Kids and golf

[onewhippedpuppy]

Anyone have a kid that's into golf? If so, when did he get started? My 5 year old has been bugging me to go play but I don't want to waste money on clubs if its over his head. He's an athletic kid that enjoys sports, I personally think he could handle it. I'd like for him to enjoy the game, it would be something fun that we could play together. I'm sure we could both benefit from some lessons.

[gprsh924]

I started taking lessons when I was 7 or 8. I say the younger the better for learning to play. Find some used clubs and trade up when he outgrows them. I bet you could do about the same with clubs as you do with cars.

I was a pretty gold golfer when I was 12, then the other sports took over and I stopped playing/going to the range every day. Now I am not very good (20ish handicap), but have started playing a lot more. My buddy and I played 46 holes yesterday before the lightning moved in and we had to stop.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Anyone have a kid that's into golf? If so, when did he get started? My 5 year old has been bugging me to go play but I don't want to waste money on clubs if its over his head. He's an athletic kid that enjoys sports, I personally think he could handle it. I'd like for him to enjoy the game, it would be something fun that we could play together. I'm sure we could both benefit from some lessons.

If he is "bugging" you to play golf then get him out there. Start with low cost used clubs (Craigs list) and turn him loose with a couple lessons to get him started. Are there any golf leagues for kids nearby?

My son wants to play but we are already over committed with other sports. You have to draw the line somewhere...and I don't like golf so that was an easy one

[Racerbvd]

If he wants to play, do it!!! If he likes the game, you have gift ideas covered for life, plus if he gets good enough, he could earn scholarship to college, if he still keeps getting better, the buttom of the Tour players still earn close to $100K and add in the endorsements, he may never have to buy clothes or cars again.. Start slow, let him go at his own pace and if he still enjoys the game, take it up a notch

[Vipergrün]

heck, go to your local golf course, ask them if you can buy one of the lost & found clubs, may even give it to you if you tell them it's for your kid. Have the golf pro cut it down and throw a grip on it. Let yer kid hit some balls, then progress to a kids set. My 8 year old son loves it and is on his second set of clubs. When he was 4, he was watching Tiger play and said "I can do that". I had a club ready to go in 5 minutes. His first swing was perfect form

[Carrman]

Originally Posted by Vipergrün

His first swing was perfect form

Damn, that put you about $5K ahead of me!

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by Carrman

It's a fun, challenging game, but also can suck down a lot of time and money. Some of the kids he competes against are home schooled, for the sole purpose of giving them more time to golf. We of course don't take it that seriously, but he has given up baseball and a lot of "play time" to devote to making his game better.

Handsome son there Carrman!

My BIL is considering moving the family from SLC to AZ for 365 days of golf. His son, now 10, shares his Dad's passion for golf and plays 18 holes 4x a week. He has won many tournaments and when not playing is practicing in the backyard or basement.

Kids/parents getting really serious about a sport at young ages seems to be the norm these days. I have seen it first hand in baseball, football, and basketball.

[Vipergrün]

Originally Posted by Carrman

Damn, that put you about $5K ahead of me!

Yeah, but he's almost 9 now and likes to check out other people, bugs, whatever when making his back swing But, when he get's it, it does pretty well. He does not like the fact that I make him warm up with the sand wedge and putt every time..

[Carrman]

Thanks! 18 holes 4X a week is a lot. We try to do it 2X week, but even that is difficult. Part of it is I'm not a huge golfer (my boy crushes me every time, score-wise). My boy would play 4X per week if he could, but that's too much for me.

Yeah, a lot of kids are pretty serious about sports these days. Much more so than I remember as a kid. That's one nice thing about golf, unlike most other sports, it's not really a "dead end." 99% of kids who play baseball or basketball won't play at all once they are out of high school, or certainly once they are a full working adult.

I try to not put pressure on him, I tell him it's ok if he doesn't make the PGA Tour. A full scholarship to UCLA or Duke, and a few years of top 25 on the Nationwide is good enough!

[TechnoViking]

My Ex is a huge golfer. Our older son had a plastic golf set at 18 months and a real set with 3 metal clubs and a canvas bag at age 3.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Thanks for the encouragement guys. Off to Craigslist I go! I also recall seeing a kids golf set at Target, I might have to check that out.

