Advantages of Taking the Little One Golfing

You may have stars in your eyes or visions of Tiger Woods walking down the 18th fairway at the Masters. You may see your child doing that same walk and putting on the venerable Green Jacket at the Butler Cabin. Golf at the highest level has glorious sporting visions, but at the simplest level, it is a sport that requires a lot time, sweat and practice.

While most of our children won’t have the career that Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy or even Jack Nicklaus have, it would be a great idea for children to learn what many call “the greatest game”. Not as physical and brutal as football or hockey and not requiring strength or size like baseball, rugby and the aforementioned football. Golf is an individual sport that requires only a good swing and a steady hand at the short game.

The additional benefits of enrolling your child into golf are absolutely positive, because not only are they learning how to play a game. The etiquette, honesty and decorum of the game is something that makes golf unique compared to its louder and violent sporting brethren. It is these fundamental elements of the game that will help your child develop cognitively and socially.

Concentration and Focus

These two elements are not God-given; They are honed and forged through years of practice. The hours spent preparing, practicing and analyzing one’s game can greatly increase concentration and focus on other activities like hobbies (music, art) and most importantly in their studies. It is certain that the concentration needed to lineup a pressure filled 10 foot putt can be parlayed into practicing for a piano recital or preparing for the SAT exam.

Golf is a game that requires a lot of practice to become good at it. And practice requires a lot of repetition. And furthermore, repetition requires a lot of diligence. It’s hard work to become diligent, a constant practitioner and eventually a good golfer. And with the the various elements of the game to practice, your child will become well verse in different fields of the game.

Etiquette and Manners

Golf is a game of decorum and manners. You shake hands with your playing opponents or competitors at the start of the round and you do the same at the end of the round. You are required to not distract, taunt or provoke your opponents into making a mistake; Gamesmanship is strictly looked down upon. And to this the greatest and most unique element of the game is that you are your own referee.

The game has many unwritten rules for manners and honor of play. For instance, having the “honors” on the tee is for those who had the lowest score on the last hole. On the putting, walking on or near another player’s line is frowned upon. Overall, these rules were made in consideration of other players and in the spirit of the game.

Last, being your own referee. Compared to other youth sports, referees of older age are required to steward the game. In the game of golf, the player is their own referee. As with any game or sport, cheating is deeply frowned upon and as your own referee, the option to cheat is always there (kicking ball to the fairway, not counting penalty strokes). With all this in mind, the game give lessons of honesty and integrity to the young golfer.

There are plenty of other great reason to have your little start playing golf. It’s a great way to bond and spend a weekend afternoon together. Whether at the course or the range, it’s a great way to spend time hitting balls and making putts. But the game is difficult and it involves perseverance as no one is naturally good at the game. There is no other game in the world that will help a child deal with adversity and become a diligent worker like golf.

Image credit: Fort George G. Meade Public Affairs Office on Flickr