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What is the most common question asked by parents of junior golfers? Believe it or not, it’s “What can I do to make sure my child plays college golf?” People quickly jump to the final step of the process without considering the foundation and support structures that should come first in the chain of events. We like to tell a short story about the creation of ColoradoJuniorGolf.org to help lead into the beginning stages of junior golf for anyone who contacts our staff. A few years ago we received a phone call from parents in Colorado Springs who were beside themselves. Their middle school-aged daughter had recently visited Denver with her grandparents and was instantly hooked on the game while hitting balls with her grandfather at AquaGolf. Neither parent played golf but now that their daughter was home they wanted to help her continue to enjoy the game she’d quickly learned to love. “What do we do?” they asked. Out of this phone call, and many similar calls, ColoradoJuniorGolf.org was born. The goal of this article is to assist junior players and their families “Navigate Colorado Junior Golf”. While there will be a number of topics discussed we always encourage people to contact our staff or the staff of any organization listed to discuss the vast options available within our borders. “‘Navigating Colorado Junior Golf’ is a simple, basic way to manage the development of a junior player,” said Mac Thayer, executive director of Junior Golf Scoreboard. “Proving oneself at the ‘local’ level is a must and this road map is a great way to get started. Families that stick to the plan can ensure that there are challenges, golf remains fun and talent is developed before incurring the expense of trying to play a national schedule.” INSTRUCTION In Colorado, juniors have many opportunities to learn about the game of golf, from the beginner to the advanced competitive players. The key to finding the best instruction for your junior is to research all options and ask questions. All three of the following programs can help you find the best fit for your junior players: PGA & LPGA Professionals are universally recognized as the experts and teachers of golf. There is no quick and easy way to achieve PGA or LPGA certification. Members earn their status only after several years of work, study and training in every aspect of golf, ranging from teaching to tournament management to golf shop operations. And they must maintain their expertise through a variety of continuing-education programs. They also must pass a Playing Aptitude Test, furthering ensuring that they are uniquely qualified to teach the game of golf. If you are looking for a PGA or LPGA Professional to instruct your junior, contact a course in your area. In Colorado there are roughly 800 PGA and LPGA Professionals who oversee individual and group programs for juniors at nearly all of our 230-plus facilities. If you are familiar with the game of golf, you almost certainly will have heard about The First Tee. If you haven’t, The First Tee is a worldwide youth initiative created in 1997 to introduce young people of all backgrounds to the game of golf and the life lessons it teaches. Through The First Tee Life Skills Experience -- a curriculum for teaching character education through specific life skills -- children and teenagers discover how the skills essential to success on a golf course can help them flourish in life. These skills include self-management, interpersonal communication, goal-setting, mentoring and effective conflict resolution. The Life Skills Experience sets The First Tee apart from other junior golf programs and youth initiatives, and ultimately strives to instill in participants The First Tee Nine Core Values: honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment. The First Tee is represented in Colorado by four chapters: Denver, Eagle County, Green Valley Ranch, and Pueblo. Each chapter provides a variety of program opportunities, so please visit the website of the chapter nearest you for more information: The First Tee of Denver: www.TheFirstTeeDenver.com The First Tee of Eagle County: www.TheYouthFoundation.org The First Tee of Green Valley Ranch: www.TheFirstTeeGreenValleyRanch.org The First Tee of Pueblo: www.TheFirstTeePueblo.org If your local course does not have a First Tee chapter, don’t be discouraged. Most facilities offer similar programs. Make sure to review the Instruction section on ColoradoJuniorGolf.org or contact your local course to review the programs being offered in your area. For our young ladies, make sure to check out the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf programs here in Colorado. They provide opportunities for girls, ages 7 to 17 of all abilities, the chance to learn to play golf, build lasting friendships, and experience golf in a fun and supportive environment, preparing them for a lifetime of enjoyment with the game. Girls are learning values inherent to golf -- such as practice, respect, perseverance, and honesty -- preparing them to meet the challenges of today's world with confidence. Girls Golf provides a solid foundation for girls who want to play for fun with friends and family, to compete, or to learn for future career purposes. Participants are divided into skill levels for instruction. All levels include golf instruction and rules geared to the girls' skill level. The program teaches girls on the range as well as on the course, incorporating games and events. For more information and to find local chapters visit www.GirlsGolfOnline.org COMPETITION Competitive golf is an exciting and fun opportunity for juniors to meet and play with other golfers from around the state. Colorado is fortunate to have several associations and organizations that host junior tournaments throughout the year. Tournament golf is a great way for today’s juniors to build on competitive abilities as well as develop social skills. Unlike some other sports that are more adversarial by nature, golf tends to build upon the basic values of honesty, self-reliance, and integrity. Established in 1985, the Colorado Junior Golf