Golf drills to teach your kids to play golf

There is a widespread belief that golf is a sport exclusively for adults. Nothing could be further from the truth, this sport can also delight the youngest members of the household if they get used to it from an early age and are instilled with a love for this activity that can bring them so many benefits in their development.

The game of golf for children should not only focus on teaching them how to make a good swing or achieve a perfect technique. The main thing for children who are starting to play golf is that they have fun. This is the only way to get them to want to continue playing and to fully develop the skills that this sport will give them. In this way they will also begin to identify the values that it transmits and that will be very useful in all aspects of their lives.

Benefits of playing golf with children

Some of the benefits that golf activities for children can provide are:

- Attention span and concentration.

- Ability to control emotions and manage frustration.

- Decision-making skills.

- Respect for the rules of golf, generally stricter than those they may have at home.

- Ability to identify mistakes in order to correct them.

- Ability to organise and control time.

- Ability to create a routine that can be extrapolated to your future study routine.

Although it is true that some people say that the right age for children to play golf is between 4 and 10 years old, the reality is that any age is good as long as the child wants to play. Children can start playing golf from the age of 4. Before that age it is a bit complicated as they will not be able to hold the club or make the necessary gesture to hit the ball. But the main criterion for children to enjoy it is that they do not see it as an obligation and that they have the ability to choose whether they want to play it freely.

A great option to do this could be to plan a golf holiday with children in which they can learn first-hand about the sport and get started with some exercises designed to awaken their interest. In addition, playing golf as a family can become an activity in which to build bonds and trust between parents and children.

How to teach children to play golf

To introduce a child to golf, the main thing is to become familiar with the environment. Getting to know the golf course and seeing adults and other children practising can help you do much of the work, as they will understand it as just another activity that other children do, such as running, jumping or, in general, any other common game. A buggy ride in the countryside can arouse more interest than a motivational talk.

If the child is interested in finding out what it is all about and how it can be practised then it is time to consider golf activities for children. However, you must keep in mind that to explain the technical side of golf to the little ones the main thing is to be very visual, comparing with things that are familiar to them such as animal poses, something that will help them to better understand the concept.

But, without a doubt, the main thing to achieve this is to have a lot of patience and be very consistent. Golf is an individual sport and it may be that, although showing interest initially, the child may not be fully interested until they have been playing for some time and begin to learn the rules of the game.

Learning the strength - distance relationship

 Among the golf exercises for children that you can use to familiarise them with the sport, the main one is to let them become familiar with the elements of the sport. Let them experiment with the club, get to know its weight and the contact with the ball... Even if they are a child with great golf skills, they need to know very well the tools they need and the space.

To start with, it is always advisable to try putting as it is the easiest stroke for them. You can try spending some time with him/her in the putting practice area and set up targets at different distances so that he/she can get to grips with the putt and without realising it, start to learn the relationship between the force applied, the stroke of the putter and the distance.

Direction and slopes

One of the main aspects to bear in mind when practising golf is knowing how to manage the direction of the ball so that it goes where you want it to go. In the same area where the ball is kicked and so that the child learns to read the green, you can draw a line or a path with two rods and a short distance towards the hole so that the child can try to make the ball run between the two margins. As the child achieves the target, you can trace the path further and further away.

Playing the target by approaching

This golf exercise for children is ideal for practising individually or against an opponent. In the approach area, set up different targets from an imaginary tee. You then take it in turns to take three shots each towards the imaginary flag and the player who hits the ball closest scores points. Like petanque or curling, or as if it were a target, you have to get close to the marked centre. Little by little you can move the target further away.

Pitch & Putt for beginners

Finally, to introduce the child to the concept of golf first hand, there is the possibility of starting him or her on a short hole. If you don't have the possibility of playing 9 or 18 holes on a Pitch & Putt, you can play the par 3's of the course with your child. It is a good way to pass on the love for this sport and to give them their first contact with what you do on a complete course. That's why you can include it in your plans with children in La Manga if you have decided to visit this area during your holidays.

There are many options and games to introduce children to golf. Swing, approach and putt, depending on the level of your children you can choose or design the game that best suits their situation. But remember the most important thing is to enjoy these family plans in the open air.