Youngsters

[Patch]

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Last weekend my 11 year old Grand Daughter, and I played 9 holes. From the ladies tee she shot a 56. Yes, there was a couple of " givemees " involved. No big deal since the bet was a post round visit to the local ice cream shop if she broke 60. 

While walking, she asked how long it would take to for her to break 45 for 9 holes. I ask her how much time she had to work on her golf game. She told me not much since she had school, home work, soccer, household chores, and was thinking about playing basketball too. She thought she could squeeze in an hour a day, maybe 4 days a week, if I were available. That, and 9 holes, twice a month.  

Right there is a big problem for youngsters not getting involved with golf. There is just not that much time left over after the other priorities set in. 

On a side note. Did you know that that a single scoop of Rocky Road with all the toppings cost $4.50? Drinks are $1.79. I think next time were are going to play a dollar a hole skins. It might be cheaper.  

[No Mulligans]

Yet the youngsters that join club sports dedicate a ton of time to their sport.  But, in this case, the sport becomes the priority over everything else.

[RussUK]

Its just the way of the world these days. There is more pressure on kids these days with homework, exams, friends, bloody facebook () anf the like.

I think at 11, unless they are wanting to take golf as far as they can, they should focus on having fun playing and not so much on the breaking 45 or whatever. The more they enjoy it the more time they will put aside top practice and then they can watch the scores tumble.

[Psyber]

She needs to decide if she likes golf more than soccer and basketball.

[Yukari]

59 minutes ago, RussUK said:

Its just the way of the world these days. There is more pressure on kids these days with homework, exams, friends, bloody facebook () anf the like.

I think at 11, unless they are wanting to take golf as far as they can, they should focus on having fun playing and not so much on the breaking 45 or whatever. The more they enjoy it the more time they will put aside top practice and then they can watch the scores tumble.

Sadly, that is the truth.  Carefree days are no more.

To the OP's point, if that was the reason golf is lacking new player, then it can be said the same for football, soccer, baseball, etc.

The reason is not the time pressure alone, albeit it may be one of the major factors.  I always thought I would never pick up golf until I retired.  But when my parents took me out to a play a round and I hit that 5 wood 220 yards, pure (on the 10th hole).  That is when I got hooked.  The very first round of my life is when I became addicted.

[natureboy]

On 9/29/2016 at 1:36 PM, Patch said:

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Last weekend my 11 year old Grand Daughter, and I played 9 holes. From the ladies tee she shot a 56. Yes, there was a couple of " givemees " involved. No big deal since the bet was a post round visit to the local ice cream shop if she broke 60. 

While walking, she asked how long it would take to for her to break 45 for 9 holes. I ask her how much time she had to work on her golf game. She told me not much since she had school, home work, soccer, household chores, and was thinking about playing basketball too. She thought she could squeeze in an hour a day, maybe 4 days a week, if I were available. That, and 9 holes, twice a month.  

Right there is a big problem for youngsters not getting involved with golf. There is just not that much time left over after the other priorities set in. 

On a side note. Did you know that that a single scoop of Rocky Road with all the toppings cost $4.50? Drinks are $1.79. I think next time were are going to play a dollar a hole skins. It might be cheaper.  

I think it's great she has other interests. It seems more guys (and girls) who focus on one sport young are developing repetitive stress injuries (hip, back, knee). More demanding tour schedules is part of it too.

Besides having a more balanced life, cross training at her age seems both good for balancing muscular development, overall conditioning, as well as giving the golf muscles a rest and chance to 'unwind'. I honestly believe if she has genuine athletic talent that if she just chips away for a few years at her current pace (with the occasional burst of activity during the summer) and then decides after her growth spurt if she wants to focus single-mindedly on golf that she'd only be a few years behind the curve.

Is her goal just to improve and she's looking to have realistic expectations / a benchmark to compare her progress to, sights set on college scholarship, or just how long it will take to beat you?

[Patch]

10 hours ago, Psyber said:

She needs to decide if she likes golf more than soccer and basketball.

She likes "hangin'" with Grand. Pa for golf she says. What ever she does is fine by me. 

[Patch]

9 hours ago, Yukari said:

Sadly, that is the truth.  Carefree days are no more.

To the OP's point, if that was the reason golf is lacking new player, then it can be said the same for football, soccer, baseball, etc.

The reason is not the time pressure alone, albeit it may be one of the major factors.  I always thought I would never pick up golf until I retired.  But when my parents took me out to a play a round and I hit that 5 wood 220 yards, pure (on the 10th hole).  That is when I got hooked.  The very first round of my life is when I became addicted.

She has two older sisters. Both are sports minded. One went to State in track this year, and the other plays basketball. Of the three she is the "Tom Boy" of the bunch. Their parents stress good grades in school, and household chores before sports. The proverbial "dangling carrot" . She will do well in ehat ever sport, or sports she decides to get involved in.