At the age of two, Rory McIlroy scored drives of forty yards or more. At the age of four, Michelle Wie began her golfing pursuits. When Phil Mickelson was three years old, he told people that he was going to run away from home and go to the golf course. When Lydia Ko was five years old, she began playing golf with her mother. Moreover, Jordan Spieth began his golfing career at the tender age of 18 months, when he began using “Little Tikes” plastic golf clubs.
It is generally accepted that physical ability, interest, and comfort are more important indicators of success when it comes to learning how to play golf than age. Even the most accomplished professional golfers began their careers at different ages and in a variety of different ways. Therefore, if you are wondering what age your child should begin playing, the answer to that question is not a set number.
As Soon As They’re Comfortable
“The truth is that they can begin as soon as they are comfortable swinging a club,” says Grant Shafranski, who is the director of instruction for juniors at North Oaks Golf Club and is associated with the Professional Golfers Association.
As far as Shafranski is concerned, children can begin “golfing” at any age. They are even able to participate in the course as soon as they show interest in it and possess the necessary motor abilities, which can be as young as three to four years old.
“It is never too young to encourage juniors to play this great game,” according to his statement. A youngster’s performance can be improved by using plastic clubs and wiffle balls around the house, as well as by using miniature golf clubs that are light in weight. However, there is no harm in providing kids with the opportunity to hit a golf ball with any club.
However, this does not imply that every young golfer who has the potential to play is the same. As a result of the fact that children have varying levels of interest, talents, and capabilities in the game, it is essential to be aware of the threshold that your child reaches in those areas.
As Shafranski puts it, “Every child is different when it comes to the age at which they begin.” When my boys were between the ages of three and five, they had excellent hand-eye coordination but not very good focus. By hitting plastic balls in the backyard, they gained a lot of knowledge about our wonderful sport while they were at home. My decision to expose them to the game of golf at the golf course was not only a little bit risky but also frequently and frequently stressful. The pleasure of green grass was something that they had to wait for for a while.
On the other hand, there are certain children who are drawn to the game like a damself (hook) to water. Until you put a club in your child’s hand, you might never know if they are ready to tackle the challenge.
“As a teacher, I have witnessed children as young as three and four years old who are able to comprehend and perform better than some thirty-year-olds!” As Shafranski puts it. Their expertise and transition to genuine clubs and the golf field will move along much more swiftly, which will be beneficial to them.
Regarding the question of whether or not your child should begin playing golf at home, the answer is open-ended; nevertheless, there are golf courses and clubs that may have a minimum age requirement for their programs.
For children to be eligible to participate in North Oaks’ junior camps and leagues, we recommend that they be at least six years old. According to Shafranski, the reason for this is that children who are six years old are normally capable of processing instructions, will be able to maintain their safety in a group situation, and are physically mature enough to have some kind of success.
It is similar to anything else that you teach your children at an early age: the more pleasure they have doing it, the more likely it is that they will continue to do it consistently. Therefore, when the time comes, take the necessary steps to locate appropriate equipment that is not too hefty for your child. If you make it fun and encourage it from the beginning, it could be fun for the rest of your life.
Creative Ways to Get Your Kids Started Early
Your kids aren’t training for the Masters just yet, so remember to keep the learning experience lighthearted and fun. While golf isn’t exactly the easiest pastime to pick up at any age,here are 4 creative ways to get your kids started early.
- Foster hand-eye coordination by introducing other sports. Sports like baseball, basketball, tennis, and volleyball are great places to start when looking for other sports to help improve hand-eye coordination for your kids.
- Introduce plastic clubs and balls at a young age. Whether they’re playing in the house or backyard, plastic clubs and balls is a way to familiarize your child with golf equipment. This can be soon after they learn to walk.
- Go mini golfing. Kids of all ages enjoy playing mini golf. It’s a low stakes (and low cost!) environment that is not only fun, but helps teach kids some great golf fundamentals, too.
- Bring them along to the range or practice green if they show curiosity. There are many fun family games that you can play on the course to get them started! Remember, this experience is for them, not you. Practice your game at a separate time so you can focus all your energy on your youngster.
- Play golf video games or watch golf on TV. It may seem backwards to step away from the green and head to the couch, but half of the journey to getting your children into the sport is monitoring their interest and increasing exposure without overdoing it.
Let Your Kids Blaze the Trail
Having the knowledge of how to get your children started with golf is beneficial, but it is equally crucial to have the knowledge of what will not work during the process. Developing an excessively technical approach to the sport or becoming obsessed with it could be detrimental to their development as a golfer. Because it is more important for them to get the experience when they are young, you should make sure to guide them with a light touch rather than pushing them.
When trying to determine what age is appropriate to introduce your children to golf, it is important to take things slowly, have a positive attitude, and allow your child to take the initiative.