This is why we’ve chosen to train kids this way:

• We can’t teach kids like adults
• Golf needs to be fun for all ages
• Kids aren’t getting enough physical activity to become physically literate
• Early athletic development means long term enjoyment
• Within the same age group of kids there are up to 5 years of difference in physical development which is why team sports are dominated by those who develop early
• Early sport specialization makes no sense

 

Why do we have a Long Term Player Development (LTPD) program?
The fact is we can’t start kids too young, but golf is pretty slow for most 5-12 year olds. Research shows us that it is the fundamental movement skills used in all sports that need to be developed first, while instilling some simple basics of a particular sport. Teaching a 6 year old to keep his left arm straight, head down, turn his shoulders, etc. leads to a lack of interest in the sport.

 

This is why we run one of the first LTPD programs in the country. We want kids to have fun at the golf course or range, while creating a strong athletic foundation that will make golf and other sports easier to play throughout their life.

 

What will this mean for your child?
During your child's first few years of golf, the emphasis will be on physical literacy. Time should be spent learning the ABC's of athleticism (Agility, Balance, Coordination and Speed) to teach them how to control their own bodies. For this reason, your child may take part in exercises that do not look relevant to golf but are supporting their development. Games and other sports will teach your child to throw the ball, and catch it basic hitting actions, (hand-eye coordination), and run properly. At each stage the child will be trained in the optimal systems and programs to maximize their potential as a golfer and as a long-term participant in sport.

 

Physical development of your child
We know for a fact that developmentally kids are different. Some 8 year olds look 10 and some 6. Chronologically they are all 8 but not physically. Our program will group kids by there stage of development, much like marshal arts. Only we’ll use shirts and hats rather than belts to define their training level. If your child is lacking in an area we will work to improve it to catch them up developmentally. We will work to attain physical literacy in running, hopping, skipping, jumping, throwing, catching, etc.

 

We will also ask you to track their growth. Measuring your child’s growth every two months to note their growth velocity helps us understand at which phase of development they are at and tailor the program to meet their needs. It also tells us when to have them hit the weights. For boys and girls this timing is slightly different, and it is attached to their growth spurt, generally when they hit puberty. By measuring we see their growth spurt occurs and know for sure when to start weight training.

 

Get your kid in the game
It’s not just our slogan it’s essential. Up to the age of 12 or so your child should learn all kinds of sports. Have them participate in basketball, football, soccer, baseball, softball, hockey, tennis, ping pong, swimming, skating (inline or ice) marshal arts, gymnastics, dance, etc. It’s quite a list, but participation means learning what your good at and what you need help with. All kids aren’t great athletes, but they can develop into great athletes.

 

Don’t let coaches sell you on early specialization. We really won’t know which sports a child excels at until about high school and other than a few select sports that’s ok. To reach that super star status takes 10,000 hours of training, of which LTPD is a part, and generally 10-20 years.

It took Tiger 18 years to reach elite status.

 

How each session will work
Each session includes a Speed and Agility Training segment, Strength Training, and Golf Specific area of development.

 

Our staff guides kids of all ages through 1.5 hours of fun with golf in mind. It will be fast paced to assure we work on multiple areas of development each session. Your child can come once or twice a week to experience activities that grow the essential physical skills needed to become a great golfer, or whatever they want to be. We encourage you to have your kids participating in numerous sports as part of this program since no one knows what sport a child will excel at before the age of 12-14.

 

Michael Jordon didn’t make his high school basketball team, and was a pretty good baseball player, NBA superstar Steve Nash excelled at hockey, soccer, and baseball and Tony Romo is an accomplished golfer.

 

We definitely want to teach your child golf, but we will do it in a way that keeps it fun, and promotes overall physical and functional development.

 

For more information on LTPD visit the Royal Canadian Golf Assoc. (RCGA.org) website under the Industry and Education menu option.