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3 Big Reasons You Should Bring Your Little Kids Golfing

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child golf
Your kids might tee-up their ball on the fringe of the green, but the experience will be worth it! (Photo by Greg D’Andrea)

There is that kids age between understanding a game and being able to actually play said game that parents should not neglect. In golf, this is most likely children ages 4, 5 and 6 (and maybe 7). It’s a time when kids can understand the game, but are not physically ready to hit the links.

So with that in mind, I’m not suggesting you let your 4-year-old play a round of golf with you. Instead, I suggest you bring your kids along while you play a round of golf.

Now keep in mind, the notion of letting your child tag along during your round is somewhat controversial. After all, there are those who feel if you’re not playing, you shouldn’t be out on the course. And for the most part, they have a point. Allowing your kids, friend, spouse or other non-player (pet) tag-along with you on the golf course can be very distracting to other golfers. And in fact, some golf facilities don’t allow non-players anywhere near the first tee at all. (See my “Things to Consider” section below).

Then there’s also some folks who simply don’t want to bring their kids along. For many, golf is the escape from their everyday lives, not a continuation of it. And while I can understand that notion, taking your 4-, 5-, or 6-year-old to the course once in a while might be more important than you realize. Below are three such reasons.

Why you should take your kids to the golf course:

  1. Bonding with your child
    This is a perfect opportunity to spend some quality time with your kid. Even just a 9-hole round that lasts 2 hours is a world of time for your kindergartner. He or she will not only appreciate this adventure, but remember the experience to boot.
  2. Teaching them respect
    Golf is a game of respect and to a child, there are simple signs they will pick-up on. Being quiet when someone is hitting; learning about who has honors; never stepping in someone’s line. Through your child observing these practices (and by adding a simple explanation to each act of respect), you are encouraging respectful behavior both on and off the course. You might not think they are retaining much in that young brain of theirs, but they are definitely watching and learning.
  3. Creating a future golfer
    By exposing a child to golf at such a young age, you are sewing the seeds for a future golfer.  They may not all take-up the game immediately, but they will always be drawn to golf because of the experiences they had with their mom or dad out on the course. Sooner or later, you’ll have a new golfer in the family. And not only does that mean plenty of family time out on the links, but a new golfer to eventually pass the game on to the next generation.

Things to consider before bringing your kids out to the course:

  • For starters, always ask the course beforehand to make sure it’s permitted.
  • Try to go when the course will be fairly empty (late afternoon on the weekend or mid-day during the week).
  • Try to play 9 holes instead of 18 to appease their short attention-span.
  • Take a cart instead of walking. They’ll love riding in it so you won’t have to worry about chasing them around the course!
  • Never leave them alone in the cart! My son once tapped the gas pedal lightly, which unlocked the break and started him rolling backwards down an incline! Fortunately his uncle was right there and was able to jump in and stop the cart!
  • Ask the course to let you play solo (having a kid along might be a distraction to other golfers you’re paired up with).
  • Prepare to answer a ton of questions about “why” you do this or “why” you do that.
  • They will inevitably want to hit a few shots. Avoid having them hit off the tee or the fairway. Instead, bring along a putter his or her size and let them take a few putts after you finish each hole (always being aware to not hold up any groups behind you).
  • Finally, try not to express any negative emotion out there. You want your child to think of golf as a game that’s fun, not frustrating.

I’ve taken my son out with me on two occasions thus far – once last year when he was 4 and once this year when he was 5 and both times, he thoroughly enjoyed the experience. This year, he got to hit some balls on the range and he had fun keeping score after each hole.

Bottom line: Though my son is still a few years away from playing a round alongside of me, he will be that much more prepared (and interested) once the time comes.

Waiting For Golf To Begin Again

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A photo from the last time I played golf - December 2015 (photo by Greg D'Andrea)
A photo from the last time I played golf…December 2015 (photo by Greg D’Andrea)

Summer is officially here and I haven’t played golf once <sigh>. It’s sad, but true. What happened? Not so long ago, I would have played at least six or eight times by this time of year alone.

For all of you parents out there, you might understand my plight. I have two young kids (ages 5 and 3) and this spring we added a puppy to the mix. Ah puppies – you can’t help but to love them, but boy are they a handful (especially if you’re already chasing around a couple of pint-sized humans).

