Inspire Junior Golf, The Future of Golf is in Your Hands

INSPIRE INSPIRE JUNIOR GOLF The Future Of The Game Is In Your Hands INSPIRE NOW is the time to turn this game upside-down and really make an impact that will be felt for future generations! As a golf enthusiast, you need to have a strong commitment to get up every day and ask, “What am I willing to do to improve the game?” The Denitive Book on Junior Golf! JUNIOR GOLF Written by Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Golf Instructor, Inspire Junior Golf provides all the information needed for PGA/LPGA Professionals, high school coaches, PE and athletic departments, camp organizers, and everyday golfers to start junior golf programs in their communities. It’s time to boost juniors’ interest in the game while providing them with fun-lled instruction through programs suited to their ages. Inspire Junior Golf is the deinitive handbook on creating these programs. A few of the topics included are: Go Where the Kids Are Setting Up Courses Working With Kids Practice Sessions Clinics, Programs and Events Rules and Guidelines Grayson Fundraising Health and Fitness Coaching Scholarships Equipment College Recruiting Rick Grayson, PGA, has spent more than 35 years in the golf industry as one of the most celebrated golf instructors in the Midwest. He was recently awarded the PGA’s highest honor for teaching juniors—PGA National Junior Golf Leader, as well as Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Golf Instructors in America, and U.S. Kids Top 50 Golf Instructors in America. During the National Rick Grayson, PGA PGA Award presentation, Jimmy Roberts of NBC Sports called Rick “Mr. Junior Golf.” PGA National Junior Golf Leader



INSPIRE JUNIOR GOLF The Future of the Game is in Your Hands Rick Grayson, PGA PGA National Junior Golf Leader Be the Change in your Community, Change Your Life and, More Importantly, the Life of a Junior

preface Inspire Junior Golf will enhance your understanding of how important a high quality junior golf program is, and should be used as a guide for creating a program in your community. These ideas can be easily implemented by anyone involved with junior golfers. This information is geared toward PGA and LPGA Professionals, Parks and Recreation Department instructors, PE teachers, high school coaches, summer camp directors, parents, and anyone interested in creating a junior golf program in their city. The book explains how to start a program, how to assist with a program, and how to improve a current program. Golf is getting left behind. Statistics show that golf is on the decline. Sports like soccer have taken over the market, and tennis has made a major comeback, re-establishing itself among the games that kids love to play. Golf is the greatest game of all. It is truly the game of a lifetime that can be enjoyed well into old age. But we all know that we need to “Grow the game.” In order to do that, the junior programs need to be as simple as possible and, to have a great program, it needs to be fun. The programs in each chapter are simple to understand and follow but, more importantly, they work. By using the ideas in this book, kids will have more fun learning golf as they’re growing the game—a winning combination! Until now no one has stepped forward and collected an easy to follow manual on how to do this. Every chapter is meant to be read, regardless of whether you’re creating a Short Game Clinic or Junior Golf Summer Camp. Every chapter in Inspire Junior Golf has been implemented by Rick Grayson, PGA, award-winning PGA Junior Golf Leader and voted one of Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Golf Instructors in America.

If you’re interested in having PGA National Junior Golf Leader Rick Grayson to your next event to raise awareness about “The Future of the Game is in Your Hands” or to order additional copies of Inspire Junior Golf, please contact: Rick Grayson, PGA Rivercut Golf Course 2846 West Farm Road 190 Springfi eld, Missouri, 65810 417.823.7888 or www.rickgraysongolf.com [email protected] facebook: Rick Grayson twitter@rickgrayson . . . . Also, an exciting addition to any junior golf program is “Golf Fore Fun,” the game that teaches golf skills, rules, etiquette and fi tness. More than anything, it’s fun to play. The juniors will love it! To order now, please contact the numbers above.

