USGTF Monthly Newsletter Archives - Page 23 of 139 - United States Golf Teachers Federation

1 Feb 2023 admin

Editorial – What is a Good Age for Juniors to Start Learning Golf?

Before my current tenure as a teaching professional at an indoor studio with all the latest in video and launch monitor technology, I hadn’t really taught that many junior players. That all changed when I took my current position some six years ago.

Parents will ask me, “What is a good age to start learning golf?” Based on my experience, the best answer I can give is, “When they express a desire to be better at golf and they’re at least 5 years old.” By then, they should be used to learning in a school environment so that should translate over. When it came to my own kids, now 15 and 14, believe it or not I never gave them one bit of instruction for years. Sure, I put a golf club into their hands at early ages, but they never once asked me any swing advice. A few years ago, they attended USGTF professional Graham Lewis’s junior camp where I was also teaching, and I farmed out their instruction to another coach who did a fine job with them.

I’m currently teaching an 11-year-old who is the #1-ranked junior player for his age group in the Hilton Head, SC/Savannah, GA area. He has a younger brother who, at age 3, had a near-perfect swing. And still at age 6, it’s incredible. I told his dad I would not teach him because he’s such a natural and that if he develops any bad habits, I’ll step in. But so far, so good.

It cuts me up to no end when I see parents tell their kids, “Keep your eye on the ball!” Or, “Swing easy!” Not once have I ever said this to any kid or any adult, because they are old myths that one amateur tells another. Then again, we as teaching professionals exist for a

Student Spotlight – Ignacio Placencia

By David Smith, USGTF Certified, Torrance, CA

I met Ignacio Placencia in March of 2022 when I started teaching at Montebello Golf Course in Montebello, California. This young man was on the driving range with the Bishop Mora Salesian High School golf team and was having a hard time with his swing. Being that I saw him with his golf team, I automatically assumed that they were there for lessons with their coach. I was right, but I could also see that Ignacio needed help – really needed help – before he hurt himself.

I gave him some instruction, and then a couple of weeks later he called me to sign up for lessons. Ignacio has put in the work and has been going through “the process.” He has grown so much in the game in such a short period of time due to his work ethic, discipline and desire to be good at the game of golf. He will play his last season on the golf team at Bishop Mora Salesian in the spring of 2023 and as his instructor, I am quite sure he is going to surprise everyone at how good he has become. I am proud of Ignacio for sticking with the process and he deserves this spotlight.

He wants to attend the University of Texas at Austin. The field that he is most interested in and that he plans to study is finance. He wants to be able to provide financial advice and information to families and individuals regarding financial planning and investing.

In Ignacio’s own words, “The game of golf has provided me with the skills to be patient and disciplined. Golf has taught me what hard work could do for you. The beginning of the year I wasn’t practicing that much and you see it in my swing. Then, during the summer, I started taking golf seriously. My swing was better and so was my on-course game. The way I see golf being a part of my future is by connecting with new people every time I play.”