Golf is a challenging sport. When compared to trying to learn how to play well later in life, however, it is far simpler to learn how to play well at a younger age. Although there are a variety of perspectives held by professionals regarding the optimal timing to introduce a young child to the sport of golf, there are numerous benefits associated with beginning a child’s golfing journey at an early age. With that being said, what is the best age to introduce your child to the sport of golf? Does it make sense to start your child too young?
The straightforward response is that there is no “absolute” optimal age for your youngster to start learning and playing golf. That is the plain answer. Children of virtually any age can be introduced to the game in some fashion and begin having fun right away. Although it is recommended to wait until a child achieves a particular level of maturity before adding specific learning activities, some children can begin having fun with the game right away. Children will develop a desire to learn more about golf and improve their skills if they are able to enjoy themselves while playing the game.
Not only can beginning your child’s golfing career at an early age provide a number of benefits, but those benefits are not confined to golf themselves.
More Likely to Play Golf as an Adult
Children who begin playing golf at a young age have a far higher likelihood of continuing to play the sport as adults, as stated in a report on junior golfers that was compiled by the National Golf Foundation. Naturally, you are probably familiar with the proverb that states, “In golf, just as it is in life, it is the follow through that makes the difference.”
Although there is no assurance that your child will develop a passion for golf if they begin playing at a young age, it is far more probable that they will develop a love for the game if they begin playing when they are young. They should be allowed to succeed and fail at their own pace, and they should be encouraged to participate in the development of enjoyable activities that will help them develop a greater interest in golf.
Ingrained Swing Mechanics, Increased Focus on Strategy
When children are young enough to learn how to play the game, they should receive tuition from a PGA Professional who is competent to teach them. In the event that they do, it is highly probable that they will establish a fundamentally sound swing that will be of benefit to them throughout their whole golfing career. By acquiring the appropriate basics at an early age, they will be able to avoid experiencing difficulties with swing mechanics as time goes on. The sound swing that they make will become imprinted in their brain, which will result in consistently good ball striking and lower scores. Because of this, they are able to shift their attention more towards the cerebral aspect of the game as well as the short game.
Learning Confidence … and Patience
Obviously, one of the most challenging skills for a youngster to acquire is patience, and as we are all aware, there are very few activities in life that put patience to the test more than golf does. In addition, as your child grows older, improves their skills, and starts to compete against other children their age, they will be able to draw from the knowledge they gained from their early beginnings in the subject matter. Through going through this process, they will achieve a greater sense of self-assurance.
To answer your question, what are the most essential aspects of the junior golfer that should be emphasised? However, according to the findings of a golf psychology expert named Dr. Ron Mann, there are seven particular concerns that stand out:
- Emotional control
- Focus and concentration
- Realistic expectations
- Perseverance
- Personal responsibility
- Self-worth
- Self-belief
These are all great lessons that transcend the game of golf.
In the Beginning
Of course, if you are interested in introducing your child to the game of golf, you can start at the beginning with plastic toddler sets or mobiles in the crib. The concept of the game is simple enough … according to one study, children can understand the spatial relationships between objects and apertures before they turn 2 years old, and few concepts are easier to understand than putting a ball in a hole.
As a parents, you should always:
- Keep the game fun: Create interesting games and don’t get overly concerned about the results.
- Provide the instruction at the right levels: Children are great mimics, and they will imitate what they see very well. Don’t get wrapped up in the finer points of the game too soon.
- Give kids the proper equipment: The equipment available for junior golfers is better than ever. For example, a 5-year-old doesn’t yet need the maximum of 14 clubs in their bag; in fact, many young children prefer hitting shorter almost exclusively over longer irons because they like getting the ball up high in the air.
Even when children begin to compete in genuine competitions (world championship tournaments begin at the age of five), it is prudent to keep things on the lighter side:
As youngsters get better at golf, they frequently begin to demonstrate a great deal of competence between the ages of 8 and 10 years old, and they frequently have the ability to dominate the competition in their age group. On the other hand, golf is a sport in which actual performance characteristics often do not appear until beyond the age of 14 to 15 years, which is when other youngsters reach their physical maturity. It is therefore important for parents to refrain from placing an excessive amount of importance on winning, regardless of the method. Ensure that the children are having a good time while maintaining a supportive attitude throughout.
Never Too Late PGA Tour player Larry Nelson didn’t start playing golf until he was in his early twenties, and several Tour players didn’t pick up a club until they reached their teens. Therefore, even if your child didn’t pick up their first club until they were in junior high school, they still have the potential to become a championship golfer if they are motivated and given the opportunity to do so. Naturally, if they delay, there will be a significant amount of work to be done in order to catch up. There is no way to dispute the advantages of beginning golf at an early age.
Can you think of any further advantages that would come with beginning your child’s golfing career at a young age?