Golf for Juniors

Equipment

It is very important for children playing golf to be using the correct equipment, particularly if they are new to the game. Obviously an adult-sized golf club would not be suitable for children until they are fully grown. All sports equipment manufacturers recognise this problem and have developed equipment suitable for children of all ages.

The equipment available for hire at the Pitch and Putt Golf sites includes a complete range of junior clubs, suitable for children of 5 years old and upwards.

If you are buying clubs for a child the staff in the golf equipment shop will advise as to the most suitable length of club for the child's size. As a general rule, if the club is placed against the child's outside leg the top of the grip should be level with the waist.

Safety tips

When children are playing sport they are so busy enjoying themselves that they do not always think about how to ensure their actions do notendanger themselves or other players.

The golf site staff are instructed to ensure that all players are fully conversant with the rules of safety. These rules include:

• STAND AT LEAST 4 METRES BEHIND THE PLAYER TAKING THEIR SHOT. A player hit by a swinging club can sustain a very serious injury.


• DO NOT WALK AFTER YOUR BALL UNTIL ALL PLAYERS HAVE PLAYED THEIR SHOTS. A player walking ahead of their playing partners can easily be hit by a ball struck by one of their playing partners.


• DO NOT START A HOLE UNTIL THE GROUP IN FRONT HAS LEFT THE GREEN. Otherwise that group is in danger of being hit by a ball from the group following.

Golf tuition (Palewell only)

Because Pitch and Putt Golf is a scaled-down version of the proper game, it is the perfect way to introduce young children to the game. With or without formal tuition it is possible for a child as young as 5 years old to manage to get around the course.

However, like all sports being taken up by young children, it is a huge benefit for them to have some formal tuition from a professional golf teacher. In this way the child learns and establishes the proper techniques, and this will help them to play better, and therefore enjoy the game much more.

Karl Spurrier is the Golf Professional attached to the Palewell course. He offers tuition in two basic forms. Every Saturday he runs a 'Pay and Play' session, from 9.30 to 11.00. The cost is £7 per session, or £36 for a six-week block. The sessions are 'Mixed Ability' so even if the child is a total beginner these sessions will be useful. All you have to do to take part in these sessions is show up!

There are also courses held during the Easter and summer holidays. Some of these are golf only; others are combined with other sports. More information can be found on the Richmond Council site (PDF).

For all tuition sessions the player can bring their own equipment, or Karl has clubs available for players without their own equipment.