Foundations
Read in 5 minutesKeep them wanting to go back
The parent behaviour that keeps a young kid in the game, from families who lost one.
How to do it
- Read the car ride home rule before their next round.
- Decide now whether you are caddying or watching.
- Agree one thing you will not say at the course.
Start here
Read the car ride home ruleRead these first
- Read the guide
The Car Ride Home Rule: What to Say After a Bad Round
The ten minutes after a round shape how your junior talks to you for years. Here is the rule, why it works, and what to say instead of a breakdown of the back nine.
- Read the guide
Keeping Golf Fun for a Young Junior Golfer
A young player who wants to come back tomorrow is worth more than any swing improvement this month. Here is how to keep it that way, on purpose, instead of hoping it happens.
- Read the guide
Caddying for Your Own Junior Golfer, Without Becoming the Problem
Whether a parent may caddie at a junior golf tournament is decided by the organizer, and on some tours by the player's age division. U.S. Kids Golf encourages family members to caddie on its Local Tours and requires a caddie for players 8 and under, while the AJGA's local rules say players must not have a caddie unless its national headquarters permits one. Where a caddie is allowed, Rule 10.3 of the Rules of Golf lets the caddie carry the clubs and give advice, and makes the player responsible for what the caddie does. This guide takes permission first, then the job, then what a parent should hold back.
- Read the guide
What Golf Gives a Young Kid
No overclaiming here. Golf is not a cure for anything. It is outdoor time, a manageable pace, real etiquette, and a sport that still fits at 70. That is the actual case.