Developing Competitive Junior Golfers

In the competitive world of junior golf, identifying and developing talent can be tricky and downright expensive. There is significant competition for the handful of scholarships golfers can receive at colleges and universities. With that in mind, some parents are willing to spend upwards of $35,000 PER SEMESTER to send their child to a top golf academy such as Hank Haney’s IJGA academy in Hilton Head, South Carolina or the Leadbetter Academy in Florida. The instruction these students receive, of course, is second to none, but of course, most people simply can’t afford to send their child to such a place.

Unfortunately, the alternatives closer to home are few and far between. It is extremely difficult to find a good instructor that actually offers an environment to develop junior players who have the talent to compete at a higher level. Most instructors simply offer instruction to beginner and intermediate players. Since they tend to also where the hat of a head golf professional or assistant golf professional, they simply do not have the time to provide more in depth instruction. These professionals spend most of their time running a pro shop, dealing with club members or patrons, directing tournaments, managing personnel, etc.

Another issue with finding instruction for the competitive junior golfer at the local level is the expense. Top teachers tend to charge upwards of $120 per hour, although they may offer a lower rate for juniors. However, even if the rate is just $75 per hour, one lesson per month adds up to $300, and that is quite a bit for most families, especially in this economy.

The alternative is the professional that offers a junior program that is tailored to the needs of the student, and set up more on a tuition basis. For a set amount each month, say $150 to $200, a student can have their game fully evaluated by the instructor, who can then develop a plan for improvement. There is no need for a full blown lesson every week, but the instructor can provide the tools necessary for the student to improve on their own. Once the student’s game is evaluated, the instructor provides the drills, swing thoughts, golf course management ideas and mental tips to help the student improve. The instructor can then simply make themselves available through conversation or email, and fewer lessons are required.

Now, the instructor also has the opportunity to keep track of the progress of his students through the use of the internet. Students can provide certain information regarding their rounds of golf by uploading it via cell phone or computer, and it can be sent straight to the instructor. The instructor then has the information necessary to potentially make recommendations for improvement without seeing the student.

The bottom line is that there is a more cost effective alternative to developing the junior golfer. Parents should take the time to research their local teaching professionals to find the few that set themselves apart from the rest in this regard. By finding a top instructor locally, they will provide their junior golfer a better opportunity to compete with the kids that have the opportunity to attend the high end golf academies.

Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com