How young is to young?

**jcrob902** · January 1, 2009

I just bought my two year old a driver he already had a putter, not trying to make another Tiger or anything, he shows interest and is always trying to play with my clubs,any tips to get him started in the right direction.
Thanks

**Mr Taylormade** · January 1, 2009

all he can really do is grow interest now. he wont have a proper swing that can be trained until he is at least 6. keep feeding him praise and keep him swinging and interested in the game. lots of people start golf at 2 or 3 but a lot arn't kept interested and give up.the ones who stay going are the tigers

**jcrob902** · January 2, 2009

Thanks I'll do just that.

**zeg** · January 2, 2009

I'm in the same place you are. Just got my 2-y-o a 7 iron. Then I asked my father to get a little putter for him, and he ended up getting a little bag with driver, 9 iron, and putter... not sure we really need it, but he likes to carry the bag around. He uses the driver as a "vacuum cleaner" mostly. We also got him a box of wiffle ball golf balls to hit at the park.

Like you, I'm not trying to make him a golfer, but whenever I had my clubs around the house he'd pull out balls and liked to play with the clubs. We now bring his clubs to the park and if he wants to play around with them, he gets to. But I'm going to try very hard not to push him to play.

I suggest taking a look at Earl Woods' book, "Training a Tiger." I found a philosophical nugget I liked in there. He points out that most kids (well, most American boys anyway) grow up with baseball gloves and baseballs from a very early age. As a result, the right way to throw a baseball is ingrained -- and it's usually obvious when you see someone throwing a baseball who doesn't really know how (they throw "like a girl"). His hope (and mine) is that his son would grow up instinctively knowing how to swing a golf club. Obviously it worked out for Tiger... But Earl Woods claimed he never pushed him to play, and rarely even asked him -- Tiger was always begging to go along! That is the ideal.. if you have to force 'em to play, they're just going to resent it.

**Parker0065** · January 2, 2009

Be careful what you wish for,,,lol...just kidding.

My son is 11 and is a complete golfaholic. He's had clubs around ever since he was 18 months old. Mostly they were the plastic ones but he always liked to get into my bag for the real thing. I've got this awesome picture of him when he was around 2 he got a 1-iron out of my bag and was trying to swing it, it's priceless!

As far as the swing mechanics part of the game I have let the pro guide him. He started junior clinics around age 6 and last year at age 10 was his first season in our Regional Junior Golf Tour. I never pushed him into the game at all but it was definitely one of those things where he always seen me swinging a club around the house and he wanted to do the same. My best advice to you is let him have fun with it and if he is still interested when he's old enough to start junior clinics get him signed up and let him work with a pro. Who knows, you may end up with a golf crazed kid as well!

Good Luck!

**ks8829** · January 2, 2009

if you putt or chip around the house or in the backyard your son will want to try it also.

putting and chipping are great ways to get your son started.

**PiKapp23** · January 2, 2009

When it comes right down to it I don't think anyone is too young to at least play around, especially if Dad, or Mom or Grandfather is a golfer. I think it's too early for lessons (my teaching pro Dad didn't believe in giving lessons to kids under 7). As long as there is no pressure and it's just about having fun. At his age, I don't even think tips are a good idea. He'll just pick up the club and kind of emulate you (don't be surpised if everything is backwards like a mirror image at first - this is normal). If you're lucky, as he gets older he'll really show an interest that will stick with him, but you never know. Most Dads are giving their baby boys balls (baseballs, baseketball, footballs, etc) to play with practically right out of the womb anyway.

Check out this video, which is kind of relevent to this topic (it made me laugh):

http://videoeta.com/movie/110678

**Matt P** · January 2, 2009

Half your age plus 7

Oh wait...wrong topic.

Can't be too young to start generating a interest. Harvey Penick says give a child a putter and one ball and start from there. When they get good at that add a wedge...get the child putting the ball in the cup everytime. Take a look at his little red book for some more insight.

My 3 1/2 year old boy loves to pull the putter out occasionally, he dosen't hit it like I showed him, but as long as he is having fun with it, its great.

