When did you get your kids into golf and did they stick with it?

[Hacker James]

as it were, I am presenting my 15 yr old grandson with a nearly new set of Top Flight XL Clubs and bag this afternoon. His mom, is getting back into it and has really nice form and could be pretty good if she sticks with it and gets some professional instruction. The grandson looks to have some ability too. Right now, I need to rid him of his self adopted John Daly Swing, although he has hit some decent shots with it. 

[Pretzel]

3 hours ago, iacas said:

She just competed in the Regional Drive, Chip, and Putt and won the city junior match play (at 13) earlier this summer, so she's stuck with it.

If she keeps it up, you may have a competitor of your own in the ring at Augusta in a couple of years! (for the national Drive, Chip, and Putt, that is)

Speaking from the opposite side of the question, what got me to stay interested in golf was to make games out of it. The junior golf camp I went to as a small kid would have the range basket set up about 15 yards out and you'd get a quarter for every one you knocked over, and then a trash bin ~35 yards out you'd get a dollar if you hit a ball into. My grandpa and I would also do putting contests where he'd put a dollar bill down on the putting green and whoever stopped a putt on it first got to keep it (after which it was usually promptly spent on a candy bar either way). I liked that sort of stuff because it made it a lot more fun than just practicing to hit the ball over and over while someone tells you what to fix. 

The other thing is to make sure to not have them play from too far at the start. When I started out my grandpa would put the ball down about 20 yards off the green for me to hit up to the green and putt out (with the 6 hits, 4 putts rule in place). Then, as I improved, I would gradually move back further and further. Starting from too far away would be an easy way to discourage someone.

Make it fun by playing games other than just golf, while on the golf course, and the kid will be more motivated to come back since they remember all the fun they had on the course. As they get older the golf itself might start to become more interesting, or it might turn out to not be their cup of tea, but they'll likely still enjoy going out to play with you if you're just looking for a playing partner.

[GolfLug]

16 minutes ago, iacas said:

The "god of golf" thing is fine until they start getting down on themselves because they can't do what you can do.

Not that it happens with all kids. But it happens with some.

Well, I am not on their comparison radar yet, but yes I can see that. For now it is enough for them that dad can do what he does because he is a 'grown up' and hitting like him is more a target than anything else. It's funny they find it just as amusing as anyone else that my club is so hooded at set up.

Many a times we stop on the 5th hole in favor of a more rewarding activity like getting a milkshake because he piped one 70 yds out on the 2nd hole but simply hasn't done it since in spite of swinging with all his might every time ...

What's one to do other than come back next Saturday and try it again. I guess certain things like mental stamina can only be built out of dirt over time and nothing I say or do will expedite it.  

[mchepp]

My daughter is 5 now and she has what I would describe as a passing interest. This summer we bought a starter set and headed out to the course to whack some balls around. She had a great time.

I think she likes it, but it certainly falls behind ballet or any kind of princess activity. Now that fall is here and the weather turns colder and rainier the interest will die down even more. I am hopeful next summer is the one where we get excited about it.

[iacas]

16 minutes ago, Pretzel said:

If she keeps it up, you may have a competitor of your own in the ring at Augusta in a couple of years! (for the national Drive, Chip, and Putt, that is)

She only has one year left. She competed in 14-15 this year.

We also already had a national champ a few years back from Golf Evolution.

[Hacker James]

a little follow up on my grandson. After presenting him with the new clubs, we went to the driving range. He managed to have several very decent shots even with a driver. The kid seems to have a natural draw. I don't think he hit one slice or fade. He duck hooked a few, sprayed a lot, several "whiffs", but once I showed him that he could have more control without much loss in distance by slowing down a tad, and having more relaxed swing, he beamed from ear to ear in how easy it was. The daughter shows marked improvement as well. As for me...well...un-mentionable.  It may sound like an excuse, but age is taking its toll. I hit controlled shots, have a good short game, adequate putting, but tremendous loss of distance over the past year. This is mostly evident on the driving range and that "might" have something to do with it as out on the course, once in a while, the length comes back for a few holes. Consistency wanes though.  In any event, not about me at all....but the kids. I even gave him a paper back of Hogan's FIve Fundamentals with the warning he might find it dry reading, but if he just read it a little at a time, it would help him understand.

[Patch]

Both of our daughters gave golf a try. It was their decision to do so. We gave them what they needed to make a good run at it, but in the end, other sports won out. Both excelled at fast pitch softball, with a little tennis thrown in during the off season. Both liked to camp, and fish. I know they still have their clubs from way back when. 

Fast forward to the 6 grand kids. 3 didn't care for golf at all. Never tried it. The older grandson could absolutely crush the ball off the tee, and fairway. He was naturally accurate, and very long. His fall from the game was no short game. He was football player who had no finesse. If it needed shear strength, he could do it. 

The two youngest grand daughters like golf. But then again,  there are those other sports their friends play, so golf is in the left over time slot behind scool work, chores at home, and those other sports. Right now hey are both heavily involved in basketball, and soccer. 

Our youngest granddaughter might stick with golf. She's our tom boy, and has that drive to over come anything difficult that relates to sports. We spend a few hours together each week working on our golf stuff. She calls it "hanging with grandpa". Just have to wait and see. 

[Golfaddict247]

I am going to speak from the other side as a kid whose dad tried to make him play golf..... it wasn't a great experience, especially because my dad only had right handed clubs and I am a lefty!! So I never picked up the game as a kid , but only recently came back to golf in my late 20s....

-Jim