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I love
teaching my juniors how to play golf. Sometimes I wonder
why I
don’t
teach adults the way I teach my juniors. You see, juniors
have this gift of mimicking the things that they see. I
can’t tell you how many times I have worked with a new
junior and asked them to make a swing. After they do I ask
them where they learned to swing so well and most of the
time the answer is quite simple. They say, “I saw it on TV
and I did the same thing”. Wow, so simple yet so complex
for us adults to understand.
 When
my daughter was two years old I would have her watch me
swing an imaginary club in the house and then ask her to do
the same thing. In a very short time I was amazed at how
detailed the motion of her swing had become from just
watching my swing. I feel that it is very important to our
juniors that instructors and parents keep information on the
swing as simple as possible. Remember, we are trying to get
juniors hooked on golf so they will have FUN and be attached
to a wonderful sport for a lifetime. That must be our #1
goal.
Yes, it is true that some will be able to take their
talents to the competitive arena and even get golf
scholarships, but nothing is more important then our juniors
having a passion for playing the game of golf for a
lifetime.
When I teach my juniors I try to use fun drills that are
easy to understand. I also have an extensive library of
swing videos of golfers from the early 1900’s like Harry
Vardon, Bobby Jones etc….. all the way up to present day
golfers. These videos are fun to watch and make the
learning process easy for them to understand.
I love to have the parents sit in on the lessons so that
they will have a clear understanding of how I teach their
child. It is very important that the parent know what is to
be expected after a lesson so that they will reinforce the
information learned with their child and not confuse them.
As parents understand the progress of their child’s lessons
it helps to bond the relationship that the family has for
playing golf at the club. Remember, we can not force golf
on our children and believe me, if it is not FUN for them,
they will leave the game as fast as a downhill putt on the
second hole at Oakmont, and believe me, that is fast. My
daughter loves to ride in the golf cart and pick up the
range balls. I may only get her to hit 50% of a bucket of
balls but as long as I have her near the course I am giving
her the opportunity to fall in love with the game.
Remember, they are young and we must let them PLAY. If they
want to throw some of the balls out of the basket and onto
the range that is ok with me. It’s give and take.
So what should you expect when signing your junior up for a
golf camp? Camps and Clinics are designed to introduce
juniors to the game of golf. This is not the time to expect
your junior to advance their skills over the course of a
camp. Camps will give your junior the opportunity to learn
some things about the game of golf, meet other juniors,
learn to compete, and most of all, have FUN. Mission
accomplished, they are hooked.
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