Ideas for Parents and Trainers
By Josh Doxtator, PGA
General Manager, Harbor Shores Golf Club, Benton Harbor
Engaging the junior golfer is much more complicated than it used to be.
Technological advancements and societal changes over the past 10-15 years have presented new challenges, but also new opportunities for golf instructors and course operators.
The biggest barriers to welcoming new juniors to the game are time and cost.
Time presents a barrier that we must address. It is our job as owners and operators to be more creative with our golf programming in order to attract and retain the younger generation of golfers. It’s important to develop short, entertaining programming that fits into a family’s busy schedule.
BENTON HARBOR, MI – MAY 26: Spectators in the YMCA Kids Zone during the Third Round for the 79th KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship held at Harbor Shores Golf Club on May 26, 2018 in Benton Harbor, Michigan. (Photo by Montana Pritchard/PGA of America)
Offering an Open House or hosting a Kids Demo Day are simple ways to expose youth to this wonderful game in a flexible way. During these events, it’s important to create a welcoming atmosphere and non-judgmental attitude.
We should adopt an “It’s Okay” attitude. “It’s Okay” to wear gym shorts, “It’s Okay” to wear a princess dress…you get the idea! Remember, “It’s Okay” to miss, chunk, thin, slice, stab the chicken, and hit a crowd killer or ankle chaser. Keep it light and enjoyable, laugh with them and always encourage them.
As far as cost, national programs such as The First Tee and PGA Junior League have created a welcoming environment for all juniors, regardless of their economic position. We are extremely fortunate at Harbor Shores to house a First Tee facility onsite and accommodate more than 1,000 youth in the local community and surrounding areas; no child is turned away.
The same goes for PGA Junior League. Harbor Shores Resort will launch its first PGA Junior League this season and we’re committed to funding any participant that doesn’t have the financial means – and wherever you live multiple other PGA Sections have similar programs in place.
Another shift we’ve seen in our culture, especially with younger generations, is the importance of instant gratification.
This alone has posed a barrier for engagement. Golf is hard, period. In a world where results are expected immediately, golf can be especially challenging. The window to capture a junior golfer is very small. If they don’t experience some sort of instant gratification, we lose them. If we make sure they feel successful very quickly, there is a higher probability that they will stay engaged.
One way to do this is to create games where juniors are heavily favored to succeed through an accumulation of points. This way, juniors will see immediate success and still be encouraged to achieve more.
In order for us to build, nourish and retain juniors, we must step out of our comfort zones and start getting creative. The paradigm must shift, and the way we have tackled player development previously is no longer “one size fits all.”
The first impact a junior has with the game of golf will be short. But, if it is memorable and fun, you will get them back. Make it a good one.
