As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. There is no extra cost to you. Thank you if you use our links; we appreciate it! Learn More.
Yes, children should play golf from an early age, and early golfing for kids can play a crucial role to prepare them for the challenges in almost all aspects of life.
Childhood golfing can grow up a kid physically the most active, socially the most equipped, and emotionally the soundest. And all can stay close to the kid or kids in the course of the game and pass a quality family time together. Golfing since childhood is one of the funniest and entertaining activities for kids.
But you must carefully select the exact time when he is golf-ready, how to encourage him in golf, and what are the golf lessons you want to in early childhood.
When should I Teach my Child to Play Golf?
Before leapfrogging to the benefits of golf for youth, it is important to know to seek answers to the vital question as to when should you teach your child to play golf? It depends more on the physique, etiquette, certain level of maturity, and self-control of the kid more than a specific age. Having said that, you can start as soon as possible but normally kids play golf at around 5 as, by this time, all the said qualities start growing in a kid.
But you should not shift your focus and that is to get your kid to the golf course, rather it is the benefits of junior golf. Therefore, it will be wise to observe the child closely to trace those attributes in his behavior and introduce him to golfing. Here you go with the three urgent benefits kids golf has on the offer.
Read: How do you get in shape for Golf?
Physical Benefits of Golfing for Kids
Kids also need physical activity to keep fit and healthy like grown-up individuals. Especially, in this age of technological aggression in the kids’ zone; they are badly in need of outdoor games and fun activities that will bring them out. Otherwise, they tend to invest all their fun and recreation time in on-demand screens and video games. In this connection, golf plays a crucial role to keep the children active and fit physically. Let’s explore the physical benefits here.
1. Promotes immense physical benefits
Golf may be the best introductory outdoor activities for kids that may immediately draw them out in the open space from being glued to the computer, TV, and smartphone screens. To begin with, it brings them out in the fresh air highly congenial for balanced growth. Regular golf for kids contributes to building up a strong spine and core muscles. Not to miss the hand-eye coordination that only golf can impart and can prove to be pretty effective in other sports.
Read: Why Attend a Golf School?
2. A no-contact and low-intensity sport
Most of the outdoor activities involve physical strain and when it comes to your little one; some outdoor activities may over-tax his tender bodies. Unlike other sports, golf will not make the kids run the risk of those as it requires minimal intensity and zero physical contact while golfing. But kids playing golf are safe in this case.
3. Improves vision and farsightedness
In this modern era, the risk of weak vision and nearsightedness for kids has multiplied with the prevalence of computer screens, smartphones and video games. The truth is that not only kids, rather people of all ages are greatly affected by this as well. The best and healthy way to fight this is to adopt outdoor activities and golf is the most effective in this regard requiring players to focus on faraway objects and thus helps prevent nearsightedness.
Social Benefits Kids can Reap from Golfing
If socializing is an important human aspect to cultivate among the kids, teaching kids golf is the best way. This will promote the qualities and skills to go along with others and making relationships.
1. Play alone or In team
If your child is an introvert, you can engage him in golf from an early age which he can play alone in a golf course. Thus he becomes even comfortable and will not go irritated for keeping alone. Conversely, if he tends to mix with others; he can play in teams building relationships with others, and having sweet memories with friends. This will cultivate a culture of healthy competition in him.
2. For friendship and Business Skills
Sports meant for making new friends and relations but golf is different by the consideration that it makes friendship easier. The very nature of the game encourages you to converse while playing and thus creating a friendly atmosphere and ease. There are instances that kids on the same team and the course make lasting and bosom friendships.
The scope of prolonged conversation over the golf match is pretty effective for business meetings and deals. On top of that, other business traits including decision making, dealing with numbers, etiquette, planning, and using strategies can pretty well be practiced over here and can be mastered over. That’s why co-workers and business partners are very often seen hanging around on the golf course. As a child, your kid can learn the skills and get the benefits from a nascent stage.
Emotional and Mental Aids of Golf for Children
It has been clear by now that golf for kids is something much more than merely a sport and can instill certain values in children. So, the mental and emotional benefits of golf should not surprise you. Here you go with a host of benefits golf can develop in your kids to help them in schools, at home, and later in their broader life.
1. Develop discipline and responsibility
Golf has so many rules not only to be aware of but they demand to be observed throughout the game. That learning and implementation of the rules in practice make the kids discipline from an early age. Moreover, the arranging and management of numerous tools and equipment help them grow up as responsible especially the showing up at the tee times.
2. Teaches honesty
The very system of the game lets you manipulate the game by moving the ball and adjusting the score. But they will be in check not to do so and thus the values of conducting something honestly will accommodate in their character by this game. A very important life skill to adopt to go far. Thus, teaching kids golf is synonymous with instilling honesty in them.
3. Quiet and calm moment
If a kid is not comfortable with louder and noisier surroundings, he can have quiet heaven on the golf green. Here he will learn to keep quiet and enjoy the calmness of others while others are in waiting. Not only the introverted children, rather the talkative and extroverted ones will go through coaching on how to develop the habit of keeping calm and quiet when and if need be.
4. Emotional Check
A wrong swing and bad hit can encourage the kid and even the adults to lose their cool. But he will be quick to learn how to keep the temper under control as an emotional check is key to rectify the bad swing and wrong hit. Therefore, the more they appear in the golf course to play, they will grow to adapt to behave with maturity and self-control.
5. Inculcate Patience
Yes, no other sport except cricket can develop patience in you than golf. But golf has the edge over cricket here as it is a far low-paced game and involves zero injury potential. Here in golf, players need to wait far longer for their turn to come. And who can ignore the importance of being patient and golfing for kids is the best way available to inculcate this crucial character trait.
Love of and Proximity to Nature
Love of nature is another benefit besides the most common ones said above. You can no way ignore and the most important thing golf can develop in your child is the proximity to a large green and clean surrounding that will strengthen him mentally and physically. Golf for kids is necessary even if you do not want him to be a pro golfer but for the closeness to nature from the very nascent age. This may make you emotionally sounder and physically more energized than those who do not enjoy it.
Takeaway…
Golf as an early childhood game can teach a kid crucial life lessons and important life skills. And none but childhood is the perfect age to inculcate them because this is the period in a man’s life to learn lessons and earn skills to last them lifelong. Therefore, reap the endless and long-lasting benefits of golf for children by engaging your children in golf at an early age.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.
Daisy is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Golfs Hub. She is associated with Golf for more than 20 years. She got the inspiration from her father. She is a very private person & doesn't like to be photographed. She's worked in nearly every job in the golf industry from club fitting to instruction to writing and speaking. Now she is enjoying her retirement from day job... but not from Golf! Daisy lives in southeasternmost part of New York state with her family.
