Golfing with the youth

[hdaddy 17]

Any advice appreciated...I'm considering taking the 8 year old out on the course this weekend. It would be just me and him for a round of golf or as much as he/ we can endure. He is probably what I would call intermediate as far as skill. He has attended some golf clinics over the year and we have played the short holes at a local driving range as well. My question(s) are when is the best time to tee it up so we don't get paired with another couple? I don't want them to think that we are holding them up while I give some/ limited instructions to my son. Also any idea what tee box he should be hitting out of? Any other bits of advice will be appreciated.

[drobeski 3,061]

Take him to the nearest par 3 course

[Mungwater 588]

Ask his real dad

[porkbutt 861]

he should use whatever tee and bathroom he feels comfortable with.

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

My son is now 15 and is on the HS golf team. He plays from the same tees that I do now and he is close to beating me.

 

When he was younger, I would take him out in the late afternoon on Saturday's and Sunday's. Check for courses that offer junior rates. Start him at the 150 yard marker and have him play in from there. On par 3's, have him play from the closest tees you can.

 

Be patient, be positive with feedback. Tell him rules as you are going along, but not the obscure ones (yet).

[Cruzer 1,992]

* Do NOT take him anytime before noon. The courses will be busy with it a 3 day weekend and all... I'd suggest sometime between 3 and 5 p.m.

* Let him play as far up as he can go... 1 - it will speed things up. 2 - it will give him the best chance to avoid trouble and get to the green in a reasonable amount of strokes.

* Do all the teaching and fun you want - as long as you don't hold anyone up. Let anyone and everyone who wants to play thru go.

* Don't overload him with 14 clubs.. Give him a fairway wood of some kind and like a 5, 7, 9, wedge and putter.

* Make sure he understands the basic elements of etiquette - especially in terms of taking care of the course.

* Have fun, but work and focus on your game later - remember this is about him.

[patweisers44 697]

Agree with PatsFat. let him play from 150 in, but also let him play from the shortest tees on the par threes. This will allow him to learn the tee box etiquette as well as the rest of the course. Teach him all the stuff around the greens, when to remove flag, where to place it, how to mark his ball, where to walk and not to walk, make sure you knock sand out of your spikes after you leave the bunker so you don't leave it all over the green. And for God's sake, NO SUNFLOWER SEEDS ON THE GOLF COURSE. My goal is to punch every fockstick I see on the course chewing on seeds.

[Patriotsfatboy1 1,432]

Oh. Here is another lesson I learned. Don't just give him hand-me-downs of yours or cut down clubs. Little kids need junior clubs because they are lighter weight and have a little more whip in the shaft. As Cruzer stated, you don't need a full set. My son used to had like 2 irons (5,7), a hybrid (4), a driver, a sand wedge and a putter. Smaller bag as well. You can get them cheap online or see if someone is trading them in on Craigslist. You can also buy them one at a time.

 

I am just finally getting my son his own set of clubs. He is using an old driver of mine and some irons. I bought him his own putter (better than mine), his own bag (better than mine), a new sand wedge and a new hybrid (4).

 

Don't spend a ton of money until you are sure that he is into it.

[TD Ryan2 314]

take him late afternoon

make sure the course is quiet - better chance you can go out as a two-some

talk to the starter, tell him you're teaching your kid and not to worry, you won't hold up pace of play.

don't play seriously for yourself - maybe play a bit, hit a bit, but focus on him and getting him through the course.

 

I have a blast with my kids when I take them out - it's a few times a year - each year in particular we have a "family day" tournament - lots of families/kids out that day and the "real" golfers know to stay away... they practice in my yard a lot with wiffles, playing against each other. This is one of my favorite clips from last year (then ages 9 and 5). I'm a terrible golfer, but I think if the kids enjoy it, they could be good at it someday.

https://www.facebook.com/100005362562075/videos/428658180656264/

 

 

EDIT: to agree with the limited number of clubs - my kids use three to four clubs: a driver, a long wedge, a short wedge, and a putter. That's it.

 

And, I put it on a tee for them in the fairway and rough. I just want them to get comfortable hitting it, so I make sure they have a perfect lie.

[hdaddy 17]

Take him to the nearest par 3 course

We only have one in the county and it is in the higher end part of town, ocean side. I'm worried about what kind of rich priks go there and if we shank a ball, I don't want it hitting a Bentley.

