Teaching Golf to Kids

Filed in archive Golf Instruction on January 11, 2007

Courtesy: Camp Olympia

There's a practice facility I sometimes go to early in the golf season. It's one of those facilities that have plenty of mats. There's a handy 12 hole (!) course adjacent to the range that's perfect for practicing the short game.

Well, every summer the facility hosts a camp for junior golfers. And they draw quite a crowd of kids for a solid week of hitting balls, playing and generally having fun. And it's great to see a place that welcomes and encourages kids to learn the game.

But is it the best way for a junior golfer to learn? Not necessarily, according to Paul Wilson, creator of Swing Machine Golf.

Paul has been teaching the game a long time; he was head pro and Director of Golf at the renowned Angus Glen golf club north of Toronto, Canada, where the Canadian Open will be played this year. He's garnered awards and accolades for his teaching on both sides of the border and has been a guest teaching pro on The golf channel.

And his swing theory really works. Trust me.

Here's what Paul had to say about teaching kids to play golf.

"One of the most important things when teaching a kid is to treat them like an adult. Then they actually want to learn what you are trying to show them instead of not paying attention", he said. "Kids really can learn advanced stuff if given the chance. Also, the attraction of distance is critical because they don't hit the ball very far. If I want a kid to make a change, I simply tell them that they will hit it farther if they make this change. Then they are all ears!"

So, if I want my kid to go to a teaching pro, what do I want to look for?

"Someone who will treat them like an adult", Paul explained. "There are plenty of kids programs and camps which can be fun but these groups can quickly get out of control. If the class keeps getting disrupted then that takes away from the time that will be spent giving individual attention to each kid. Therefore, group size is important. Groups that are too big get out of control. Smaller class size means more individual attention. You want them to have fun but at the same time you want them to learn. That's what they are there for."

There's a lot to that statement. I somehow can't picture a five year old Eldridge Woods in a golf camp with 60 other kids going crazy beating balls. Can you?

By the way, visit Paul's site. It's worth a look.