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!

So after a wonderful family vacation in Italy for 10 days, I am back and am irritated and embarrassed!

If you remember a awhile back on one of my posts, I shared my frustration with you about the sad state of America and our obesity problem that exists. I reported the latest numbers that said that 40% of Americans are now overweight and 20% are now considered obese. That is a whopping total of 60% of American adults!

Well, if any of you have been to Italy, you know that the populous as a whole is not overweight and consume large amounts of oils, fats, fish, wine and carbs.

But here’s the deal, they walk everywhere and consume food that is as natural as possible! Most all their foods are fresh and not processed like ours!

I did a personal experiment. For 10 days, I enjoyed wine, olive oil, pasta, meat, yummy coffee and of course, gelato every night! I did approx 2-3 miles of walking to all of the fabulous sites, about 50 push ups everyday, and I honestly can say I didn’t gain any weight!

Now, don’t get me wrong, I can’t wait to get back to the gym right after I post this, but my over all point is that “fat” isn’t our problem! It’s lack of protein in our diets, over loading on the white foods/ fast foods/ dairy products/ sugar and not enough exercise that is our problem!

My proof? Besides all of the research I have that backs it up…it was the airport, yes the airport!

Seeing otherwise “fit and healthy” Italians all week and not very many Americans made it exceptionally shocking to stand in line at our US Airways ticket counter and see nothing but overweight and obese Americans…seriously…like 95% of the entire line (and it was long!) was this way! It was sad and frustrating, BUT, it made me more vigilant to speak the truth to you our loyal readers, the young people and golfers across this great country.

That is why we frequently use the phrase, “Golf Fitness is Life Fitness.” Not only will your game improve if you exercise regularly, but you will do your country a favor by staying one of the 40% who aren’t overweight or obese and you will also tend toward promoting a healthy lifestyle to your kids and grandkids, and that, my friends, is how we change golf and lives forever!

Do these tips for more mobile and stable hips and you will drive the ball farther!
Remember, studies show, the farther you can hit it, the lower your handicap!