When to start - the kids golf spinoff

Hi all,

I have a 3yr old daughter, and with the upcoming golf season rapidly approaching (and her propensity to steal my balls when I'm putting), I'm curious to know when I could realistically think about introducing my kids to golf?

I saw someone starting with their 4 year old, so I guess I'm sort of 'polling the GTO audience'.

It all depends on your child. If they are showing interest, then get them started! My son is turning 7 next month. He always came to the range with me and he usualy just liked putting on the practice green. This past summer he really took an interest in coming out to the course with me. I got his a starter set and he really enjoys it. If I would have made him come out before that, he may not have liked golf as much as he does now.

A few guidelines:
1 - make sure they have an interest or your are just waisting your money
2 - get your child into an instructor who is good with kids. There is nothing that pains me more than seeing some parent teaching their kids all of their own bad habbits. (I'm not saying you are a bad golfer or have bad habbits, just generalizing)
3 - bring your child to the range (when it isn't very busy) and get them practicing their lessons
4 - when they are consitantly making contact with the ball bring them to a par 3 course. (they don't need to hit a perfect shot every time, just hitting the ball almost every time)
5 - let them HAVE FUN. Unless your child is 4 and can drive the ball 200 yards, they probably are not going to be the next Tiger Woods. My son was six when he started and everyone couldn't believe how far he could hit the ball. I hear the Tiger comparisions all the time, but he is developing a love for the game still. Until your child wants to go to the range for 2 hours a day, don't make them. If they don't find it fun, they won't try with their heart and will lose enjoyment for the game.

__________________
Gord

Quote of the month:
"It's easy to see golf not as a game at all but as some whey-faced, nineteenth-century Presbyterian minister's fever dream of exorcism achieved through ritual and self-mortification." ~Bruce McCall

I have a 3 year old 4 in Augest and she starts lessons with a golf pro next week, mind you he is charging $40 for an hour but I am taking my 4 children he will spen 15 mins with each.