Guest Column by Jenn Brody
I am the mother of two successful competitive junior golfers – and the number one thing that I would like to start off with is that juniors (and adults) have to have fun. I know this sounds very cliché, but it really is so important. Creating a fun environment to introduce the game will help a junior learn to love the great game of golf, hopefully for the rest of their lives.
My daughter, Kate, is 16 years old and my son, Tyler, is 14. Both kids have been playing golf since they could walk, they love the game, and now play a lot of competitive golf. I feel so lucky that they both love to play. They both have been fortunate to get introduced to the game at Warwick Hills Golf and Country Club, where their dad, Doug Brody, is the head golf professional.
We started off taking them to the range, going for golf cart rides, playing a hole or two and getting treats at the halfway house. Doug also took the kids to play putt-putt golf any time he had the chance. It was another fun environment to be able to introduce them to the game and work on their putting without even knowing it!
We also always made sure they had the right length golf clubs. Clubs are like shoes, once you grow out of them, you have to get new ones!!
Now for the tough part of parenting competitive junior golfers. As parents, we have to let the kids own their own game. This doesn’t mean you can’t be involved but pressuring them to do what you want them to do doesn’t seem to work for the long haul. They have to be their own driving force to practice, play, and learn the game.
I have never made the kids practice or play if they didn’t want to. One very hard thing to do is, don’t yell at them or be upset with them for playing poorly. I promise you; competitive golfers know when they haven’t done well. No one ever tries to hit bad shots or miss putts. They don’t need the negative reinforcement from their parents. I cannot stress these last few sentences enough.
I really try to not even talk to the kids about their rounds unless they want to talk about it. This probably sounds a little too nice but telling the kids “I love to watch you play” is some of the best advice I have ever read. I’m not saying it’s easy to watch the kids have bad days or a bad round, but we have to be the safe place for them to land after those tough days. Hearing criticism or getting unsolicited advice is not the answer.
The only thing I get upset about are bad attitudes and tempers on the course. I had a terrible attitude and temper, and it did not help my performance at all. I want Kate and Tyler to respect their playing partners, spectators, the golf course, and the great game of golf.
Enjoy the ride of your junior’s competitive golf careers. It’s a game. It’s a hard game. It’s their game. Be their safe place to come to, not the place they are scared to go to. Remember to tell them how much you love to watch them play. It will go a long way.
Editor’s note: Both Brody children are highly successful Junior golfers. Tyler won two Hurricane Junior Tour events in January and reached the Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Finals at Oakland Hills as a 12-year-old. Kate won the Michigan high school Div. 1 state championship last fall, and competed in the National Finals of Drive, Chip and Putt at Augusta National in April.
