I am sure that you have heard the saying that golf is "A game for a lifetime". This saying is most often used when referring to senior golfers, but it really applies to golfers of all ages. It applies for juniors, through teens, and adults of all ages, right through the senior years and yet most instruction is directed at the middle of the spectrum and the special needs of juniors and seasoned citizens are often ignored. Today I want to address some special instruction for juniors (and their parents) and seniors (and their children).

JUNIORS:

For years parents have started their children playing golf by giving them cut down adult clubs. In recent years it has been recognized how detrimental this can be to the development of young players. By cutting down an adult club you effectively increase the stiffness of the shaft. In addition the weight of an adult club head is far to great for the new length of the club. There are now companies like U.S. Kids Golf and Golf Clubs 4 Kids that specialize in the properly weighted equipment for juniors. No graphite or titanium here, but these clubs are affordable and will enable your junior to start properly.

Many parents have asked me when they should start their children playing golf? The answer is easy, when they are interested in it. Some kids express interest earlier than others. Take them to the putting green when you go and help them putt a few. Take then to the range when you hit balls and let them watch. They will let you know. Whenever you choose to do this, be sure your children are not disruptive to the practice of others. It is a great time to introduce your children to the etiquette of golf. At the point they express interest, get them some instruction. Find a junior clinic or program at a local club and enroll them. Clinics are good because there are other children there and a fun learning environment may be achieved. Before enrolling your child, spend a few minutes with the pro and inquire about their philosophy of junior instruction. As a guideline, here are a few of mine:

1. The program should be geared toward a fun introduction into the game of golf.
2. Learning should be presented in the form of games, not drills.
3. They should teach the ten-finger grip, not the overlap or interlock as these are for people with large hands, not kids.
4. The sessions should not be so long as to create boredom.
5. Fun should be goal, not competition.
6. A good introduction into the etiquette of the game is critical.
7. Proper dress and decorum should be mandatory.

If you are satisfied that these are met, sign them up.

If you have not been trained to do so, leave the instruction to the professionals, otherwise your children are likely to inherit your mistakes. Remember that your children are the future of the game. Start them right!

SENIORS:

Our seasoned citizens make up a large part of the golfing public (remember baby boomers?). The desire to improve does not stop at a specific age. It is unfortunate, but many times when seniors go for lessons, the instructor tries to teach the usual "tour pure" swing. Most golfers, let alone seniors, are incapable of making some of the moves necessary. It is the instructor’s job to find out what the student is capable of doing and then help create the simplest, most effective swing for that student. My mother is a seasoned citizen who still works very hard at her game. Although she has a very smooth swing and a very good short game, when I am in Florida she generally asks me for a lesson every few weeks (no I don’t charge her!). Many times she wants to work on recovering some of the distance we naturally lose as we get older. Distance is directly related to club head speed. Since the loss of distance is usually related to a loss of flexibility and the ability to turn the body as fast as we did when we were younger, it is important to find other ways to produce club head speed. To do so it is necessary to violate some of the "rules" of the golf swing. One of the most effective ways to produce more club head speed is to allow more elbow bend at the top of the backswing. This technique was used extensively in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s because back then golf was played in coats, and ties for the men and long restrictive dresses for the ladies. It will lead to some directional control but for most seniors, who usually hit it straight down the middle, even on an errant shot, they are unlikely to get into trouble and the extra 10 to 20 yards will enable them to reach more greens in regulation.

Another area involves injuries and infirmities. A number of years ago, my Dad had both knees surgically replaced. Following a period of recuperation he wanted to start to play golf again but was concerned about the effect the turn on the forward swing might have on his new knees. There is a direct relationship between the distance the hands are from the body at address and the amount of turn necessary to clear the forward hip on the forward swing. The closer your hands are to your body, the more the body has to turn to clear the hip. As you move away from the ball and move your hands further from your body, the amount of turn required decreases. I moved him a little away from the ball, the required turn was decreased and the apprehension disappeared.

A retired couple at White River, were students of mine. The woman had a bad case of arthritis in her hands, which made holding the club difficult. Her husband was an amateur club builder and I discussed with them the possibility of building up her grips. He did me one better. He fitted all her clubs with oversized putter grips. The size and flat front of these grips combined with two golf gloves allowed for a much more comfortable swing. This unique solution allowed her to enjoy the game again and hopefully will for many years to come. So when you choose to take a lesson, make your instructor aware of any special needs you may have.

In short I feel that for "the good of the game" we should try to get our juniors started right, keep our seniors playing by using innovative ideas and above all, ENJOY THIS GREAT GAME!

Copyright © 1999 Bruce R. Munch       
All Rights Reserved