Baby Golf Session: Games, Motor Skills, and Safety
What is golf like for toddlers? The French Golf Federation spent a Saturday afternoon observing the baby golf program at the Marcilly Golf Club. The pros there focus on play, balance, and safety before the swing, and parents share what their children gain from the experience.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
The section was created as a result of a request from parents who were looking for a sport for their children, as soon as possible. A session begins with A 20- to 40-minute warm-up that is not directly related to golf: Unstable balance exercises on cushions and hoops, moving to the right and left. The goal is to develop motor skills and body coordination. This is followed by drills on the driving range, such as rolling the ball behind cones, and then working on ball-striking technique for putting.
Everything comes down to the game, because you have to keep the children's attention for an hour. The two pros talk very little about technique: they focus on balance, speed, and hand-eye coordination when making contact with the ball. Parents mainly note improvements in concentration, listening skills, and self-control, as well as the joy of being part of a group. As soon as the weather is nice, the children spend at least a quarter of an hour on the course. At the beginning of the year, it took constantly repeat the safety rules; by the end of the year, they’ve mastered it. On the course, enough adults are needed to supervise: three or four, up to six if parents are included.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Check with your golf club: the program described in the video was created in response to a request from parents.
- Plan the entire session: a long, fun warm-up, followed by games on the driving range.
- Let the pros lead the balance and stability drills before any work with the club.
- Watch how the player works on his ball-striking technique when putting: this is his first step toward making contact.
- Remind your family of the safety rules covered in class, just as the pros do all year long.
- Volunteer to be a chaperone when the group goes on the course: we need plenty of adults.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Expecting technical proficiency right from the first sessions.
- Turn the session into a repetitive activity: Young children can only stay focused through play.
- Neglecting safety at the beginning: that's what requires the most practice.
- Send the group out on the course without enough adults to supervise them.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Balance and footwork exercises before picking up a club
- Pass the ball behind the cones as a challenge
- Short game ball-touching drills for putting
- A review of safety rules before each outing on the course
Your Questions
Will my child learn how to swing in baby golf?
Not at first. In the video segment, the pros talk very little about technique: they work on balance, speed, and hand-eye coordination through play, and ball-handling skills develop gradually.
Why such a long warm-up without a club?
To develop motor skills: unstable surfaces, hoops, and movement exercises. Experts believe that the earlier children start, the more easily these skills develop.
Do toddlers really go on the course?
Yes, at least a quarter of an hour as soon as the weather permits, once the safety rules have been thoroughly understood. This requires three or four adults, and up to six if the parents are included.
What do parents notice about their children?
In the video, they mainly talk about concentration, listening, behavior, and self-control, as well as the joy of being part of a group instead of being alone on the driving range.
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