Exercise in the fresh air. Lessons in good manners. Lifelong friendships. These and more excellent reasons to get your kids started in golf right now.
From new friends to daily exercise to lessons in how to behave, golf benefits children in so many ways. “It’s never too early to get your kids started in the game,” says Andrew Nieder, Director of Golf and Superintendent at Deerhurst Resort, which offers one of Ontario’s strongest junior programs. “Our five-day summer camps get kids hooked on the thrill of swinging a golf club. But more important, learning to play golf offers rewards that last a lifetime.”
Here, Canadian Golf Traveller’s top 10 reasons to get your kids started in golf right now:
1. Golf is Co-ed Fun
Golf camps and other introductory programs know they have to make the experience nonstop fun or kids will quickly lose interest. Between swing lessons, instructors play silly games, tell jokes and dispense snacks. Even whiffed shots are met with exclaims of “Great Swing!”
2. Golf Teaches Good Manners
In golf, each player acts as his own referee. Kids are taught that fair play means always treating playing partners with consideration, and sometimes even calling a penalty on themselves. Golf is a game that places honesty and proper etiquette above winning.
3. Golf is Great Outdoor Exercise
With childhood obesity having nearly tripled in the past 30 years, parents are looking for ways to distract kids from video games and smart phones. Golf, a game played outdoors in a beautiful and natural setting, can become the healthy habit of a lifetime. A 150-pound adult burns 350 calories and walks more than 10,000 steps during a typical round.
4. Golf For Kids is a Bargain
Compared to ice hockey and some other sports, junior golf is a fantastic deal. Costs are kept low in an effort to promote the game’s future growth. Introductory golf camps even provide free clubs and balls.
5. Golf Helps Kids Succeed in Other Sports
Kids who master the hand-eye coordination demanded by the golf swing enjoy a big advantage when they play other sports. A hockey slap shot and a baseball swing require much the same timing, coiled backswing and follow-through.
6. Golf Offers Life Lessons
Maddeningly frustrating at times, golf teaches kids that life’s bounces don’t always go their way. They learn to keep each shot in perspective, manage their emotions, and keep a positive attitude through the highs and lows of the game.
7. Golf Helps Kids Make New Friends
Friendships made through golf often last a lifetime. Kids develop social skills by interacting with their peers and the golfers of all ages and backgrounds they meet. Played around the world, golf will also serve as an icebreaker and calling card during their future travels.
8. Golf Could Lead to Higher Education
Who knows? Your kid might prove to be a prodigy. The earlier your child starts, the greater his or her chances of being offered a golf scholarship at a prestigious university. At any rate, it’s a pleasant daydream.
9. Golf is a Safe Sport
Unlike hockey, baseball and soccer, golf is a non-contact sport. Golf course injuries of any kind are exceptionally rare. Indeed, it’s hard to imagine a safer, more positive or uplifting environment for kids.
10. Golf Promotes Family Time
Families build lasting memories when they golf together. A family tee time is a shared opportunity to bond over a mutual sporting passion. Golf offers the gift of quality time with the people you love the most.
