Instruction

The Gift of Junior Golf: How To Introduce Your Child to the Game for a Lifetime

Published

9 years ago

Jun 25, 2017

Golf has been described as “the greatest game ever played” and “the game you can play for a lifetime.” It can be one of the greatest gifts a parent gives their child.

Introducing a youngster to golf and helping them navigate their formative years through junior golf can be both exciting and challenging. Most junior golf parent start with great intent, to give their child the gift of the game. Unfortunately, sometimes this original intention can get lost along the way by visions of potential opportunities golf can afford. Although it would be exhilarating to one day see your son or daughter playing college golf or on television celebrating a professional victory, I believe it’s important to see the bigger picture and stick to your original intentions. When a parent’s primary focus is to make the game a positive experience for their child, junior golfers have the greatest opportunity to reach their potential on and off the course.

Enjoyment of the game is one of the keys to junior golfers developing the motivation to consistently work hard at golf. Genuine intrinsic motivation increases a golfer’s resiliency and ability to bounce back. An inner love for the game also decreases the likelihood of burnout and dropout. Children who find an internal passion for the game will be able to share it with their children. The gift of introducing your child to the game can turn into the gift that keeps on giving; one day, you might find yourself playing golf with your grandchildren. Even with all these positives related to intrinsic motivation and passion for the game, however, sharing it with your child can be complicated. There is good news and bad news.

Bad news first. As much as a parent would like to instill a love for the game in their child, they can’t. Parents can’t give their children a love for the game; they can only give their children the opportunity to find their own love for the game.

Now for the good news. When you give your child the opportunity to experience golf without an agenda, everyone wins. Letting your child pursue sports, activities, and recreation with their personal interest in mind allows them to discover what they love. If it’s not golf, it will be a sport or activity that gives them as much enjoyment as golf gives you. It also allows them the opportunity to enjoy golf enough to do it as a recreational activity, even if it’s not their leading passion.

The following are some guidelines to consider when introducing and navigating your child’s experience in junior golf. These ideas are helpful to junior golfers of all ages and abilities. It doesn’t matter whether your child is 6 or 16, or a beginner or an elite player. These ideas will help lead to both a positive experience and performance.

1. Lead By Example

Children and adolescents are sponges, and junior golfers are no different. A lot of what kids learn and how they act is based on how the adults around them conduct themselves. This phenomenon is referred to in psychology as Social Learning Theory. For instance, if a child sees their parent or coach get angry and frustrated after a shot, the junior golfer will learn that it’s a socially acceptable to get angry after a shot. If junior golfers see their parents and coaches enjoying the game and persisting through challenges, they will have the opportunity to learn that golf is fun and enjoyable. They will also learn how to effectively deal with adversity.

2. Engage Your Junior Golfer In As Many Different Sports And Activities As Possible, Especially Early On

Even though parents would love to see their children play golf, it’s extremely beneficial to expose them to different sports, especially between the ages of 6-12. Participating in different activities helps develop motor patterns, balance, and coordination, which in turn will be helpful to their future experiences in golf. Playing other sports will also give juniors a break from golf, which can help them physically and mentally recover.

3. Focus On The Positives And Seek Solutions

There is a common practice among golfers to focus on the negatives. It’s important to be the mature voice of reason around your junior golfer. Parents should focus on the positives surrounding their junior golfer’s performance and encourage them to do the same. When juniors are experiencing genuine challenges, it’s important for parents to help them seek solutions instead of indulging in the negative aspects of the challenge. Optimism is a skill that can be learned; it’s important that parents help their juniors develop this skill.

4. Focus On Process Over Outcome

It is natural for junior golfers to focus on outcomes like score and the leaderboard and where they finished. Focusing on outcome can be a good way to build confidence. Unfortunately, many junior golfers have the tendency to cast their score and performance in a negative light. It’s important to help junior golfers realize what they did well when they are not happy with their outcome.

Juniors can focus on a range things relating to their process such as their: effort, attitude, preparation, decision-making, persistence, and sportsmanship. Focusing on their personal processes can give them positive takeaways and also help them learn how to effectively manage their responses.

