How Young is too Young?

August 2, 2007
By:Butch Bundy

A question often asked to me by parents is when to start having their children take lessons. The answer is that there is no magic age. I’ll offer a couple of ways to introduce the game to see if your child is interested.
If one or both of the parents are golfers, taking them on the course for a few holes to watch you play is a great way to gauge their interest. If they ask questions or want to try and hit a shot then you can go from there. Most kids, especially if they are very young (5-6 years old) will do better if introduced to the game by a parent or a relative that they know and trust. This is especially true if they have never seen the game or if they tend to be shy around strangers. If the parents aren’t golfers, something as simple as going to the driving range or to the practice putting green is a good start. Even playing putt-putt can sometimes be a good start if the parents are not golfers. In short, anyway that they can watch you or others hit balls is a good way to show them the game.
If you want to introduce a young child to the game through instruction, I will usually recommend a private lesson over a junior clinic. That way you are ensuring that they are getting one on one instruction without having a lot of kids around to take their attention away from the teacher. Junior clinics are great and a lot of fun, but if the child is too young or a bit shy they might not be as attentive which might turn them off to the game.
If they are interested, finding a set of clubs for them is a lot easier now that companies like US Kids are specializing in building clubs for juniors. Cutting down one of your clubs is not the answer due to the club being too heavy and the shaft being too stiff. This can build swing faults right from the start. I’m always happy to answer questions when people are looking to introduce the game because when it is done the right way, it is a game that they can always play. See you at the course.