Golf

[MollieO]

Ds started playing golf in the summer and really enjoys it. At the moment he has lessons once a week. At what age can children actually play a round? I used to play (pre-ds when I had more time!) but I don't think I ever saw children playing a round.

Hi there, my DP is a golf pro and teaches lots of children. He feels it depends on the individual child as they need to be able to hit fairly well (mind you I have seen some horrific adults playing but there you go). If this isnt yet the case he could get a bit disheartened.

The youngest of his 'pupils' that can play a round are 6. However, these are really good little players, have someone with them to help them out and offer buckets of encouragement(parent, pro, other golfer who is good with kids) and use a buggy (its a long walk for the little ones).

Par 3 courses are particularly good for children as they dont need to drive the ball so far or walk such a long distance.

Why not speak to his golf teacher to see what he/she suggests? They might do a 'playing lesson' for your DS where he can have a lesson while playing a round or part of a round.

Steer clear of anyone who discourages children from giving it a go- its a snotty old fashioned attitude. Some clubs are much much more geared towards encouraging children to play than others. At DP club it is encouraged (except during competitions) as long as they are have someone with them who can help out if needed.

His golf teacher said he wanted a word after yesterday's lesson (I was thinking the worst and wondering what ds had been up to). He said that ds has very good hand to eye coordinaton 'as I've told you before' - actually no he hadn't and that ds has an exceptional talent. He is only nearly 5.5 so pretty young. He has one shared lesson a week and really enjoys it. It just occurred to me that in all my years of messing around on golf courses I've never actually seen children younger than teenagers playing.

Club pro is very friendly and encouraging but I've never seen any children actually playing out on the course. Golf club is the local village one and seems very friendly although when I tried to join a few years ago the female pro seemed a bit horrified that I worked full time and therefore wasn't available for matches on Tuesdays!

We started lessons as ds had a go one half term and loved it. He has hypermobility syndrome so I'm keen for him to find a non-contact sport that he enjoys as I'm not sure he can continue things like rugby once they start contact.

Ds started lessons when he was 6 he is now 7.

He does weekly sunday am lessons and sometimes they play the course as part of the lesson.

Dh belongs to a club that has two courses-one of which children of any age are allowed to play(new forest) and the other only 12 adn up.

He's a really good little player and for his height (short arse) can hit it over 100 yds now so apparently this is good.

We went to scotland for a holiday last summer and were really disappointed to find that 99% of courses don't allow under 10s.

My DS 12 has been playing since he was 6 or so - mostly shared lessons and holidays in Spain with coaching. HE goes out with his Dad on a local par 3 9 hole course - the kind where you can pitch up in jeans and trainers and no-one is too stuffy, and that works well. I would think that anywhere that requires specific clothing would frown on any child who took too long going round which will be the issue with your son I would think. The other thing we have done is school holiday "camps" where they go for a couple of hours a day over a week and end up with playing a 9 hole round to get experience - and plenty of coaching on etiquette!!