Table of Contents Table of Contents Introduction Introduction Coaching Coaching Be a Great Coach 127 Golf is Good for You Golf is Good for You Top 10 Behaviors The Benefi ts of Golf for Kids 1 a Coach Should Avoid 133 Go Where the Kids Are Go Where the Kids Are Equipment Equipment Golf in Schools 9 Equipment That Works High School Golf 15 for Juniors 139 After-School Golf Programs 23 Setting Up Courses It Starts in the Parks 29 Setting Up Courses Juniors at the Public Courses 33 Indoor Practice Course 145 Junior Programs at the Country Club 39 Outdoor Practice Course 151 Practice, Practice, Practice Working With Kids Practice, Practice, Practice Working With Kids Your Teaching Plan, Off-Season Training 155 The Winning Formula 45 Video Games Are Good 161 Girls, Girls, Girls 49 Practicing Sand Play 165 The Elite Junior Player 55 Professional Pre-Game Routine 169 Coaching Juniors with Disabilities 71 Rules and Guidelines Rules and Guidelines College Recruiting 75 Golf’s Top Rules 173 Clinics, Programs and Events Clinics, Programs and Events Full Swing Guidelines 177 Short Game Clinics 79 Short Game Guidelines 183 Junior Golf Camps 85 Health and Fitness Health and Fitness Thinking Outside the Tee Box 95 You Are What You Eat 189 Mentor Programs 103 Junior Fitness 193 Class Time for the Parents 107 Conclusion 197 AJGA and Junior Tournaments 113 Golf Par-Tee 117 About the Author 199 Golf Talk 201 Fundraising Fundraising “Fun Raiser” Fore Juniors 121 Resources 207

acknowledgements Inspire Junior Golf is an accumulation of more than 35 years of knowledge and experience in the golf industry. These are a few of the people and organizations who have played a part: First I would like to acknowledge the Heart of the Ozarks Junior Golf Foundation for their commitment to junior golf. Springfi eld, Missouri is a better place to raise a family and to raise a junior golfer because of them. I owe a great deal to Dorl Sweet, PGA, and all the PGA Golf Professionals across the country. I’ve learned so much from you and could have never completed this project without your help. And to the Midwest Section PGA and the leadership of Brad Demo that sets the standard for the rest of the country, I’m proud to be a member. A special thanks to the man with the biggest heart in the world, Bobby Allison. You’re a special person and I’m lucky to call you my friend. Golf Magazine Top 100 Instructors in America, it is an honor to teach and learn from you. U.S. KIDS Top 50 Golf Instructors, you’ve set the standard upon which we’re all measured; I’m proud to be a member. My sincere thanks to Rivercut Golf Course and to Steve King, PGA, and his staff. Special thanks to the Springfi eld/Greene Country Park Board and their staff for working with me on all the junior projects. To Henry Brunton, one of the greatest junior golf coaches in the world, you are the best. To Beth Farrell, Sea Script Company, who took this dream and made it a reality that I am so proud of. To every junior that I have ever worked with, it has truly been an honor and a privilege to learn from you. I could never repay you for what you have taught me!

introduction .IT IS WHAT IT IS. Well, here we are. A game, a sport, an industry that is stuck. No growth in the past decade and another year of more courses closing than opening. The game looks like it’s about to fl atline. But wait. . .there’s a sliver of hope in the distant future. Finally, the answer to all of our golfi ng prayers. A change of direction that will turn this once-sinking ship around and make it better than ever. It can happen and it is going to happen. The hope is YOU. You are the only one who can make a difference in this game, not the PGA, not the USGA, not the LPGA. If you are waiting for someone else to step up, it isn’t going to happen. That’s why it’s all up to you! Maybe since that fi rst caveman swung at a rock, the golf industry has never had to think outside the “tee box.” But the old days of Mr. and Mrs. Golfer bringing their little junior out to the course to sign up for a series of lessons is over. That will happen every once in a while, but that isn’t enough to sustain an industry. We have been waiting for the lessons to come through the door but the sad news is, the lesson takers are playing soccer, basketball, baseball, video games, or joining the social networking world. If all this seems like too much doom and gloom, well here comes the good stuff: NOW is the time to turn this game upside-down and really make an impact that will be felt for future generations! As a golf enthusiast, you need to have a strong commitment to get up every day and ask, “What am I willing to do to improve the