And after a decade of doing the same job, I started in a new position, in a new division at my company. It’s been an adjustment to say the least. The learning curve is steep and my days (for the first time in years) are long again.

And then there’s my golf buddy situation. Stinky Golfer Tom hurt his back in a car accident. He’s been at the chiropractor 3 days a week and his clubs might be dormant till 2017. Stinky Golfer Pete is working on the weekends again, so our schedules just don’t align. Stinky Golfer Chris is also dealing with a new job – a management position that has him working some pretty crazy hours. Coordinating a tee-time with him has been impossible to say the least. He says it should calm down in the summertime…so I’ve got that going for me.

Meanwhile, the kids have baseball most Saturday mornings and a few Sunday’s too. Weekend afternoons are spent either shopping, doing yard work or going to cookouts and needless to say, that leaves very little time for golf.

Not only am I itching to get out on the course because I miss the game, but I’ve also got GolfStinks work to do too! I’m really looking forward to heading out to this new par 3 course near me (and if you’ve read this post, you’ll know I don’t typically play par 3 courses). But I’m looking forward to it for a couple reasons: First, the course is among the top ranked par 3 and executive courses in the state. And second, I’m chomping at the bit to testing out these limited distance balls sent to me by Point Five Golf. I can’t wait to take out my driver on a 190-yard hole!

Sometimes I wonder if I’m just waiting for golf to begin again. I’m biding my time for that point in my life where carving out time for golf is no longer a hard thing to do. Maybe it’s when the kids get older or the job settles down. Or maybe, like so many golfers out there, the time to play comes when I retire. But I’m in my early 40’s – retirement is pretty far off. The thought of sitting around for a quarter century before I can play golf with any type of frequency leaves me with a giant pit in my stomach.

Of course the reality is this is all just a bunch of excuses. The bottom line is I simply haven’t gotten my ass out on the course…period. I could play 9-holes (or even 12 holes). I could head out as a single; pair-up with another single or latch-on with a twosome or threesome. Folks do it all the time and it’s a great way to meet new people. I could even ditch work for the day to play golf. But I haven’t. I’ve gone from weekend hack to a full-fledged member of the Tennis Shoe Crowd. It’s terrible.

So terrible in fact, that I’ve decided right here and now to play some golf over the next month or so. Now I’m not setting the bar too high – one 9-hole round will suffice. But it’s time to get out on that course and flub some shots; miss some putts and shank some drives. Because before I know it, the season will be over and I’ll have squandered an opportunity to do something I truly enjoy (no matter how much I stink at it). I owe it to myself. #operationstinkygolfergregplaysgolf

How to Plant & Grow the Next Generation of Golfers

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Keep it simple when introducing golf (CC-PD-Mark)
Keep it simple when introducing golf (CC-PD-Mark)

It’s no secret the biggest issue in golf (perhaps second only to slow play) is cultivating young golfers who will continue to play as they grow up. Believe it or not, this is our responsibility as adults and parents. We must introduce the game to our children in a way that sticks with them.

For example, kids need activities they can emulate in the backyard. Think about baseball, football, soccer and basketball – all games you can play in some form right outside your back door. You can throw the football around; kick the soccer ball into a practice net; play a game of Wiffle Ball; even erect a 10-foot high net to shoot hoops. But golf? Virtually unheard of.

When I was a teen, I would go outside with my pitching wedge and a few plastic practice balls. I would setup targets around my yard and pitch to them. Sure, I guess you could say I was working on my short game, but it was more than that – I was also playing a game – a mini round if you will. Friends would come over and play my backyard “course” too – we even printed out scorecards to make it official. But how many kids do this? We recently reviewed the backyard golf game, Bonzi Golf – this is one game that can get kids into the spirit.

Another idea is to simply give them access to your clubs. Whenever I have my clubs in the living room, my son is all over them. He wants to learn about what they are and how to use them. He’s only 3, but the interest he had in my clubs prompted me to buy a real putter for kids his age. He now asks to practice putting in the house so he can play along with me.

And here’s a novel idea: Take them to the course with you! Bring them along on a nine-hole round at the local muni. Let them sit in the cart or walk along with you. Even let them take a couple shots (maybe a putt or two). But the point is to introduce them to the game while letting them observe you (someone they look up to) enjoying themselves golfing. Of course, this means you can’t let your emotions get the best of you – if you hit a poor shot, don’t show your frustration. Just go out and have fun and they’ll get the idea.

