Sorry if this has been covered before. I have searched to no avail (though the search function doesn't seem to be too robust, or else I'm not using it correctly).

My kids (8 and 10) started to golf a little this year. I am pretty intent on them walking, and not riding in a cart. But, I discovered kind of accidentally last week that they LOVE to golf when I get a cart. I don't have to beg and plead (which probably isn't a good idea) -- they ask ME to take them golfing. They still enjoy the golf part, but they also LOVE riding in the cart, and they just whine a lot less when they don't have to walk. They are kind of little (the older is a girl), so I guess I can understand this. I wish I had been introduced to golf at their age, rather than stuggling at age 42. Whatever it takes to get them interested.

Anyway, any thoughts from anyone on this? I am really old school, and hate carts, but most PGA touring pros today learned playing in carts from what I read. Ben Hogan drove a cart around his club. So, maybe I'm too uptight about this. Thanks in advance.

Carts are fun for kids - if it gets them to the course, I'm all for it.

I read where Johhny Miller said he got his kids into golf at a young age by going with them to the course, and letting them hit balls into the water hazards - then exploring around the water to see what kind of wildlife they could spot - and when the kids were having the most fun of the day - to leave - so they want to come back.

If the cart makes them want to come back, I think you've answered your own question.

Ya...nine holes is probably the limit for most kids under maybe 14 yrs old...the sport begins to lose its luster after 9 holes with most kids younger than that.

I have 2 of my 3 boys hooked on golf...I have taught them all etiquette while at the same time keeping it loose and fun. Don't give them a lot of swing pressure / tips, it just frustrates the kids. I enrolled them in a summer junior golf program around here...45 minute group lesson once a week followed by 9 holes of golf after that....all summer long. Cheap and fun for the kids.

The golf coach at the local high school said one of the ways they recommend to get the kids interested was to take them out with you and let them hit from 150 or so yards (usually your second shot) to the green. He said basically give them a club and a ball point them toward the hole and tell them to meet you on the green. He said the most important thing is to simply let them hit balls and try not to correct them.

From experience being that I am 17 and (I started kinda playing at around 10) and have been taking it seriously since i was 15. When I was younger I loved going in the cart because it was fun and i couldn't drive yet so driving a golf cart was a blast, but as they get older they should learn to appreciate walking the course, now the only time i ride is when i play w/my dad cuz he doesnt want to walk, so basically let them ride now , and unless they are extremly lazy they will start to enjoy walking more and more.

Let them ride!

Also find a 9 hole mom and pop short course where most people walk and let them walk there.

The Johnny Miller comment is funny, because it reminds me of something else I inadvertentaly learned with my daughter on the course last week. She loved the one hole (9-hole exec course) that you hit it over the water. The red tees don't have to go over water, but the whites did, and she wanted to hit from the whites on this hole. I thought that was odd, but it turns out she WANTED the ball to go in the water! That is what mattered most to her. And, when she shanked into the woods, and then hit from there to the green, she begged me to let her hit more balls just so she could get one in the water. Well, she couldn't hit it well enough to reach the water, so she then begged me to just go up and THROW as many as she could into the pond. (I limited her to one -- the one "Ultra" I had in my bag.)

One other thing I have found -- my son loves to chip and putt on the practice green IF we make little bets (even for a dime). I take three to get up and down, so he has to do it in, say, 5, to win a quarter. I read somewhere (Penick I think) that all kids should always play for something. I hate to golf for $, but for some reason, it really makes my son's day to have $ on the line. If no $, then he is bored.

Thanks for everyone's comments.

My son is 4 and I take him to the driving range and to the golf course. At the range, all he wants to do is chip and putt, and on the course, a cart is the only option. Sometimes I think he enjoys the ride on the cart more than the actual golf but if that's what it takes, then so be it. It's true though, he is only good for about 9 holes, so at the turn I buy him lunch and some snacks and he mostly watches during the back nine.

I take my 8 year old out every weekend and he loves it, he mostly stares at the cart girls and I let him drive a few times till he ran over a rope stake fence and it wound up in the hub (that was fun). He plays on small executive courses and will probably be ready for a big course next year (he shoots mid to low 40's on a par 29 exec). I think when he does finally start playing bigger courses it will be on sunday with the older guys so he wont slow anyone down.

Carefull of the First Tee Program, I was an instructor for them and it is very difficult for younger children. It is very very rare to get a child under 10 to pass on the first attempt or even the second attempt. It took my 8 year old (7 at the time) two times to pass it and when he failed it for the first time he cried for the whole day and said he never wanted to play golf again.