Children Children's Golfing: Facts & Interesting Ideas facts and ideas

• Golf is one of the only ball games that don’t require a standardised playing area.
• Golf is an Olympic sport, but has only been featured twice in the past.
• Golf, as we know it, developed in Scotland in the 15^th century.
• The first golf balls were actually made out of wood.
• 75% of golfers are men.
• An American golf ball has 336 dimples. A British one has 330. Try dropping that fact into a conversation!
• The chances of making two holes in one in a single round of golf are said to be 1 in 67 million.
• Golf is played by over 50 million people worldwide.
• There are 3 golf balls on the moon!
• A golf ball travels quite noticeably further on hot days!
• Tiger Woods’ golf club swings at 130mph when he takes a shot.
• The longest golf shot recorded is 515 yards (471 metres).

Points to consider when choosing a golf coach for your child:

• What equipment, if any, do you need to provide? For example, golf clubs or shoes. Do you need to purchase these items before your child starts playing golf? What does your child need to wear?
• Will it be one to one coaching? If not, how many other children will be in the lesson?
• Do you have to pay an annual membership fee to be a member of the club? Do you pay weekly, monthly or termly?

The World Golf Teachers’ Federation of Great Britain (WGTFGB)  

Qualifications/grades - children

The main achievement that a golfer will earn is their handicap. For junior golfers, a handicap can be allowed to reach 54 but will be reduced to 28 for men and 36 for women as they turn 18 (or 16 in some places). Each time your child finishes a round of golf, their scorecard can be handed into the course’s clubhouse and they will work out what your child’s handicap should be based on their previous scores. The two key milestones for your child to achieve are first to become a bogey golfer, by having a handicap of 18, and then becoming a scratch golfer, by having a handicap of 0. However this is no easy achievement as scratch golfers often then turn pro!

Many golf clubs will have their own grading system for their junior clubs to keep track of the kids’ progress. This may include a system of achievement levels that progress through red, yellow, green, bronze, silver gold, for example. The achievements they are able to complete will be reflected in the level that they are at and their playing ability.

Qualifications of coaches

A handicap is also a good indicator of the ability level of the coach. Most coaches will be scratch golfers, but of course this does not necessarily mean they are the best at coaching your child.

A qualified golf teacher must have a level 3 diploma recognised by the WGTFGB and have attended a number of additional training courses in various disciplines such as junior golf and club fitting.

• Balance
• Posture
•   Endurance
• Focus
• Concentration
• Motivation
• Maturity
• Patience
• Relaxing
• Calming
• Etiquette  

Golf is a very traditional game with manners and etiquette at its heart. Coupled with focus and concentration, Golf is a very relaxing sport that places a lot of emphasis on social and mental development rather than physical. However, golf can also be very physically demanding. By spending hours in the sun (or rain) carrying round a bag full of golf clubs, your child’s endurance will be tested!

Tiger Woods (born December 30, 1975) – Eldrick Tont Woods (more commonly known as “Tiger”) is amongst the most successful golfers of all time. He has achieved a career grand slam 3 times by winning all the major tournaments in the same year. Woods took up golf before the age of 2 years old and went on to win a number of youth competitions.

Jack Nicklaus (born January 21, 1940) has won the most major golf titles in the history of the game. He has also won over 100 titles in total making him the 3^rd all-time high achiever. He took up golf at the age of 10 and also enjoyed American football and basketball. He is now on the Champions Tour (for retired players) and doing very well even at over 70 years old.

Rory McIlroy MBE (born May 4, 1989) has been described as the Woods of the current generation of golf. He has had 7 tournament wins including 2 majors, which has seen him to world no. 1.

Samuel L Jackson (born December 21, 1948) – According to the Guinness Book, he is the highest grossing actor of all time. However he still makes time for a good round of golf to help him wind down between filming.
 

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