Golf Manners for Kids

Jay Golden: Hi! I am PGA member, Jay Golden and the purpose of this series is to teach parents how to get their children to enjoy golf for a lifetime. This segment is on golf manners.

The first golf manner is, when someone is hitting, what I call, imitate a statue. If you have to breathe, you could but nothing, almost nothing else. Don't whisper, a whisper could sound like a scream. Don't move, don't talk because if you do, it will distract the golfer. Even though that golfer may not have hit a good shot in a long time, this next bad shot is because of you and they are not going to be happy with you.

Rule of thumb; when somebody is hitting, imitate a statue. Whispering can be very loud. If you are in a movie theater and there is someone sitting near you whispering, you hear it and you don't like it. Same on a golf course. The difference between complete silence and whispering is a huge difference. So no whispering, no talking, keep it quiet. No whispering on the golf course because a whispering can be really loud. Next is the topic of golf greetings, the hellos and good byes. One of the beautiful things about golf, shaking hands, greeting in the beginning, Hi, my name is . When you finish, nice playing with you. Golf is a gentleman's game and greeting, the hellos, good byes, shaking hands is a tradition and a great part of the game. Giving credit, where credit is due is a tradition in golf. Whether someone is your partner or your opponent, when they hit a good shot, you say, good shot or great shot or nice going or give a hi five. Its something that could and should be encouraged with your children. After a good shot, hey, nice shot, good shot, great going or hi fives, its part of the game and really one of the nicest parts of the game. Next we are going to take a look at safety.