Preparing for Your First Junior Golf Tournament
Age Group 11 and Under, 9 Hole Events
Congratulations! The fact that you are ready to move beyond purely recreational golf into the realm of tournament golf means you have made a big commitment to the game.
Many people tell you to just make sure your child is "having fun."
Well, there is a lot more to it than that.
It's a lot easier to have fun when you feel fairly competent and can hold your own without feeling embarrassed or overly stressed.
Can your child play 9 holes transporting their own clubs and shoot better than 60?
Has your child kept score for 9 holes counting EVERY shot?
I recommend at least ten 9 hole rounds where your child is keeping score on every shot before entering a tournament.
Do you or they know enough of the rules of golf so as not to make any big mistakes and committing a scoring error due to the fact that you didn't know the rules?If you don't, be prepared for other parents thinking you are cheating and calling you out on it. Yes, that happens.
Safety, Rules, Equipment, Speed of Play, Honors, Etiquette
Safety
Does your child always know where to stand (mainly, where NOT to stand) when others are playing?
Rules
Are you or your child familiar with the basic Rules of Golf?
What to do if your ball goes into a red or yellow hazard area?
If your ball goes out of bounds?
If you hit the wrong ball by accident?
Equipment
Make sure your child is playing with clubs that fit them. US Kids Clubs are terrific, so are many other brands. But please make sure they are not too big or that your junior has outgrown them. Also, check the weight of their bag before playing an event. No more than 9 golf balls, tees, ball markers, glove, towel, rain jacket, water bottle are all essential. Most other things are not.
Speed of Play
How is your child's pre shot routine? Pace of play? Ability to prepare for their shot when it is their turn without feeling rushed?
Honors
We usually play "ready golf" meaning that whichever player is ready to hit goes first. In tournaments, the player with the lowest score on the prior hole usually tees off first.
Etiquette
Putting green etiquette (things such as not stepping on another player’s line) is where most of the etiquette breaches occur with juniors. Just make sure your junior pays attention when they attend camps, clinics, etc. and they should be fine. Coaches cover this all the time.
This is a basic outline for what I would recommend for a junior golfer.
Tournaments can be a lot of fun and a great way to bring out the best in your child. They can be difficult if your junior is not prepared.
Do the work, practice a lot, especially short game, and PLAY ON THE COURSE keeping honest scores whenever you can.
Good luck!
Coach J