14 Year Old Son Playing On The High School Golf Team

[JonnyGolf]

In regards to this, I think it's important to understand that he probably has a lot of other stuff going on right now. School is tough enough as it, social life included. He may just want to take a relaxed approach to golf. If he's not pursuing a professional career, then I don't know if he's "wasting" his time not practicing. I don't know the circumstances, but I'd say that your son probably has a lot on his plate right now, especially with college looming.

Ahh, he's not even motivated to do well in school, so he'll be heading to jr. college after HS. My daughter, who played water polo, had a lot on her plate. I could excuse her if she didn't play to the limits of her athleticism. My son, other than keeping up Internet, not so much.

[thr33]

congrats! In MN we have great golfers few and far between but during my junior season we had a seventh grader make the high school squad, and he played #1 spot varsity. He even won all-conference in his first season, and had a scoring average of under 80. Kids are getting better at a younger age, and I can't wait to play with this kid for my senior season this year.

lol this reminds me of the day I walked onto my local muni and got paired with a 12 year old that schooled me. The kid was probably not even five feet tall and shot a 71 or something ridiculous that day.

[bogeyhitter25]

Good luck to your son. I really improved last year (my first full year of golf). My average was 46.3 I think.

[PEZGolf]

My 14 year old son has finally decided to play for the High School golf team. The secret was to convince his other 2 friends to join the golf team and keep him company.

Best of luck to him. When my son was in 7th grade, and was 13, he tried out for the golf team and made it. He was the #2 player that season and #1 thereafter. Naturally, we were proud of him and he was well accepted by the team, and the guys were Co-Champions of the League for his last 5 consecutive seasons. What surprised me was that in New York State at that time, a 7th grader trying to play on a varsity team had to go through a series of physical tests to prove that he had the physical ability to play at that level. He had to do chin ups, run a mile within a time limit, do push ups, and had to do a standing broad jump for a minimum distance of 6', which proved to be the most difficult of all the exercises. He barely beat the 6' mark. I questioned the Athletic Director about the need for this test. He said a young man who wanted to play any varsity sport---including football and wrestling, had to pass the test in order to be allowed to try out. It was designed to protect the school from being pressured by parents to allow an athletic son to try out for a varsity team and injure himself because he was not physically ready for a varsity sport. He admitted that chin ups and the standing broad jump had nothing to do with golf, but they were part of the mandatory tests. Thank God that he trained for it, and did pass it. It sounds as if your son has a lot of ability and loves the game. Playing on the school team will be a good experience for him.

[ks8829]

My son played 8 Holes at the local course and had a chip in birdie and a par mixed in with several boogie and double boogies. I spied on him hiding behind bushes and driving my car ahead of him to watch him play in secret.

[JonnyGolf]

My son played 8 Holes at the local course and had a chip in birdie and a par mixed in with several boogie and double boogies. I spied on him hiding behind bushes and driving my car ahead of him to watch him play in secret.

That's so funny. My son will crumble under the pressure he feels when I watch him. So, I try to stay away when he is playing. But, I've never hid in the bushes.

[PEZGolf]

That's so funny. My son will crumble under the pressure he feels when I watch him. So, I try to stay away when he is playing. But, I've never hid in the bushes.

Boy, what some Dads will do. I remember when my son was playing in the Finals of the Junior Club Champioship for the first time. We had "season's passes" at a public course owned by a gentleman and his wife. On the first tee, the owner's son looked at me and the other Dad, and said, "No Dads on the golf course during the match. Just let the boys play." So the other Dad left, and told his son to call him when it was over. I was not to be stopped so easily. The sixth green and seventh tee are near the property line. I parked my car on the nearlby street, sneaked through someone's yard, climbed up the steep hill, which is wooded, and positioned myself to watch them play the sixth hole. As they arpproached the green on the par 3 hole, I emerged from the woods. They both thought that was funny that I had put one over on Steve, the owner's son. I wished them both the best of luck,and then accomplished my mission----I looked at my son and silently indicated that I wanted to know how the match stood. He did a hand signal to let me know that he was 2 up. Then, I left, and waited for John to call me. When I arrived to pick him up, I naturally expressed surprise at the outcome---that he had won 3 up.

[ks8829]

He shot 50 for 9 holes but it also included one par and a chip in birdie, so its a start. another freshman shot 5 over which was bad for him and will be moved up to play with the Varsity upper classman.

The coach said my son has a nice swing, I am hopeful that if he stays with the team he can only get better since they practice everyday except the weekends.

[kingofcars08]

Yes, good guess. Does you kids go to SH? Is he on the golf team?

No no kids, Im only 22. My best friend went to SH for two years before moving up to Northern Marin to go to my school, that was about 6-7 years ago.

What is their home course?

[DBeane]

Congrats...

My only thoughts would be to help him keep his emotions in check. That used to kill me in high school and college golf. I would get mad and it would take me 3-4 holes to recover. Looking back I realized my expectations were a bit high for a new player.

Again congrats, I hope he enjoys it.

[ks8829]

My son hit my 15 degree R7 well so I lost another club out of my bag. We switched putters also, he has my Newport 2 and I got the Never compromise back. My son likes the Newport 2 he had only 14 putts for 9 holes yesterday. I noticed he's learned to use the wedges, he got up and down more time than I did yesterday.

Round of golf with your kids, priceless! Also, I heard that if you are part of the First Tee program you can get a discount cards for the kids so that they can play courses for a huge discount.

[too keen to young]

Hi the golf opportunities over in the U.S sound great and congrats to ur son I myself am 14 and wish i could play as much as it sounds like your son is. I was reading ur thread and saw that ur son goes to sacred heart and guess where i go?? u got it sacred heart all the way in australia

[ks8829]

Hi the golf opportunities over in the U.S sound great and congrats to ur son

There are many great golfers comming from Australia, there must be a great junior program

[bogeymike]

My best advice would be to encourage him to have fun. I took it WAY too seriously when I played hs golf and it took a lot of the fun out of it. Beating your rival school's brains out is always fun though!

[Grndslmhttr3]

Hmm, golf for my school is in autumn. Regardless, it is an awesome experience. For us, we get free Pro-V1s, and free rounds of golf at really nice courses. Not to mention that I love golfing, and it's good to have a nice variety of courses around.

[too keen to young]

There is alot of great golfers coming out of Australia. I'm sure there is a great program

Admittedly my club has been great to me giving me half an hour lesson for free each week, however there is no high school golf program. But whoes complaing i get to spend 3 to 4 hours a week outside on one of the best courses in Australia each week

[ks8829]

My son played in his first golf tournament and shot 50 for 9 holes and said afterwords that he's starting to enjoy golf

I told him just have fun and enjoy being on the team.

I going out to hit balls at the driving range with the team and maybe play 9 holes tomorrow with his friend........... life is good

[Parker0065]

Although my son is only 11 years old I can relate to what a lot of you guy's have posted. Last year was his first year of playing in PGA sanctioned junior tournaments and I'm learning it's a whole lot harder being a spectator versus being the player.

Good Luck to your son, I hope he does well!