[Carrman]

There are tons of jr golf sets on ebay.

US Kids Golf makes pretty good beginner's kids clubs. Here's just one random example of a complete set for $99 to your door:

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-US-Kids-PINK-39-27-complete-set-with-bag_W0QQitemZ270394930077QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGolf_C lubs?hash=item3ef4cb339d&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1546|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A13 18|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

[Heel n Toe]

Another source for used clubs: http://www.playitagainsports.com/

You've got two in town: http://www.playitagainsports.com/locations.aspx?s=KS

[Dave L]

Originally Posted by Vipergrün

heck, go to your local golf course, ask them if you can buy one of the lost & found clubs, may even give it to you if you tell them it's for your kid. Have the golf pro cut it down and throw a grip on it. Let yer kid hit some balls, then progress to a kids set. My 8 year old son loves it and is on his second set of clubs. When he was 4, he was watching Tiger play and said "I can do that". I had a club ready to go in 5 minutes. His first swing was perfect form

I have an old set of clubs and thought about cutting them down for my son who is 7. After doing some research I learned that this is a bad idea. A golf club is made to flex and bit and head will also be too heavy for a child. The example given was to imagine swinging a lead pipe because thats what it will feel like for a kid to swing a cut down adult club.

[craigster59]

Here's a 2 year old on the Mike Douglas Show. I hear he does pretty good now...

[widgeon13]

When he is old enough, see if there are any courses in the area where he can caddy, it's a great experience and he will learn a lot carrying for good golfers as well as make some money and learn golf etiquette as well as some bad words but he will most likely know then by that time anyway.

I had my first hole in one at 12 Y.O., took me 45 years to get the second.

[steve911]

Others are spot on that a 5 year old doesn't need a whole lot of clubs.
Wood
Iron
Putter

Go to a golfsmith/sports authority/sports chalet/other big box sporting retailer for a beginner set. They are based on height, then age. Don't cut down an adult set - they'll be too stiff as noted above.

I'd suggest starting at the local driving range - key is to make it fun for your son. Don't plan on more than a half hour - most five year olds want to move on to something else after that.
Also, see if you can find a putting green somewhere and go out and practice there. Start your son at a foot away and have him make a couple, then move back. Again, play a game to keep his interest.

Once you decide to progress to a real course, is there a par 3 you can go to? You can practice your irons and he can get the experience of 'real course'.
Resist the urge to have your son tee off from the reds. Have your son tee off from a spot 100 yards from the green. Our local country club calls it the one-hunty tee. A 5 year old will still be challenged to get to the green in a few, but its not nearly as daunting as trying to get there from 325 yards away.

I started playing golf with my son when he was 7 or so. He's now 13 and legitimately out-driving me 1/2 the time. We have a great time going out and playing together when he's not playing baseball or swimming or whatever other sport he's involved in at the time.

Most of all, have fun doing something together.

[dbrisson]

Thinking about trying to get my daughter into it. She is 4 and some change. She likes to help me practice when I am pitching in the back yard and has her own barbie plastic toy set. I am trying to figure out how to get her involved, maybe take her with me to the course on a practice round and let her putt? Reading the responses and thinking....

[KarlCarrera]

Personally the games not for me, but I do remember several summers (10-14 y/o) caddying for my grandfather, (he even purchased a "starter" set for my brother and I). I did learn a great deal, ( way more than I wanted, girls were way more important). The Tues. and Thur. mornings, the MG TD, & 9 holes. So all in all it was a great experience. I agree that 5 is not to young to learn, or experience the game. Have to agree with Widgeon as well. If he remains interested, caddying is a great way to make money, learn more about the game through differing opinions & techniques.

Side note... never saw the TD hit more than 4K on the tach, and it seemed to have that "tick" with the 'Smith's' (I think) gauges as it climbed. Looking back I will always love that memory.

Karl
88 Targa

[Racerbvd]

Do they even still have Caddies any more, none of the Clubs or course I play haver them, pretty much, everything cart..