I started my daughter on golf lessons this summer. She is only 5 but she seems to be consistently improving, and she loves her lessons. At her last lesson, she played a couple of holes. She got a 7 on a tough par 3, lol. For those of you who have gone through this with small children:
What do you do to keep them interested in the off season?
What is the next step?
Are there golf camps for children this young?

Some pics:
1st Golf Lesson

At East Hampton Golf Club

With cute female golf pro.

Having worked in the golf business and having been around junior golfers for 20 years+, here are some of my thoughts on the issue:

The #1 most important thing is DON'T FORCE HER TO DO IT. To keep her interested, take her to the range, or putting green, or even to the course to play a few holes when you go. Being around it will keep her interest...although if she already loves her lessons, it sounds like she will continue to want to go play and practice.

During the "off-season", once again, DON'T FORCE THE ISSUE, especially at that young of an age. Have you ever heard of burnout??? I've seen it ruin several good, young players on a few different occassions...parents who want their child to be the "greatest golfer ever", taking their talented pre-teenagers to tournaments and camps down South every weekend during the winter. Sometimes, the kids don't want to do it and it turns them away from the game. Kids have to be kids, let her have other interests during the off-season. If you want it to be part of her life during the off-season, buy a nice putting mat and a chipping net and let her use it when SHE wants to.

Another thing that is sure to keep her interested in the game is if her friends get interested in the game as well. Golf is more fun when playing with others...being the only pre-teen golfer at the club will get boring for her very quickly and she may go looking for other intersts to occupy her time.

Try to find local junior golf tours for her to play on if she wants to. Even though I'm out of the golf business now, I still run a local junior golf tour which we started ten years ago. This was our most successful season yet with over 140 kids ages 6-18, from four states, playing in six tournaments from mid June through the end of July. I have really noticed a huge increase in the interest in golf among the younger players in our area...one will play his first year, then the next year he's back along with several of his friends. It really helps to grow the game, the interest, and the competitiveness of the kids. But once again...DON'T FORCE THE ISSUE. Let her do it if she wants to.

And always remember to make it FUN!!!

Thank you. Good advice. I find I have to sit far away when she has a lesson because I tend to interfere too much. I just cant help it. She has payed holes at her lessons, and that gets her really excited about the game.

quote:

Originally posted by gasdoc:
Thank you. Good advice. I find I have to sit far away when she has a lesson because I tend to interfere too much. I just cant help it. She has payed holes at her lessons, and that gets her really excited about the game.

You bring up another good point...DON'T INTERFERE WITH WHAT THE PRO IS TEACHING HER!!! And don't try to offer any advice to her...that could frustrate her to the point of not wanting to play. I know those things are very difficult to do as a parent but trust me, it will be for the best.

Good advice. Another thing I've done with my 8 year old, is let her have fun with all the surroundings.

My daughter's biggest enjoyment from going out early on was playing with the ball washer. She was fascinated. That was fine by me - whatever the reason, she was outside with dad.

She also digs it when I let her drive the golf cart - middle of the fairway only, with me snuggled up close ready to take control if needed.

Finally, buy her some cool clothes. She'll want to show them off by going out more.

Yeah, buying her the clothes got her really excited about it. She couldn't wait for her first lesson so she could wear the plaid hat she picked out. lol.