The Importance of Junior Golf:
By Dale van der Merwe
We Adults who play golf will know what an amazing game it is. Firstly which other sport gets you out in the open for 5 Hours, walking and spending time with good mates, as well as meeting total strangers, while getting a good work out. It is also a sport where you yourself are the player and referee.
So here is my take on why it is important for kids to get involved in junior golf programs.
Sport is an important part of everyday life, a little competition never hurt anybody, and it provides the opportunity to learn and have fun. It teaches patience, fairness and etiquette as well as honesty, integrity and respect for others.
Golf is also a great opportunity to meet new people and get much needed exercise. In this “Techno Age” I believe a lot of kids just end up playing on gaming systems or watching TV but never actually getting out and enjoy the fresh air. It also gives us a way to bond with our children in an enjoyable environment.
But even more importantly to remember as a parent, the younger you start your kids playing, the better understanding and knowledge they will possess of the game. If they want to carry on golf as more than just a hobby, it starts with you as a parent. South Africa has been blessed with amazing world class golfers over the years, and for this legacy to continue it is imperative that we as parents invest in our children, get them into sport, any sport, especially sports like golf.
Golf is an individual as well as a team sport which brings the whole camaraderie factor into play. It is amazing to see how many schools are bringing golf in as a sport. So I believe let’s get our kids involved in a junior golf program and with all the benefits they receive it can only do good for the future generation.
Courses with good Junior Programmes:
Royal Johannesburg and Kensington
Houghton Golf Club