[edjr 5,564]

stop being poor and play in your grandparents back yard (like I did)

[kilroy69 994]

My gfs family owns a 9 hole par 3 golf course and I take the boy out all the time at 2. He loves it and hopefully he takes to the sport.

[TD Ryan2 314]

We only have one in the county and it is in the higher end part of town, ocean side. I'm worried about what kind of rich priks go there and if we shank a ball, I don't want it hitting a Bentley.

that suxor - the lower rent, short courses, play9-twice for 18 types are better... no Shooter McGavins there and those courses are happy to have the hackers, old-timers, and newbies - they don't even want the superstars that can drive the greens and complain that the course isn't in good shape or "boring" or "too short".

[hdaddy 17]

Thanks for the pointers all. I'll take him some time after 3pm this weekend. He has one of those Tommy Armour club sets for juniors. I think it only has 5 clubs total. Should be a good time in the mid afternoon Florida sun.

[hdaddy 17]

take him late afternoon

make sure the course is quiet - better chance you can go out as a two-some

talk to the starter, tell him you're teaching your kid and not to worry, you won't hold up pace of play.

don't play seriously for yourself - maybe play a bit, hit a bit, but focus on him and getting him through the course.

 

I have a blast with my kids when I take them out - it's a few times a year - each year in particular we have a "family day" tournament - lots of families/kids out that day and the "real" golfers know to stay away... they practice in my yard a lot with wiffles, playing against each other. This is one of my favorite clips from last year (then ages 9 and 5). I'm a terrible golfer, but I think if the kids enjoy it, they could be good at it someday.

https://www.facebook.com/100005362562075/videos/428658180656264/

 

 

EDIT: to agree with the limited number of clubs - my kids use three to four clubs: a driver, a long wedge, a short wedge, and a putter. That's it.

 

And, I put it on a tee for them in the fairway and rough. I just want them to get comfortable hitting it, so I make sure they have a perfect lie.

That is awesome! I'm going to have to shoot some video now!

[hdaddy 17]

My gfs family owns a 9 hole par 3 golf course and I take the boy out all the time at 2. He loves it and hopefully he takes to the sport.

 

 

that suxor - the lower rent, short courses, play9-twice for 18 types are better... no Shooter McGavins there and those courses are happy to have the hackers, old-timers, and newbies - they don't even want the superstars that can drive the greens and complain that the course isn't in good shape or "boring" or "too short".

I used to live in a suburb of Tampa that had a 9 hole par 3 course. Any and all types would play there. Would have been really handy here but we'll find our time to where it isn't too crowded at a course.

[TD Ryan2 314]

That is awesome! I'm going to have to shoot some video now!

use your smart phone or a GoPro... and delete the mis-hits... when the day is done, and you're in the clubhouse or at home, talking about the day with them, show them the clips - show them how awesome they did! Fills them with confidence.

 

My kids LOVE the game... no stress, no effort, only fun... completely the opposite of my game - I teach them to behave on the course, respect the tee boxes and green, respect other golfers, and most importanlty, BE SAFE - be aware of people teeing off!.

 

But fun is the focus... no bad lies and if they want to hit over the water (and they always do) I let them (splash!) with the agreement that we'll have to pick up and walk ahead to keep up pace of play.

 

Here's my daughter hitting over water (made her whole day - look at her face after the shot - only takes one good shot):

https://www.facebook.com/TomRyanFamily/videos/503775466477868/

 

And here's my boy on an elevated tee:

https://www.facebook.com/TomRyanFamily/videos/503375193184562/

 

 

So, like I said -- I don't actually play much when I'm out with them - a few swings here or there - I mostly guide them around, take video clips, and (if the course isn't too restrictive) let my 10 year old drive the cart a bit (her all-time favorite thing to do).

 

Have fun out there - but don't go to an ass whole course - go to a place starving for business that is just happy to have paying customers.

[edjr 5,564]

use your smart phone or a GoPro... and delete the mis-hits... when the day is done, and you're in the clubhouse or at home, talking about the day with them, show them the clips - show them how awesome they did! Fills them with confidence.

 

 

 

don't forget to give him a trophy too!

 

[Reality 2,710]

While practicing at that age, start from the green and work your way out.

 

Putting, chipping, full swings.

 

In an actual round, drop a ball for him about a 100 yards out. Work from there, be patient, he'll thank you in 20 years.