Junior Golf Programs

Junior Golf Programs for Young Children

Getting kids into golf at a young age is a fantastic idea! From my experience, it's important to focus on making it fun while helping them develop their overall movement and sports skills. There are some incredible golf programs out there that specialize in junior golf coaching, and I recommend doing some research to find the most successful programs in your area.

Make Fun the Priority

First and foremost, kids need to have fun! Programs that emphasize fundamental movement skills in a golf-like setting are crucial for their overall development. Golf is not a sport that requires early specialization, so it’s best to focus on building your child's athletic abilities while nurturing their love for the game. Here are some key movement skills to focus on:

• Running, jumping, dodging, and skipping – these all involve weight shift.
• Stability – The ABCs of athleticism: Agility, Balance, Coordination, and Speed.
• Basic Sports Skills – Throwing, kicking, striking, catching, and dribbling.

Don't Focus Only on Golf

It can be tempting to focus solely on golf, especially if your child shows early interest. But remember, developing a broad range of sports skills is equally important for your child’s growth. Exposure to various activities helps them become well-rounded athletes.

• Striking sports – Baseball batting, tennis strokes, hockey slap shots.
• Advanced throwing skills – Bowling, pitching, javelin, shot put, discus.
• Wrist release education – Table tennis, squash, frisbee toss.

Movement at an Early Age

At this stage, movements may be a little unrefined – this is completely normal! The goal is to make learning fun and provide simple visual and verbal cues to help your child improve. You don't need to focus on specific techniques like "flexing the lead wrist" or "early extension" yet.

Fundamental sports skills (FFS) are key to golf development. So if you see your child practicing other sports within a golf class, don’t worry! Research shows that children who experience a variety of sports early on tend to be better athletes overall.

Try the Operation 36 Model

If you’re looking for a proven program to help your child grow, I highly recommend the Operation 36 Junior Program. This program is designed to engage kids while building essential skills in a fun and supportive environment.

If you've already started taking your child out on the golf course, try using the Operation 36 model. Start with your child teeing off from 25 yards from the center of each green and recording their score with a card and pencil. This will help them focus on scoring and hold their attention longer. Completing nine holes will feel quick, and they’ll stay engaged in the process. The goal is for them to shoot a 36 – averaging four strokes per hole – before moving back to 50 yards. Celebrate their milestones along the way, and remember, it's a great chance for you to improve your short game, too!

Keep Instruction Simple

It’s easy to get carried away with instructions, but try to keep it simple. Avoid overloading your child with tips like "watch the ball," "keep your head down," or "turn your hips." Kids are incredibly resilient – they won’t be fazed by missing a shot; they’ll just try again. This stage is all about exploration, and they’ll learn best in a supportive, non-judgmental environment where they can self-reflect and grow.

Don’t worry if their swing isn’t perfect – there will be plenty of "moving parts," and that’s okay. Kids need time to develop at their own pace. I’ve seen this firsthand with a young player, Jaymie, who struggled early on but flourished because of the positive, encouraging environment we created.

Summary

Enjoy the journey and celebrate the small wins. Associate golf with positive experiences, and create an environment where your child can grow and enjoy the game. Don’t be discouraged if they face challenges – it’s important to stay calm, encourage them to keep going, and help them build resilience. While it’s natural to want your child to succeed, remember to remind them that you love them for who they are, not just their performance on the field. Cultivate positive sportsmanship, and teach them to separate their self-worth from their performance. Whether or not they go on to become professional athletes, this mindset will serve them well in life.