TBurd47

Last year around this time my son (10 at the time) played in his first tournament. He has been playing with me since he was 6 and had developed a pretty nice swing. Well, that first tournament was kind of discouraging for him (not me, I was happy to see him play and finish) as he shot 67 and finished 5th out of 5 kids in his age group. The little boy he was paired up with shot something like 41 and finshed 2nd. This kid had played a lot of tournaments and he couldn't have been nicer to my son, who didn't have any tournament experience at all. In fact, I thanked his parents as their son made the bearable for my son. Fast forward a year later. My son played in his second tournament Saturday and lo and behold, he gets to play with the same little boy as the year before, so that helped relax him right away. Now, my son has gotten better and has been scoring in the 50-52 range, so he has improved quite a bit. I was just hoping he could make a couple better chips and putts and score in the 40s (47, 48, something like that). I simply wasn't prepared for what he did Saturday. He absolutely crushed his tee shots. I don't think I am exaggerating when I say he was hitting tee shots in the 250 range. The course was playing pretty firm and he was hitting lasers with the driver. Then, he missed very few iron shots en route to a 2nd place 41 that included 3 pars and a birdie. The birdie was the result of a 2-putt after driving the green at a par 4 (that the card said measured 269 from the front tees that they were playing). His best shot, however, was not one of those big drives, but a shot out of a bunker when he was lying right in front of a big lip. He blasted the ball straight up and on to the green, probably saving himself at least 2, maybe 3 strokes in the process. The only thing that made me more proud than his play, was his behavior and, in fact, the behavior of the other 2 boys in his group as well. They behaved as classy and well-mannered as any of the top pros and they finshed 9 holes walking in under 2 hours. I commented to one of the other parents that these were three kids who obviously have been taught to play the game the right way. The boy my son played with last year won with a 39 and the third boy in their group shot a very respectable 46. He actually has 2 more 9-hole tournaments this week and I hope he keeps striking the ball as well as he has. He certainly gave himself a big shot of confidence Saturday. I certainly don't expect my son to be the next prodigy. I just want him to enjoy the game and if he can get good at it, more the better. I am happy that I have a heck of a playing partner for the next few years until he "leaves the nest".

My first post here. I bet playing with your Dad is a great memory. My Pop didn't play golf so I didn't have that with him. However, I have had the privilege of playing with my 11-year old son for the last 5 years or so. Like your father, I made sure that etiquette took precedence over all else in those early days...don't run, don't yell, one practice swing and hit, etc. The great thing about him is that I really only had to tell him once. When we started, like your father, I had him tee off (NEVER at peak times, I'm talking 6 or 7 pm well behind leagues and any open play), gave him a few chances then we picked up and I had him chip up and outt out. Now, he has a swing I would kill for, he plays only one set of tees ahead of me and is usually good for a few pars and maybe even a birdie or two when we go out. I always tell him, though, that it doesn't matter how many strokes he takes...I am most proud of his behavior and that he always tries his best. Parents who let their kids run wild and say nothing about respect for the game of golf and others playing it are doing those kids a terrible disservice...not just in regards to golf but life in general.