Kids On Course: Keeping Them Interested

by Mitch Kaplan

Few things are as wonderful as sharing your own passion with your kids. As golfers, consider this: Can you imagine anything more rewarding than watching your child make a hole in par for the first time? Or sink that long, tricky putt? Or sit with you in the clubhouse and relive the day's great shots?

No, there's nothing like it.

Once you've got your kids interested in playing (see "Getting Them Started" article), how can you keep them interested?

ORGANIZED PLAY

Once you know your child has an interest in playing, it's probably time to look for organized play. This can take the form of leagues, junior camps, or specialized programs like First Tee or Personal Tee (see "Resources" article).

"It's good to look around for group programs, so the kids can make new friends who play, and later can make games with them," comments Ron Philo, senior director of instruction at The Otesaga Resort in Cooperstown, NY. "If a parent can't take them out to play on a regular basis, it's best for them to run around with friends. Group programs do that better than private-lesson programs."

At The Otesaga, for example, local kids can participate in a week-long program that offers instruction in the basics, such as grip, stance, etc., but, most importantly, puts them out on the course as teams with other kids. "We group them with different ages. A ten year-old feels great when he helps his team score a point."

"Organized play is very important," comments Jack Peter, vice president and chief operating officer of the World Golf Hall of Fame, an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, and an affiliate of World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida. "Kids need to have the discipline of an organized and structured environment - without being overbearing. As individual as golf is, it becomes lots of fun with a team atmosphere - like the Ryder Cup. Competition is good for them. Sure, you can play you against the course, but twenty foursomes competing for a grand prize adds an element of fun to it."

One way to include all these elements: Summer golf camps. These can be daily, weekly or, for the super-serious, even longer. They are staged at local courses - both public and private - and at destination resorts. "The key question to ask is how large are the groups" notes Peter. "The ratio of kids to instructor directly impacts the quality."

Peter also emphasizes the importance of actual golf course time relative to time on the practice range. "They need to practice on the range and do drills, but they still need to get out there and apply what they learn - even if only for three or five holes," he says. "They need little victories as they go." Younger and less skilled players should play perhaps three holes, while more skilled players should at least play nine. Some camps, Peter notes, offer optional full-play golf after lunch.

Visual learning, too, is important, according to Scott Sackett, director of instruction at the PGA Tour Golf Academy at World Golf Village. Look for programs that include video taping in their teaching. The more kids see what's going on, the more they'll get it. Plus, face it, kids love to see themselves on TV - even if it's just a home video.

Two of the better locally available introductory programs are First Tee (www.firsttee.org) and Personal Tee (www.uskidsgolf.com).

First Tee's mission is to create golf access for kids who might not otherwise have the opportunities. The program emphasizes life skills, trying to tie-in the concepts of integrity, honesty and sportsmanship, and to instill these values in youngsters.

Currently, First Tee operates at 85 facilities nationwide, with the majority in the Midwest and Southeast. "The program is for eight to eighteen year-olds, but can vary by individual locations," explains spokesperson Amy Caruso. "One facility, where parents wanted to allow fours and fives, created a three-hole course and developed the program to accommodate shorter attention spans. One in north Chicago allows kids as long as they're out of diapers."

Most facilities promote three, six and nine-hole alternative courses on which it's less intimidating to start, according to Caruso. Once the kids show proper fundamentals and etiquette, they're off to play eighteen. Each facility is supplied with loaner equipment, and the programs run all summer. "A child can come weekly, daily, whatever."

U.S. Kids Golf's Personal Tee Program takes kids through a comprehensive, well organized program. Courses are encouraged to install "kid-friendly" tees, set closer to the holes, effectively shortening long holes from 100-175 yards.

"This can allow a parent and child to play together," says company spokesperson Bill Bryant. "You can take a ten year-old to the course, tee off on a par-four, then ride down to the Personal Tee, - say one hundred and twenty yards from hole - and the two of you play in from there together. You both make fives and both feel good about it."

"We've developed a program for kids that clubs can use that goes from soup to nuts," explains Dan Van Horn, the company's founder. "You have instruction, fees, awards, access time, shorter tees on the course, a point system, age grouping, competitions and, most importantly, a curriculum that's progressive, like karate and skiing, that facilitates going from one level to next."

A series of eight booklets present a progressive curriculum. "You work with an instructor, and take classes with your peers (because the social aspect helps), but it's aimed at all levels," Van Horn says. Booklets can be purchased in retail stores, golf courses and online for $5.99 each.

"Remember with junior programs, there are twenty-five thousand PGA pros out there, and they're all teaching in their own way. Here, a parent can buy the booklet, and take it to the professional. Or, if you want to locate someone doing the program in your area, you can call us [888-3-USKIDS], ask for the Personal Tee Department, and we'll help you find someone," says Van Horn.

For competitive kids, the program offers state and world championships for ages twelve and under, with a tournament in every state.

If you can't find a First Tee or Personal Tee in your area, go to www.JuniorLinks.com, perhaps the most comprehensive listing of courses with kids' programs.

For resort settings, Ron Philo, Sr., and Dan Spooner recommend asking straight out whether the facility is not only kid- and family-friendly, but friendly to golfers of all abilities. "Some are so difficult, that it's not much fun for higher handicap players," Spooner points out. At The Otesaga, for example, a family of four can take two carts and tee times are made available, as long as kids are accompanied. In the afternoon, walking is permitted. "Ask," says Philo, "if there are any restrictions on kids."

EQUIPMENT

Unlike a sport like skiing, where kids' rental equipment is readily available at ski areas and from retailers, finding kids' rental golf equipment is near-kin to impossible.

When to invest in equipment? The answer is the same as for when to start 'em out: when they show the interest.

What to buy? Whatever you do, the experts all agree, don't take your old adult clubs and cut them down.

"Historically, people would just take adult clubs and cut them off (thus they were called 'cut-offs'), but that didn't serve kids' needs because they hadn't taken out any weight; you had the same clubhead size, shaft and grip," explains U.S. Kids Golf's Dan Van Horn. "Kids from four to twelve need smaller and lighter clubheads, shafts and grips, and more flexible shafts. They have to start with something they can swing."

The company has created a fitting system based on height - not necessarily age. "Most shops have pros qualified to do the fitting," points out Van Horn, "and we also supply height charts and color-coding to simplify things."

PowerBilt (www.powerbilt.com) also makes a line of junior clubs that come in boxed sets complete with a stand bag. They're sold in three sizes for different age groups and heights.

Thus, you can now outfit your child for about $25 per club with a set that will last two to three years, depending on height - and you'll be helping your child develop a proper swing, which leads to having more fun.

And fun, after all, is what will keep them coming back for more.

More on family golf here.