5 Ways to Make Junior Golf More Fun Junior Golf December 18, 2017 Golf is the family sport - something that brings together all ages and can be enjoyed for a lifetime. Starting your kids early is good, but starting them off in the right way is much more important. Teach them the love of the sport and focus on fun, friends, family, AND then the fundamentals. We have 5 tips to making sure your litle golfers learns that it's fun first and then worries about the score later. 1. Explore the game Golf is ultimately a game of creativity. Kids are naturally curious, inquisitive, and creative. Let them explore the game on their own at the outset. Don't focus on the things that make it a game - rules, ettiquette, scoring. Focus on the things that make it fun - being with friends, enjoying nature, hitting a good shot. Follow them around and explain the things they're curious about. The rule of thumb is this: You are there to do what they want to do, not what you want them to do. 2. Etiquette for safety, not for stuffy Some of golf's etiquette are for the protection of other golfers and the enjoyment of all - focus on keeping your kids safe. Where to stand, what to do when you're not hitting, paying attention to the golfers around you - YES. How to replace a divot - YES, but LATER 3. Use the right equipment Gone are the days when a sawed down set of Dad's clubs are the only option. There are numerous systems that grow with your kid's bdy and your kid's interest in the game. We start with SNAG (starting new at golf) because it focuses on the fun and not hitting a small white golf ball. Kids quickly learn the athletic elements of golf and can apply these skills to a traditional golf club. 4. Focus on the hole and move backwards Too often we focus on hitting from the range, but kids can have the most success immediately by working backwards from the hole. Start with putting. Kids love seeing the ball go in the hole and it provides instant feedback. Plus it's the same results they see from mom and dad. Chipping is the best way to advance the swing as you move to a more complete swing. No one starts with a 300 yard drive. Start where your kids will see the most instant feedback. 5. End it like you do - with a treat How do you end your rounds? With a beer, cocktail, stogie, and a laugh with your friends. Make sure your kids get to enjoy the full experience of why you like to golf - friendship, camaraderie, and a treat to make all the bad shots a distant memory. Learn About Our Program Related Articles Make Your Golf League More Fun - Host a Shootout Thinking differently about how you play golf with your league can reinvigorate excitement and interest in the golf league. Holding an annual "shootout" can be a great way to play competitive golf in a new way with your league. Why You Should Join a Golf League League golf can SEEM intimidating - handicaps, playing with new people, not knowing the scoring/format. In reality its just a great excuse to play more golf. The majority of the leagues hosted at Oak Glen are recreational, fun, and more about enjoying a post-round beer than counting birdies and bogeys. Are You Making the Most of Your Golf Event? We see hundreds of golf events hosted at Oak Glen each year – many of them are fundraisers for a charity or cause. We’ve been asking our golf outing coordinators how much they raise during the day of their golf event and the results are all over the place. Sadly, it’s our guess that the energy and effort for almost all of our events are similar. So what gives you the biggest ROE (return on energy)? We have some theories and have put in place a number of tools to help our outing coordinators raise the bar when it comes to raising funds for their charity golf event. World Cup FootGolf Jul142018 12:30 PM Oak Glen Executive Course We're hosting a FootGolf Event on Saturday, July 14th. Sunday will be the finals for the World Cup so catch the soccer (footbal) bug and give FootGolf a try. FootGolf is just like regular golf except players kick a soccer ball and attempt to get their soccer ball into a 21-inch diameter cup using the fewest number of kicks. If you can kick a soccer ball, you can play FootGolf. Anyone can do it! Family Golf Day May112019 3:00 PM Executive Course Come out for a fun junior golf kickoff at Oak Glen on Saturday, May 11th. Meet the instructors, fit your kid for clubs, hit free range balls, compete in chipping contests. Additionally we'll be hosting a parent/child event. Play with your kiddo or grandkid . The registration fee is $25/team and includes 9 holes of golf and prizes. Each player will hit their shot, the one with the best shot is the ball that will be used for the next shot. Compete as two-person teams (signup as pairs) and play "scramble" against the field. Players will play 9 holes, a tournament winner will be determined via the lowest team score. Start Your Event with a One Putt Starting your golf event off the right way can be hard. You've given thought to registration, to the golf, to the banquet, but what about the captive audience you have right before tee'ing off? The One Putt is a great way to gather your golfers, start the festivities together, and another opportunity for your event to raise money for your charity (if that’s the purpose of your event). Comments are closed.