game?” It doesn’t matter how big or small the commitment, it just matters if you get something done. The change is coming, are you going to sit idly by or are you going to be a Game Changer? If you are willing to be a Game Changer, then tee it up and follow me and the other committed people who are ready to see this game fl ourish. I can’t wait; it’s going to be a new and exciting time to be a golfer. FORE! I’m playing through. Please join me, golf needs you. . . . . —Rick Grayson, PGA

. . . . To: My parents, Ralph and Barbara Grayson, who gave me the love of this great game and the love of children. My best friend and the woman I love and will forever, Lindy. Natalie, Bill, Cooper and Collin Clark, my favorite foursome. Cooper and Collin, the future of the game is in your hands. And to all the parents that put a golf club in their junior’s hand. You have enriched their lives in ways you could have never imagined. . . . . “Junior Golf is the Future of the Game, Without It, There is No Future!”

SCORECARD SCORECARD Golf builds character Golf builds character Golf teaches perseverance  Golf teaches perseverance Golf increases self-confi dence  Golf increases self-confi dence 

.THE BENEFITS OF GOLF chapter 1 FOR KIDS. Golf is different than any other sport. You know that. But here are some things you may not know. Golf is one of the few sports in which you don’t play on an organized team until you’re in the ninth grade. Let me repeat that. You don’t get to play on an organized team until you’re in the ninth grade! Studies show that team sports play an important role in a young person’s developing years. I believe that team sports offer the greatest potential for individual growth of any organized activity in our society. It’s a shame we haven’t realized this in team golf; it’s something we need to correct in the future. Let’s look at the six ingredients team sports provide: 1. Teachability 2. Character 3. Integrity 4. Perseverance 5. Positive attitude 6. Self-esteem 1

INSPIRE JUNIOR GOLF 1. Teachability 1. Teachability Teachability is the student’s understanding and acknowledgement that no matter how good he or she is, there is still room for improvement. The top players in the world, no matter how many titles they win or how much money they make, can still get better. To keep improving, the player must be hungry to learn what it takes to get to the next level. Teachability requires the golfer to accept the coach’s advice and have the utmost respect for the coach’s position. The coach may make suggestions that the player doesn’t like or even understand. Regardless, the player must listen to the coach’s input and follow it. Learning this on the course can set the stage for how the golfer handles authority fi gures—parents, employers, teachers, policemen—throughout his or her life. 2. Character 2. Character One of the great sports questions of all time is, “Do sports build character?” After coaching young athletes for many years, I can honestly say that sports, without a doubt, build character. If the coach is a “real” coach and stresses honest and fair play, the golfer will develop character, no question. In this world of cheating and scandals in the sports industry (such as the use of steroids to advance), it’s important to remember all the good that sports, golf in particular, have to offer. Remember back to the 1996 US Amateur that Tiger Woods won by beating Steve Scott. Scott reminded Tiger to move his coin back to the original spot before Tiger putted. If Scott hadn’t reminded Tiger, Tiger would never have won three U.S. Amateurs, and history wouldn’t be the same. Coaches and golf instructors play a vital role in helping the young golfer build character by setting standards and by living up to those standards themselves. 2