And on the shots you let them take, perhaps swap a regulation ball out for one more forgiving, like the Polara ball for instance (stay with me here). When I spoke to the CEO of Polara, he mentioned letting kids begin by hitting the Polara since it’s much more forgiving. But be transparent – tell your child this is a “special” ball for beginners. The theory is they won’t get as frustrated and will keep at the game long enough to get hooked. Then, they can switch to a regulation ball. The CEO likened it to training wheels on a bike (makes sense to me)!

But perhaps the most important way to get kids to like golf and stick with it is to not make it so complicated! Keep it simple by just teaching them the basic rules and etiquette. There is absolutely no need to hand them a rulebook – instead just go out and play a round with them and then give them the basics as you walk through the course. If you’ve taken them out with you before they are actually playing (as I mention above), then they will already have a decent understanding of the game.

Unfortunately, exposing our kids to golf is not exactly top of mind. We keep our clubs hidden-away in our garages or in the trunks of our cars. And when we do play a round, we tend to leave our children behind. Meanwhile, golf on TV is (let’s face it) boring and there’s no golf little league for them to partake in. So it’s no wonder golf is something we tend to discover later in life (if at all).

If you’re a parent and a golfer, it’s on you to introduce your child to the sport. Buy them a backyard golf game; or show them your clubs. Let them tag along on your next round and when they’re ready to swing on their own – go easy on them with the tips and rules and all that other stuff we tend to overdo when we introduce someone to the game. Heck – even buy them a golf video game if you think it would get them interested.

The reality is, golf isn’t going to grow itself. And kids aren’t just going to gravitate to it. The solution begins with you.

Back When I Used To Play Golf

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Empty Golf Range
Empty Golf Range (Photo by Greg D’Andrea)

Back when I used to play golf, I would play roughly 30 to 40 times a year. That’s not too shabby considering I was married; owned a home; wasn’t retired; and lived in a state that was covered in snow a good portion of the winter.

Every spring (from roughly 2001 – 2009), I would create a schedule that would be passed around to my foursome (and one or two subs that would fill in from time to time). The schedule would include dates and locations of each course we would play.

And we would play a lot: 18 holes every other weekend and 9 holes on the weekends that we didn’t play 18. From April through most of November, my Saturdays (or Sundays) were spent on a different golf course within 1-2 hours driving distance from my house.

Since 2010 though, things have changed. That year, I played 15 times. 2011 was just 8 times. Last year, 14 times. And so far this year, I have yet to step foot on a tee-box (yes, I realize it’s already well into June).

So what happened? Well, the wife and I (a kid-free couple of 10 years) decided to, well…have kids. My son was born in 2010 and my daughter this past March…and I love them both to the moon and back.

But adding just one kid cuts into a good chunk of your leisure time. Adding a second (as I’m finding out) seems to cut into a much larger chunk than the first did!

The funny thing is I didn’t even really think about not playing until now. Seriously – so far this spring and summer we’ve been to an amusement park; a baseball game; two strawberry festivals; the zoo; the beach (twice); and the local natural history museum (twice). Golf? Not one thought.

Actually I take that back. I did text a buddy to play 9 one Sunday morning about a month ago. What happened? Woke up that Sunday to rain…go figure.

But I guess I really didn’t realize until now that I hadn’t played yet this season, which is strange considering I write for a golf blog. You would think it would always be in the back of my mind. But having kids has a way of changing you.

Now don’t get me wrong – I’m itching to get out on the links. This is the longest I’ve gone into a season without playing.

Yes, back when I used to play golf, I loved every minute of it. And the next time I play, I will love every minute of that too. It might be next weekend, or next April – who knows? But the bottom line is you never stop loving this game – whether you play once or 100 times a year, golf has a way of endearing itself to you.

In the meantime, I’ll settle for swinging at a practice golf ball with a plastic 7-iron a foot too short for me. Though it’s not too short for my 2 year old – it seems golf has already endeared itself on him. And that my friends, is the light at the end of the tunnel – soon enough (probably too soon), spending time with my kids will include spending time on the golf course.

How great is that?

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