RECOGNIZING YOUR CHILD’S POTENTIAL IN GOLF

From:

Frank Mantua, Dirtector of Golf, US Golf Camps

One of the greatest things about golf is that you can play the game your whole life. Being able to start the game at a young age is also a big advantage. How many times have you heard adults say, "I wish I would have  started at his age." Learning the game of golf at a young age is obviously a good thing and playing good golf at a young age is even better. The question for many parents is whether their child is just a good player, or does that child have a chance to be a great player. Recognizing a junior golfer's potential isn't easy, especially if the parents aren't golfers themselves. The first thing to remember, before we even talk about a child's  otential, is encourage-ment. All juniors start golfing because someone encourages them to play the game. It may be a parent, friend or coach.

This encouragement, along with access to clubs and a course, is the key. So remember to encourage the junior throughout his or her career. When looking for potential in junior golfers, you have to remember that each junior is going to grow and learn at different rates. Some junior golfers don't score as well simply because they can't hit the ball as far as other kids their age. Many times that's just because they're physically smaller. So when you're looking for your child's potential at a young age, don't just look at their scores. Watch how they play the game, see how they chip and putt, and look at their shot selection. A short-hitting junior usually has a pretty good short game.

They realize they can't hit as far as the rest of the players their age, but they have also figured out that they can make up for it by chipping and putting well. Many juniors understand the game instantly, while most kids are just trying to hit the ball as far as they can. That is a sign of real potential.