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Won't Somebody Think of the Children?!
Golf is active, but doesn’t exclude less-sporty children. Golf is challenging, but fun for all abilities. Golf engages the mind, but also the body.
It’s a sport that teaches discipline and etiquette, requiring a strong work ethic and the ability to both win and lose with grace. It’s a sport that can be played by people of every size, age, gender and so on equally.
Are these not values we want every child to have?
How Golf is Involving Kids
It seems that 21st Century children and technology go hand-in-hand, so the golf industry became technological. GPS watches, smart phone apps and virtual golf games seamlessly bridge competition and fun for junior golfers (and, let’s face it, adults too).
But it’s not just the generic “golf industry” taking steps to involve junior golfers. There are more and more golf coaches and Professionals going the extra mile. Initiatives such as Tri-Golf help juniors discover, learn and enjoy golf after school and during school holidays. These programmes use different approaches to make learning fun, like games and friendly competitions.
The Right Equipment
TaylorMade have placed a lot of emphasis on their “Rory” Junior selection, which was released earlier this year. Inspired by and designed with Rory McIlroy himself, the golfing superstar says he was keen to design golf clubs that he feels would have benefitted him at a younger age, both in terms of performance and- critically- enjoyment. All sets come with a special edition St. Bernard head cover emblazoned with Rory’s signature.
Callaway’s XJ Junior sets are designed in levels 1-3 for girls and boys depending on age and height, with more clubs for the more advanced players (4-piece, 6-piece & 7-piece sets). The new Callaway XT Teen Package Set consists of ten golf clubs for junior golfers, whilst maintaining that more affordable price point with Callaway’s renowned engineering.
U.S. Kids use the same colour-coded, graduated system in their high-quality golf clubs and sets. In fact, the quality of U.S. Kids is such that a certain Ian Poulter recently invested in a set for his own son. But don’t worry, you don’t need a Tour Pro’s income to afford a set of U.S. Kids golf clubs!
Lynx Golf offer introductory “Blister Packs” of a putter and a 7-iron; an affordable option so beginners can try golf with the essential clubs without committing to the cost of a full set. However, they do offer more comprehensive sets featuring a driver, several irons and a free cap to tie it all together. These are available in a variety of sizes, ages and colours.
Golphin are completely dedicated to junior golf. Golf clubs, bags and sets have all been specifically designed to help children play and enjoy golf whilst improving their skills. The British-born golf company utilise a colour-coding system to indicate the graduated golf clubs and sets for different ages and heights.
What Can You Do?
Golf clubs often offer specialised junior golf coaching, fun golf-related kids' clubs and discounted rates for junior golfers. Find your local Foremost Golf Club in the Store Locator (link below) to find out what's on offer for junior golfers near you. You'll be pleasantly surprised!
https://www.foremostgolf.com/find-your-nearest-foremost-professional
Credit: Sarah Smith and Saffron Walden Golf Club for the photos of junior golfers enjoying the game at the golf club.
Written by Joe Carabini