Association (CJGA) is the youth tournament program of the Colorado Golf Association, an organization that leads, promotes and supports junior golf activities in Colorado for boys and girls, ages 18 and under. The CJGA conducts competitions for all levels of junior players, from beginners to the most advanced, as well as organizing rules and etiquette clinics, and serving as a clearinghouse for statewide junior golf. The CJGA, along with its parent organizations (CGA and CWGA), teach the USGA Rules of Golf, conduct the Girls and Boys State Junior Championships, oversee the Colorado High School Championships, and provide volunteer work opportunities. There are a number of other local organizations that conduct additional tournaments, giving Colorado juniors a tremendous amount of playing opportunities. The Gold Crown Junior Golf program provides competitive playing opportunities to kids ages 6 to 18 during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. The atmosphere is fun, relaxed, and friendly while rules enforcement is stressed. Following each event, players receive small-group instruction appropriate for their age and ability level. As players reach the middle-school and high-school level, the competitions shift from individually-focused to a team-oriented competition. The Northern Colorado Junior Golf Tour is dedicated to the advancement of local junior golfers through participation in a competitive team format. Each team consists of four members in each division. There will be a 14-to-18-year-old boys and girls team which will play 18 holes, and a 13-and-under boys and girls team which will play nine holes. Fees will apply at each golf course. Pikes Peak Junior Golf is an organization formed by the participating golf courses of Southern Colorado. They conduct weekly tournaments for players ages 10-18 (those age 10-13 play nine holes). The 18-hole golfers play as members of their respective golf course's team. These players must register with one of the participating golf courses. COLLEGE GOLF Too often we see the game as a means to the end. The thinking is, “Junior golf leads to a college scholarship.” While we are extremely proud of our alumni that have gone on to successful college careers and professional tours, we also realize that only a select few reach this golden path. More important is the fact the family gets to spend some great time together in a sport based on true integrity. College golf is a great avenue to expand horizons and add an additional dimension to the learning experience. We will assist any player in fulfilling their goals of taking their game to the next level. However, parents and players alike need to be realistic in their goals of playing on the college level. Parents tend to believe their “star” is ready to take on Tiger or Annika, when they really can’t dominate their local events. Our job is to advise those eager to take that next competitive step, no matter their true gifts on the course. Please realize we want every child to play on the college level, but we are going to recommend a path that is more based on a quality education that will suit the player’s needs. The Ping American College Golf Guide is a vital tool for any college-bound golfer. “As a college golf coach, we strongly encourage every junior golfer to do several things as they proceed throughout their athletic careers,” said Roy Edwards, men’s golf coach at the University of Colorado. “The first is to enjoy the competition. Second is to make sure you prove the ability to win at one level before you advance to the next. There is absolutely nothing that instills confidence like winning and playing good golf. The CGA and CJGA are not only excellent organizations, but they are perfect training grounds for young players aspiring to play high-level amateur and college golf. The tournaments are inexpensive and they are played on very good courses against outstanding competition.” As was mentioned earlier, the most common questions we receive are from parents who want to get their juniors to play golf at the collegiate level. In following our “road map” we suggest that players and their families begin their path at a young age at their home club and then work into local junior golf leagues. Once a player is ready for competition, he/she should focus on participating in their local junior tournaments and then look to participate in their local junior golf association. As players develop and have a desire to play nationally, they should focus on in-state national qualifying events including the U.S. Junior Amateur, Big I Junior Classic, Optimist International, Callaway Junior World, U.S. Kids, etc. The ultimate goal for junior players should be to point toward their state junior championships (Junior Stroke Play/Junior Match Play) and in certain states such as Colorado the high school championship. As our players prove they can compete at the highest level in the state, they can then start to compete at major national events like the Western Junior, Junior Americas Cup and selected national junior tour events. As schedules permit, most college coaches will suggest that you fill in selected regional golf tour events from tours such as the AJGA, IJGT, FCWT, RMJGT, Plantations, etc. Selecting a schedule from the vast lists of tournaments conducted both locally and nationally can be a daunting task. What makes it even more difficult is the fact that each junior’s schedule will need to be tailored to his/her specific needs and wants; no players are exactly alike. For assistance in building a schedule, contact the Colorado Junior Golf Association staff. We would enjoy the opportunity to discuss your “road map” over the phone or in person. |
It’s imperative that your practice sessions include switching targets, going through your routine and changing clubs often. Ideally this would be done on every swing and even if you’re working on your technique/mechanics. Through studies, it has been proven that you will take a more sound game to the course … and isn’t that what practice is all about – to make you a better player. |
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