gr8 flopshot, on 04 December 2012 - 05:25 PM, said:
TheMackDaddy, on 15 November 2012 - 11:32 PM, said:
ump23, on 15 November 2012 - 11:00 PM, said:
ok, this past week i made some calls around to different clubs looking for a pro that will get my 8 yo ready to play tournement golf this spring. I have to be honest with you if i hear one more "wanna be pga pro" tell me that just take him out and let him hit the ball i'm going to.... never mind. you get the point. My son has been playing for over two years. I like the fact that he asks me to go play not the other way. We have worked on the proper way to swing a club and putt and so on but now he is getting to a point where he needs to start competing against other kids. Don't get me wrong i love playing with him and i think we both find enjoyment with that but well let me just flat out and say it, the kid is pretty good. i know, another bragging dad thinking that their son is the next Tiger. I wish, Earl made a lot of money from Tiger. But seriously, my thinking is this children that strive to win (not at all cost) and work and compete hard usually carry that over into their studies and life. My thing is that winning is important and if a child is getting ready to compete why not prepare him mentally and physically to win. I need someone to help him and me. I have never been involved in tournement golf besides club events. The last thing i want to do is make winning more important then enjoying this great game. Last, the tournement thing was not my idea it was his..dam youtube. I would like to hear what people think and what direction should I go in his golf.
There is alot that I don't agree with in this post. First, you come off as the kind of guy that pushes his kid into golf. And NOBODY in the junior golf community will appreciete that. Just make sure that you don't force it upon him.
Second, the "wanna be" PGA pros (who probably all carry single digit handicaps) are correct when they say that your son should just hit the ball. He doesn't need to be put any tournament pressure at age 8. Which leads me to the third point, when you mention he played for 2 years.. Thats not always enough, I played for 8 years before my first tournament at age 11, and still wasn't at the top of the leaderboard.
Fourth, children at that age do not strive to win. They play the game to have fun, and spend time with people their own age. They are never concerned with thoughts like "If I birdie 14, 15 and then par out, I can win this tourney." They are more excited about what kind of milkshake their parents will buy them after the round.
Fifth, and most importantly winning is not important at that age level. It is not even as close to as important as the values that one can take out of golfing. It does however please me to see you write, "The
last thing i want to do is make winning more important then enjoying this great game".. If you follow that line, you and your son will be in good shape.
Hope I wasn't too harsh,
-Jr. golfer
Please be careful with your generalizations.
1) My kids have played EVERY sport they have EVER played with a desire to win. That wasn't pushed onto them, it is what they want and both of them have been playing club level soccer since age 8. my wife and i have always emphasized development but my kids love to win and HATE to lose.
2) you don't know this man or his son. My daughter started following me to the range when she was three. then one day she said she wanted to play in a tournament. I found a tournament and she got her butt kicked. She hated that feeling and then asked me for a private coach. She is now the only freshman in her high schools top 5 players. All her doing. I bring this up to say that SHE wanted to play in a tournament, not me.
3) Again, just becasue you were not driven top win at an early age doesnt mean other kids arent. My daughter has ALWAYS kept her score in her head accurately since she was 7. SHE CARES and several other kids care too. If you think hte Lexi Thompson's Ty Tryon's Rory McElroy's of the world didnt grow up concerned about scoring then you are WAY off base.
To the OP...I happen to live in a community with an amazing junior golf program (Long Beach, CA). the kids play 18 every friday and they have PGA pros that work with the kids on their skills as they need it. They also have tournaments about once a quarter including the junior tournament that runs parallel to the Long Beach Open. if you can not find a program like this close to your home, look at the high end private clubs. I recently learned that the high end clubs in my area have juniopr golf programs in the summer where even non-member children can participate and build their skills and compete in the summer. Good luck to you guys.
1)Sure, winning is a bonus, but whether or not you realize it it isn't as important as actually enjoying the quality time with their peers. Winning isn't forced on to hardly anyone, but neither is enjoying time with freinds. Your kids may love winning and hate losing, but that is a very select number of kids who feel that way.
2) Of course I don't know the man or his kid, which is why I generalized. I don't know what you're trying to prove with your second point, but if you want to start throwing out your daughters accomplishments for some sort of credibility I began playing at three as well. I was the #1 spot on my high school team as a freshman, and I was one of six kids to qualify for the High school state tournament (out of 80 kids total). I am ranked 3rd overall in the state for my age group, and carry a 0 handicap. I also see a private instructor. Again, dunno what sort of point you are trying to get across here, but lets just be clear I know what I am talking about. I've been in the posistion of a 7 year old golfer before. I'm guessing (generalizing) that you have not.
3)While you are correct that I wasn't concerned with winning, I was concerned about improving. Trying to become better and better for my own benifit. Two different things. Keeping score in your head doesn't relate to winning. It is actually tied to measuring progress... also know as measuring IMPROVEMENT.
Edited by TheMackDaddy, 08 December 2012 - 12:31 AM.
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