My PGA Golf Coach

I get asked so often by parents and grandparents, “When should I start my junior playing golf?”  Well, that’s not a simple answer.  For most kids, you can start them about four years old.  That being said, I have a two and half year old “client” who hits the ball pretty darn well.  But the key here is that this two year old enjoys it!  Many kids don’t have the attention span or the desire to play dad/mom/grandparent’s favorite past time at the age of two.

Take your junior out to the driving range, follow my tips on equipment for juniors and how to get them started.  If they have fun, great!  Keep at it.  If they don’t want to be there, as much as it may kill you, take them for ice cream and go home!  If you force this game on juniors (and I’ve seen my share of over-passionate parents), they’ll hate it for life.  Walk away, try again in a few months.  When they are just starting, keep it fun and short.  Let them be excited to golf another day!

Many golfers don’t take the time to think about their feet. Well, their stance, anyway. Your stance at set-up is so important to your golf swing.  When you set up to hit the ball, most golfers know that your feet should be shoulder width apart.  However, you wouldn’t believe how many people never look down to check.  And you may be losing distance! Read more…

When we talk about the etiquette of golf, there really isn’t too much that is all that different from etiquette in our daily lives.  Treat others as you want to be treated!  But all too often, as in life, golfers get so absorbed in this wonderful game, they lose their manners!  If you are the guy/gal at the cocktail party talking too loud or spilling your drink on others as you bully your way to the buffet, chances are, you won’t be invited back.  Guess what, same goes for the golf course.   I came across this really funny video I thought might be a good primer for basic golf course etiquette!  Thanks to Bill Pennington and The NYT for this great piece!

I truly do know the history of golf, but Robin Williams’ version is so much funnier. BE WARNED!  This is a video for mature audiences only! It is after all, Robin Williams.

This may sound like a simple question, but you wouldn’t believe how many MEN people I see on the wrong golf tee box.  By this I mean – golf course designers design  golf courses according to different ability levels – creating a challenging and enjoyable round of golf for every level of player.  They put the most forward tees, or the junior tees, where they are so that a junior can play with  a low handicap adult, playing from the blues or the blacks, and both can have a great experience.  It’s almost like another facet of the handicap system.  The tees are put where they are, not because it looks good, but because it was built around golfers with different ability levels.  Then they make it look good!  Believe me, if you are a new golfer, you don’t want to try to make it over the water hazard from the black tees.  And if you are a scratch golfer, playing from the white tees will be boring, at best.  Trust the golf course designers and choose the appropriate set of golf tees.  Check it out….