5. Let Your Junior Golfer Choose To Participate

It’s important that junior golfers feel they are the one choosing to play golf. Feeling like you are being made to do something takes the enjoyment out of the activity. It’s always better that junior golfers feel they are choosing to play and compete. This promotes autonomy, self-reliance, and motivation. I am not recommending that you allow your kids to stay home playing video games (it’s important they participate in outside social activities), but let them choose what activities they participate in. Worst-case scenario, give them options to choose from: for example, golf camp or summer camp.

6. Hold Your Junior Golfer Accountable Once They Sign Up

Junior golfers should have the opportunity participate in the decision-making process and provide input regarding golf camps, clinics, and tournaments in which they wish to compete. Once they make a commitment, however, they should be required to stick to it. This will help them learn important values like responsibility and accountability.

There are effective and ineffective ways of holding your junior golfer accountable. Saying, “You signed up for golf camp, that’s the end of the debate,” in a loud voice is not typically the best approach. Explain to them before signing up that after they commit it’s important that they follow through and give a 100-percent effort. If your junior golfer says they don’t want to participate after signing up, tell them they can choose to not participate next time, but they have already made the commitment this time and it’s important to honor your commitments.

7. Let Your Junior Golfer Choose To Specialize In Golf

There is a lot of debate within sport science whether junior golfers should specialize and focus solely on one sport or play multiple sports. Junior golfers are specializing more often and at younger ages than ever before. Parents and juniors are feeling pressure to specialize in fear of being left in the dust. On the surface, specializing sounds like a great idea, but it’s an important decision that deserves further examination.

Jean Cote, Joseph Baker, and Bruce Abernethy have been researching this exact topic for more than a decade. They’ve found that specializing too early can lead to more challenges than positives, especially for sports like golf where athletes peak later in adulthood. Cote and colleagues make two important assertions regarding specializing in sport:

Children should be the ones who choose to specialize and focus on a single sport.
The earliest this choice should generally be made is between the ages of 13-16.

With that said, I understand that college coaches are recruiting earlier than ever, and parents may have concerns relating to getting a golf scholarship. I believe a positive balance can be struck.

Junior golfers younger than 13 can still focus largely on golf while still being engaged in other activities. It’s also important for parents of junior golfers to pay close attention for signs of overtraining and burnout, especially since burnout can lead to many negative outcomes including dropping out. Remember, it’s impossible to play college golf if you stop playing golf. Many of the concerns surrounding burnout are alleviated when parents follow the other suggestions in this article and stay focused on the No. 1 priority: making junior golf a positive and enjoyable experience.

8. Support More Than Coach

Being both your child’s golf coach and No. 1 supporter is a difficult balance to strike. With that in mind, I recommend that parents don’t coach their junior golfer outside the basic fundamentals. And even during this time, there primary focus should be that their child is enjoying the time with mom and dad.

I recommend finding a coach once your junior golfer decides to start competing and taking the game more seriously. There are success stories that contradict this philosophy, but the negatives generally outweigh the positives. There are many great junior golf coaches, but a junior golfer only has two parents. Being a parent is one of the most important responsibilities in life, so it’s imperative to do everything we can to succeed. When your child has an opportunity pursue the game of golf and spend quality time with mom and dad, everyone wins.

Instruction

How to play your best golf when the temperature drops

Published

3 months ago

Feb 3, 2026

Brendon Elliott

The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.

“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.

Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.

If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.

Understand What Cold Does to Your Game

Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.

Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.

Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.

Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing

Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.

Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.

Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.

Take More Club Than You Think You Need

This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.

The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.

Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.

Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens

Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.

Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.

Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.

Embrace the Mental Challenge

Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”

That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.

Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.

Warm Up Longer and Smarter

This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.

World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.

Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.

The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.

PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.

Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!

Instruction

3 lessons from Brooks Koepka that’ll actually lower your score

Published

3 months ago

Feb 2, 2026

Brendon Elliott

Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.

What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.

So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.

Stop Overthinking Every Shot

Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.

This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.

How to actually do this:

On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.

Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.

If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.

This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.

Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)

Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.

Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:

Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.

Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.

Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.

Save Your Best for When It Counts

Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.

How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.

Here’s what actually works:

Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.

Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.

Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.

The Bottom Line

Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.

You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.

Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.

Instruction

What we can learn from Blades Brown’s impressive American Express performance

Published

3 months ago

Jan 29, 2026

Brendon Elliott

Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.

Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.

Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee

Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.

Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.

Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.

The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.

Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens

This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.

How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.

Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.

Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.

When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.

Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient

Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.

He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.

Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.

Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.

Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.

PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.