the sole of their back foot completely visible. Tip #5: Play a Scramble Format. Let Your Junior Tee Off and You Tee Off Too After each shot let your junior pick the best ball in the foursome to place his/her ball at and play from there. Continue this scramble format to the green. It becomes a fun game especially when your junior is picking between you or your wife/husband's ball on the green. It's a great opportunity for fun 'trash talk' and giggles. Tip #6: Tee It Up in the Fairway I don't know any pro that wouldn't tell a junior to tee it up in the fairway when they are getting started. Whether the player is using an iron or a fairway wood help your junior to tee it up in the fairway to make the ball easier to hit. The more success your junior experiences the more fun the game is and the longer they will want to play. Tip #7: Keep a Modified Score for Your Junior (their scramble score) This will help teach your junior what par is and how a score is kept. Take opportunities to talk to your junior about what the penalties are for hitting in a water hazard or out of bounds. Also teach them the general rules and etiquette of the game such as repairing a ball mark, marking their ball, putting from the farthest away, not walking on other players' lines, not talking when other people are preparing to hit a shot, how to rake a bunker etc… Hopefully these tips help your junior find a love for this great game! About the writer: Lisa is a 7-Time Canadian Long Drive Champion for women and is currently ranked top 4 in the World. Lisa is a Golf Entertainer at corporate and charity events and Keynote Peak Performance Speaker at conferences and meetings. Lisa can be reached through her website at www.lisalongball.com or on Twitter @LisaLongball.