Dee here talking today to parents of junior golfers.

Do you want your child to play good golf, maybe even get a scholarship and go to college?

Then do both yourselves a favor and make sure you fully develop your child before making them exclusively play golf!

Here’s what I mean…there are many parents these days who want to create, ”the next Tiger.”

So they think that starting their kid as early as possible will lead to a successful career like Tigers. Well…that’s a bunch of BULL!

Tiger didn’t just play golf his entire young athletic career! He played soccer, track, golf and dabbled in other sports! He also had a golf fitness program along the way!

Let me provide you with some important tidbits of info to think about:

1. Growth changes do not equal developmental gain!
2. Juniors under-train, over-compete and no clue about recovery, oh, and it’s the same with the parents!
3. From a developmental stand point, a 12yr old can be 4 years apart!
4. Juniors need to learn to train and then train to train
5. For the boys, you will not be able tell how good a player he will be until his “nutts drop!” So in other words, until he matures 16+, you cannot make assumptions as to how good they will be, so don’t do it!
6. And lastly, boys will get strong several months after their growth spurt!

So here’s what you need to think about with your junior golfer (or any young athlete!), Let them play at least 4 sports till they are 16 yrs old, then if they are committed, then it is appropriate to be a golf exclusive athlete only.

Focus on “long term athletic development” (aka, a golf fitness program) starting at age 6 playing as many sports and activities as possible. This will fully develop the child’s neurological, neuromuscular, musculo-skeletal, emotional and cognitive skills required to become a good athlete who plays golf, instead of a golfer who has no physically strong characteristics, which will lead to a short golfing career!

Parents, PLEASE don’t make the mistake of thinking you know what is best for your child…you are not an expert! Consult those who are (like us), so your child will fully develop, play what they want, and so your relationship with them is still a great one, and not one that is being pushed by you!