 |
| . |
Varsityedge.com recently sat down with Assistant Golf Pro and Pro Shop manager Bob Travers Jr. of the Newton Commonwealth Golf Course to ask him how to get a junior golfer started on the right track. Bob has been involved in golf for over 28 years and is heavily involved in many Junior Golf tournaments, clinics and programs. Bob is also the head golf coach At Newton South high school where he has been the head coach for 3 years after a 5 year campaign as the assistant coach.
What mistakes do parents make when it comes to golf and their children?
There are really 3 mistakes that I personally see. The first is that many parents are too involved and often force their kids to play golf. The second is that many parents think their kids are better than they really are and the third is that they try to mimic the instructor when the instructor is not around and the parents try to give their kids golf tips at the range based on what they may have heard in a lesson. Some of them also get impatient when they do not see immediate results in their child's swing, but they need to understand that fixing a golf swing often produces poor shots in the beginning until your body adjusts to new hand, arm and swing positions that you are trying to work on.
Are there any aspects of golf that are more important for a junior to learn first?
Junior golfers should really learn what the game of golf is about and what they are supposed to be doing on a golf course, also known as "ETIQUETTE" and they should be less concerned about scoring at first.
How should a parent go about looking for clubs to purchase for their son or daughter?
Go see a PGA pro or someone who is knowledgeable about golf equipment. You can get a great deal on some clubs at a discount store, but if they are the wrong size, you are really wasting your money so its important to at least speak to someone who is really involved with golf and can give you some professional recommendations
Is there a magic age or skill level that a junior reaches before he/she needs clubs more specific to their size and swing?
It all depends on the size and skill level of the child. I would not spend a lot of money on clubs if your child does not seem that interested in golf, but if they are interested and have a desire to play, learn and get better, by all means you should seek out someone who can find clubs that are more specific for your child.
How are junior golfers at your course viewed in the minds of older golfers?
Very well at this course, there are no restrictions here in terms of when juniors can and cannot play so that helps out. I also am very involved in the junior programs and work with all the juniors to make sure they know what to expect and what is expected. Like everyone else they have to go out and earn the respect of the older golfers.
Is it important for a junior to seek out some type of professional instruction early in their development or do you think it would be better for them to really learn to hit the ball first?
If your child shows an interest in golf I would recommend a few lessons to get them started on the right track and then just play as much as you can. Too many lessons at a young age can often hurt a junior golfer.
What is the youngest student you have personally taught?
I gave a lesson to a 4 year old once.
As a young golfer gets better, how important is it to have clubs with proper lie, shaft flex or swing weight.
Very important. If you have a junior that is serious about the game and plays a lot he/she needs clubs that are fitted to them. Many kids use small junior sets or big adult sets and big heavy clubs cause bad swings when you are too small to swing the club effectively.
What aspect of the game do juniors you see struggle with the most and why?
Many juniors get better quickly and can go from shooting 120 to 85 in a very short time frame, much shorter than an adult. But many of them often hit a wall and have trouble improving further and as quickly and this causes them to get frustrated much faster because they improved so fast from when they started they wonder why they can't maintain that pace. Some even quit because of this.
Do you think golf courses in New England have been accommodating to junior players?
It has improved a lot over the last 10 years but it is very inconsistent.
What has the experience coaching high school golf been like?
Its part of the reason why I am still in this business. It is very rewarding and I can see better results every year. We had over 30 kids tryout this year and have a JV program as well, which many schools do not have.
Have any of your players gone on to play at the college level?
I have had 3 players go on to play in college while I have been the head coach and probably 15-20 other kids while working at Newton Commonwealth and being the assistant coach for 5 years at Newton South before I was the head coach
Did you assist in their recruiting efforts at all?
Yes, high school golf does little as far as recruiting is concerned so I try to work with the kids in building their golf resume which involves playing in local, state and national tournaments in the summer. I also write recommendations and call college golf coaches, and it helps to be a golf pro because they usually take me seriously when I call or write. I also run a program called the Junior Inner Club that groups kids into different levels and those interested in playing college golf are given information that will help their efforts. I work with them to identify tournaments they should play in and resume writing and so on.
Do you host any junior tournaments at your course?
Aside of the six tournaments we host for the Junior Inner Club, the NEPGA has a mini-tour that they run each summer for kids and one of their events is hosted here.
If you only had one Golf Tip to give to someone to make them a better player, what would it be?
Think before you hit the ball. What are you doing, what are you trying to do, where are you aiming, how far do you have to the pin? That sounds simple but a lot of people fail to do this.
Newton Commonwealth is open all year for play (weather permitting, please call first) For more information on the Junior Inner Club or Newton Commonwealth please feel free to contact the club.
Phone: 617-630-1971
Web: www.newtongolf.com
Email: newtongolf@aol.com
| . |
| |