How to Implement a Golf Academy and Junior Program

Written on 14 February 2023.

Golf was formally invented in the 1740s, although it was played hundreds of years beforehand. It has remained a very popular sport since then among adults and children. Teaching children and teens about golf is a great way to spark a passion for the game early on.

But where should you start? A golf academy is a great launch point. But what do you need to know about starting a junior golf program?

How can you ensure it is a success and the kids like it? Keep reading and learn how to get started below.

Connect with Schools and Have a Flexible Schedule

Connecting with schools in the nearby area is a great way to grow your golf academy. It's possible to volunteer at schools and get the name of your golf academy out there. You can talk about the benefits of golf for young people and why it is a fun sport to play.

There are very few methods that are as effective as this one. You are sure to gain a few new students from speaking on occasion at local schools. Many students likely already have an interest in golf but don't know how to get more involved.

A golf academy with a junior program is the perfect solution. You can also go to local athletic facilities and connect with them. A facility as simple as the YMCA can be a big help to growing your golf program.

The Details

It is easy to connect with young people and their parents in these locations. You might use the network from one of these athletic facilities to help grow your program too. This makes it easier to grow when you're starting.

Promoting your program with a free class or two won't hurt either. But don't forget to be flexible with your academy's schedule. Many parents have exact schedules for their children.

It may be impossible for them to deviate from those schedules. It would be a bad idea for your academy to also have a very rigid schedule. It might only be possible for a few students to show up if your schedule doesn't fit with most of your students.

It is a good idea to work with the parents and come up with times that are ideal for everyone. This can be difficult at first, but you will come to a solution eventually.

Create a Positive Atmosphere

It's no secret that children and teens like to have fun. If children are having fun, they'll want to return to your golf academy. But if your junior golf program is rigid and strict, you'll have a hard time keeping your students around.

Golf for juniors is not a tricky thing. You can't be as strict or hard as you would be with adults. This is especially true with young children who may not know anything about golf.

Teens may also feel cautious about being in a golf program for the first time. Golf lessons can be daunting for young people if they've never handled a golf ball or club before. This is why it is important to create a positive atmosphere.

There should be a balance of instruction and fun in every lesson. If you teach kids how to swing the club and other technical things, they will certainly learn how to golf. But are those kids having fun?

What You Need to Know

Do they want to come back and learn more from your lessons? Maybe not. But if you make the golf lessons more positive and light, the lessons will be far more attractive to children.

They won't feel like they're back in school learning things they don't care about. They might instead look forward to those golf lessons. Friendly competition is a great way to amp up the atmosphere in your golf academy.

The children can learn how to compete against each other using the new golfing skills they learned. It is also important to avoid scolding the children for making mistakes. Doing this can make the golf lessons unenjoyable for children.

They may feel that they don't have the skills to learn the sport and they may give up. It is better to instead provide positive encouragement and light corrections. This helps kids stay motivated so they can keep their heads in the game.

Make the Lessons Fun

There are many ways you can make golf lessons fun for juniors. An easy way to do this is to break the lesson up into games. Winning small prizes like a sticker or a toy is also a great way to keep young kids motivated and attentive.

Without making the lessons fun, the juniors will likely become bored after swinging a golf club a dozen times. They may not see the point of the game at first. But making it more exciting will keep them interested.

Making the lessons more fun will also make children more eager to play. They may look forward to playing golf rather than feeling like it's a chore. Having parents participate in the lessons may make the lessons more interesting too.