For those parents wanting to introduce golf to their sons or daughters, here are some tips from our pros to make sure the children’s experience is worthwhile Make It Fun Let them be kids. When they’re having fun, they are more open to learning. Keep It Simple Sure, every parent wants his son to be the next Tiger, but kids don’t need professional instruction at 4 or 5 years old. Let them take some hacks and see where it leads. No Hybrids Necessary When learning the basics, it’s not important to have top-notch equipment. A old club and a wiffle ball in the backyard are just fine to start. Don’t Over-Teach Empower them by having them figure out their swing. Don’t be so quick to fix it; they’ll find out what works. The game is all about self-correction on the course. Let ‘Em Swing Rather than demonstrate or lecture, let them have at it. They need to try different clubs and different shots to experience how to do it. They learn faster when it’s hands-on. Don’t Keep Score At the early ages, golf’s not about scoring, but being together with parents or friends. It’s a great opportunity for four hours of quality time. Give Positive Reinforcement! When a parent sells the game to a child with enthusiasm, there a good chance the child will become enthusiastic about it, too. Always be positive, even if your child takes a while to figure things out. At this age, sharing a smile with a parent is more important than getting it right.