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Junior Golf


This year has been great!  A lot of work, but something I’ve needed to further my coaching career.  At my prior employment, the course was cart mandatory so junior golf was almost non existent. Now at a muni that has a great practice facility, junior golf is big.  This summer, I coached 2 13U PGA Jr League teams (24 players), ran (ongoing) 4 junior camps with around 40 kids each time, and the course held a Drive, Chip, and Putt qualifier.  

Prior to the year, I completed ADM (American Development Model) for golf and it’s something I use a lot.  A common conversation I have with parents is about how much instruction is needed for their kids.  At a certain age, we want to give kids the tool and just let them explore and swing out of their shoes to develop, physically.  They need to learn on their own how to have fun on the course.  We can give them games to play, but we shouldn’t force golf on them.  Then little by little, introduce new concepts, mechanics, etiquette, etc. so that we edge them in the right direction.  Some parents were hoping I was going give their 10yr old kid the best looking swing ever.  Not happening.  My goal is simple, create life long golfers.  If you want to become a really good player, we can do that after a certain age or development level.  I am not here to potentially burn a kid out of playing because they are working too hard.  

Next year will be fun.  There’s more things I want to do.

3 Comments


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Shindig

Posted

This sounds like a really rewarding part of your career.  I'm glad to hear it's working well.

  • Moderator
phillyk

Posted

1 hour ago, Shindig said:

This sounds like a really rewarding part of your career.  I'm glad to hear it's working well.

Sometimes can be hard when you see an 8yr old that can crank it and play well, and you want to do more. Got to remember ADM. Don’t want them to try so hard that they lose the fun of being out. 

bkuehn1952

Posted

Two thumbs up for your coaching/training of youthful players. My butt still hurts from the kicking you gave it!  

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