6 ways to get your kids interested in playing golf
It’s every golf lover’s dream to have their children follow in their footsteps and become a fan of the sport, but in today’s modern times, it can be tough to get your little ones to put down their iPad and pick up a golf club. Below, we’ve put together tips to help you get started….
Make it as fun as possible
It’s easy to get fixated on the little things, but you should try to up the fun-factor when you’re teaching your kids how to play golf. Rather than using balls, for example, you could use water balloons, so they get wet when they hit them. It adds an element of excitement and makes golf something much more family-friendly, especially for the particularly young ones.
Let kids make their own minds up
We all want our children to take an interest in sport and lead healthy, active lifestyles, but it’s important that they make their own minds up. Introduce them to golf but ensure that they can play other sports, too, whether that’s tennis or running. The more well-rounded they are, the more likely they are to get involved in golf as they grow and experiment with new activities.
Buy them some proper equipment
If you’re serious about teaching your little ones to play golf, buy them some age-appropriate clubs. Learning with the wrong equipment can make it hard to get into a sport, so head down to your local store (or if you’re on a golfing holiday, you’ll find some great golf shops in St Andrews Scotland) and get them fitted out. Sure, you’ll spend a little bit more as they’ll need to buy new clubs and equipment as they grow, but it’ll likely be a worthwhile investment.
Forget about the results
Don’t focus on winning or scoring – instead, let them have some fun and express themselves. They’re three – they don’t need to worry about their swing or how hard they’re hitting the ball. The truth is that it takes many years to perfect your golfing knowledge and find a style that works for you, so let them have some fun and the results will come in time.
Consider lessons
If your child is showing genuine interest in golfing, consider booking them onto both group and individual lessons so they can learn with others and one-on-one with a professional golf coach. Having both means that they get to work with others and make friends, without the worry of them getting left behind if they miss out during a group session. If you can’t afford both, consider group sessions and top them up with your own one-on-one training at home.
Don’t put it off!
The world’s best golfers started young, so don’t put off introducing the sport to your kids as soon as you think they’re ready. Sure, your two-year-old isn’t going to hit a four-iron to 20 ft immediately, but practice makes perfect, and starting them young will help them develop.
Do you have any other tips? Let us know in the News Blogged comments and check back soon for more advice on raising your kids to be their best, right here in the Lifestyle section.