**jcrob902** · January 2, 2009

I'm in the same place you are. Just got my 2-y-o a 7 iron. Then I asked my father to get a little putter for him, and he ended up getting a little bag with driver, 9 iron, and putter... not sure we really need it, but he likes to carry the bag around. He uses the driver as a "vacuum cleaner" mostly. We also got him a box of wiffle ball golf balls to hit at the park.

Wow, the old vacuum cleaner, my son has done the same thing many times it's pretty funny, and thanks I'll check the book out.

**jcrob902** · January 2, 2009

Thanks everybody for your input.
Jeremy

**Tristan** · January 2, 2009

i personaly wish that i started earlier. Take him onto the putting green and get him the feel of a putter and chipping then gradually build upwards. The most important thing is to install the fun and antipication of playing golf. Even if he does pack it in he may pick it up later in life and remember those times when he played with you. i know that the best times i have with my dad and brothers are out on the golf course

**mirv** · January 2, 2009

there are a bunch of kids in the neighborhood i live in, aging between 4 and 12, and it never fails - if i'm out in the yard chipping around, they'll all make a beeline my direction and be all "HEY MISTER! CAN I HIT A BALL?" they all also talk a Lot about tiger woods games on playstation. i guess that's where they get the inspiration.

**Pinseeker81** · January 3, 2009

I'd say if they're too young to stand on their own they're probably too young to golf. Laying on your back just promotes a far too shallow swing plane and they'll hook it all over the place.

**Petden** · January 3, 2009

I'd say if they're too young to stand on their own they're probably too young to golf. Laying on your back just promotes a far too shallow swing plane and they'll hook it all over the place.

LOL, nice answer.

**jcrob902** · January 3, 2009

i personaly wish that i started earlier. Take him onto the putting green and get him the feel of a putter and chipping then gradually build upwards. The most important thing is to install the fun and antipication of playing golf. Even if he does pack it in he may pick it up later in life and remember those times when he played with you. i know that the best times i have with my dad and brothers are out on the golf course

Yeah,I'll do that as soon as the snow melts for good

and I agree even though my dad has a terrible attitude about how he plays I still have more fun playing with him and my little brother than anyone else, it's like it just means more to be out there,ya know , even though I have to break them up about 9 out of 10 times we play.

**jcrob902** · January 3, 2009

[QUOTE=Pinseeker81;242441]I'd say if they're too young to stand on their own they're probably too young to golf. Laying on your back just promotes a far too shallow swing plane and they'll hook it all over the place.[/QUOTE

so starting them while there still in the bouncy chair is out of the question then?

**Leonardite** · January 3, 2009

I'm in a similar situation come summer. My son turns 3 in February and he has plastic clubs and balls that he hits around the house endlessly. I'm hoping to get him out to the putting green and get him a real club and ball and see what he thinks. Hopefully it can remain fun for him, and it can become our father/son time. It'll get me a free pass out of the house and gives me a companion when I'm used to golfing by myself if it pans out well.

I would say 3-4 isn't too young to get them out on the course during slow times or just to ride along, but don't push them. Let it be fun, don't worry about any mechanics or even if he/she hits the ball, but try to let them have fun. Last year when my son was 2 1/2 he had more fun pretending to drive the golf cart and running up and down the fairway then he did hitting his practice balls around. I would just try to keep him from hitting anybody with the club, or even worse, hitting him/herself with the club.

**jcrob902** · January 7, 2009

I'm in a similar situation come summer. My son turns 3 in February and he has plastic clubs and balls that he hits around the house endlessly. I'm hoping to get him out to the putting green and get him a real club and ball and see what he thinks. Hopefully it can remain fun for him, and it can become our father/son time. It'll get me a free pass out of the house and gives me a companion when I'm used to golfing by myself if it pans out well.

I'll take all ofyour advice to heart ( that is all from everybody who posted and thank you) I've kinda strugled with this as I'm an avid golfer and equipment junkie (if it's from anywhere to brand new to 50 trs old I want to hit it ) my son just happens to be mixed I'm white and my wife is black so I get alot of the Tiger references like just because he's mixed I'm just gonna magically make him Tiger, but in reallity I'm looking for the same thing father son time in a like minded atmosphere and sport and a get awayfrom work and the house with my best buddy so I'm thankfull for the positive feed back. God I love most golfers. lol

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How young is to young?

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