8 year old first time on the golf course

[RaLos18]

I'm taking my son first time on the golf course tomorrow! He is very excited! He loves the game in every aspect. He was on the range more than 20 times since April, sometimes with me, sometimes with his peers from the school junior league. He knows basic rules and basic golf etiquette and has a good swing for a second grader (not my words but from a local PGA pro that saw him on the range couple weeks ago).
My question is: do some of you have any suggestion for me, should I give him some tips and points or should I just leave him to enjoy the game?
Do you have any golf wisdom's that you picked up from your father, grandfather or older brother?
Any input is appreciated!
Thanks!

[Grogger31]

My suggestion this first time out is to just ensure he has fun. Save the teaching for the range, as he'll have enough on his mind.

Joke him past the 1st tee jitters ... help him laugh off the bad shots and encourage the good ones ... make sure he's enjoying the beauty of the course ... and generally just make sure he isn't intimidated by playing on a real course.

Most importantly, remember he's only 8 and enjoy the day with him.

[FlopShotArtist]

Just have fun with him! Buy him some sodas(if he likes them) and just make sure he's having fun. Maybe buy an exploding golf ball for yourself to hit, he'll probably get a laugh out of it.

As someone said, just make sure you help him shake the bad shots and really encourage the good ones. Save the teaching for another time.

[cart_racr]

I took out my 8 year old nephew for his first game not long ago. It went pretty well.

We played all of the par 3's from 75 yards, 4's from 125, and 5's from 150. That worked out really well, both for pace of play and for confidence. I made sure to play from the same spot that he did. I did not want him to feel like he was watching me play all day.

[Three Putt]

I play with my 4 kids once or twice a week at a 9 hole exec.

ages 11, 8, 6, and 3. (the three year old likes the cart and plays in the sand boxes, with the "scooper" next to the tee's)

One piece of humble advice is to help the younger ones line up for shots and putts, they really enjoy getting it close to the hole (putts), and coming close to the green on approach shots. On long shots aim them as close as you can to the fairway according to their shot (slice most likely...or sometimes draw). They get discouraged hacking in the rough.

young ones really have no idea where they are aiming, being helpful will increase their fun 100%.

[907golfer12]

As cart-racr said, I would suggest having him tee up from say 150 or what ever, depending on how far he hits it to make it challenging and fun for him, because what 8 year old wants to play a 450 yard hole? Also as everyone has said, just make it fun, make it so he wants to come back, the more fun he has now the more he will want to play and work to get better as he gets older.

[shortgame85]

  Grogger31 said:

My suggestion this first time out is to just ensure he has fun. Save the teaching for the range, as he'll have enough on his mind.

I have three daughters. Two play currently. Grogger's advice is very good.

  Three Putt said:

I play with my 4 kids once or twice a week at a 9 hole exec.

Helping him line up shots may really help. I do it for my kids, ages 11 and 9. Most importantly, as others have said, put little pressure on your son or on

you . Do your best to insure you both enjoy the time you have to spend together. If you achieve that, he'll want to come back for more.