More and more children today are expressing an interest in playing golf but, as a parent, how do you decide whether or not you should encourage an interest in something which could prove to be quite expensive?
With the worldwide popularity of golf these days it is no surprise that more and more kids are expressing an interest in the game. But, this is not the cheapest of sports and parents are frequently worried that this could well be nothing more than a passing fad. So, how do you decide whether or not you should encourage a child to pursue an initial interest in the game of golf?
This is a difficult question to answer and will to a large degree of course depend on your experience with your child. For example, if this is yet one more in an extensive line of interests which have rappidly fizzled out then you could rightly feel disinclined to dive in head first. However, if the interest seems real then you ought to encourage your child and assist him at least enough to see whether or not this will be something he will stick with.
You ought to start by arranging for your child to take a few lessons to show him what the game is about. This will also provide you with the opportunity to get an indication of your child's potential from a professional. This does not of course mean that you wish to know whether your child is going to be the next Tiger Woods, but merely if he has the aptitude, temperament and outlook and hence the potential to master the game enough to get a true and lasting enjoyment out of it.
If after this course of lessons the golf professional is satisfied with what he has seen and your child is even more enthusiastic about the game than he was when he started then it is time to get behind him and provide him with the support and encouragement to move forward. This, for example, is the time to buy him his first set of junior golf clubs and arrange for further lessons to get him up and running under his own steam. This is also an excellent time to help him to make friends with other children in the area who are also learning to play golf.
This is also the point at which you need to prepare yourself for what could prove to be a bumpy road and to understand that you will need to keep an eye on your child's progress and provide both encouragement and assistance when needed.
Golf can be a difficult game to play and, unlike many other sports, it requires less physical strength and more patience, mental agility, practice and coordination. However these are qualities that it can be hard for a child to master and it is not, for example, uncommon to see a youngster struggling because he is gaining the physical strength to hit the ball considerable distances but cannot summon up the coordination required to get it to go in the direction he wishes. It is on occasions like these, and there will be a lot of them, that you will have to be around to lend a helping hand.
One of the advantages of golf is that it is not solely dependent upon physical strength and fitness and, for this reason, it is often seen as the ideal sport for kids who would not by nature turn to sports like baseball or football.
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