The Junior Golf Parent - The Journey Part I

Parenting for junior golfers is a rite of passage. Every parent begins the journey in a certain way depending on the age your kid gets the golf bug, their temperament, your temperament, their level of success, their expectations, your expectations, and some other miscellaneous factors that escape me at the moment. Depending on all these factors over time, and time itself, parents change or become solidified or emboldened in the manner in which they support, follow, and push their junior golfer through their developmental years, and beyond. And no matter what I write here, they'll all probably do it they way they were meant to do it, regardless. But if you are listening, heed some advice. Let your junior golfer have fun, above all else. Let the pressure they put on themselves, be the only pressure they feel. Don't let your life become invested in theirs. Savor their successes for them, and support them through their failures as the great life lessons they can be. If you are a cheerleader, display decorum. There are other kids out there not always making the shot. Don't gasp, scream at the ball, jump crazily up and down. And of course, don't get in their face or any junior golfer's face. Stay out of it. Golf is unique in not requiring umpires or referrees to monitor every second of play. So it doesn't need an invested, stressed out parent getting into the act. It's a great game and a great rite of passage for your kid. You're mature, make sure your passage is quicker than theirs.