Rick Grayson, PGA 3. Integrity 3. Integrity Those of us who teach golf realize the importance of integrity and character in the sport. In a team setting, these principles are and should be discussed with the coach over and over again. But the truth is, these values start at home. If parents insist that the junior wins at all cost, that every game or competition is life or death, the child will learn that doing the right thing is not important, that winning is the only thing that matters. If parents insist on honesty and fair play, then we’ll see the junior doing what’s right, not only in golf, but in life. There have been great examples of integrity in golf, as evidenced by men on the PGA tour and women on the LPGA tour. A few years ago, a professional was playing at the PGA qualifying school trying to get his PGA tour card. He discovered after the round that he had played with a certain ball, a ball the tour hadn’t approved. It was clearly a rule violation. No one would have known this except the player and his caddy, who makes his living off of what the player wins. The next day, the player reported the infraction to the offi cials, and he was disqualifi ed. Another example of integrity is a PGA tour player taking a shot and clipping a twig during his backswing in the fi nal round of a tournament. His ball was in a hazard, so hitting the twig was a rule violation, a two-shot penalty. No one saw the twig move except the player. No one else could have seen the twig move except on a super slow-motion replay. Because of the player’s honesty in reporting the violation, he lost the tournament. The infraction cost the player millions of dollars and no one else saw it happen! This golfer showed the utmost integrity by not wanting to win unless he won the right way. He knew he could live with himself for doing the right thing regardless of the cost to him. The more coaches and teammates stress the importance of integrity to young players at the early stages of their development, the more these traits will carry 3

INSPIRE JUNIOR GOLF over and result in young golfers doing the right thing when they become adults. 4. Perseverance 4. Perseverance Without perseverance, the game of golf wouldn’t have included people like Ben Hogan, Tom Kite, and Karsten Solheim, people who didn’t quit or give up on their dreams. Great things are accomplished by those who keep on trying when it seems like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. A good coach encourages the individual player and the team to stay positive even when things look lost or out of control, to never give up and keep grinding. Most coaches talk about believing in yourself, telling yourself you’ve had success in the past and you can do it again. Replay the great shots in your mind and remind yourself the next swing is the one that will turn your game around. The coach knows the best score you’ve ever posted wasn’t the day you hit the ball perfectly; it was the day you chipped and putted well and didn’t give up—and you can do it again. All great coaches know that you play one shot at a time, giving your full attention to the shot you are getting ready to play, not the last one or the one coming up. In the team concept, this is easy to stress on a daily basis. The players learn they should stay in their pre-shot routine and relax so the muscles can fi re correctly. The coach has worked with his players teaching them to let go of the outcome and focus on the process of hitting each shot at the target, trusting the swing. It takes a young golfer a while to understand this concept and to trust that it takes time and perseverance before she sees the reward. It’s all too easy to quit or be discouraged, but the coach and the team can help the player keep on keeping on. 5. Positive Attitude 5. Positive Attitude We all know the number one problem affecting health is stress. There’s no doubt about it. A positive attitude helps us all cope with the everyday pressure of 4

Rick Grayson, PGA daily life. It also helps when we play golf. A positive attitude creates optimism in the game and makes it much easier to avoid stress and worry when things aren’t working out as planned. A coach can talk about how even the best players in the world struggle with their game and how the game is up and down, probably more than any other sport. The coach isn’t painting a perfect world; he’s explaining that looking on the bright side of life is better than thinking everything is always going wrong or everyone is out to get you. A coach can detect the negative energy that comes from a young golfer. Left undetected, a young golfer might go forever with a defeatist attitude. The coach can change the way the golfer views the game and maybe the way she views the world. It’s important for all coaches to drill into their players’ heads that no one likes to play golf with a negative person. A golfer that is consistently complaining about the weather, the course, the break on the greens, the speed of the greens, and the bad bounces that she gets is a player who will not have anyone to play with. After a bad shot, it’s good for the coach to ask the junior to fi nd something good about the shot, which can be a real challenge for a junior who’s used to complaining. But the coach knows this kind of player will have a hard time in life getting along with workers, bosses, and family unless the player learns to change her attitude. 6. Self-Esteem 6. Self-Esteem Self-esteem is our opinion of ourselves. It’s how we view ourselves with regard to what we’ve accomplished or not accomplished. When we have high self-esteem, we think that what we’ve done or what we’re planning on doing is worthy. If a player sees himself as a failure, he will act like a failure, which, in turn, will add fuel to the fi re of that downward spiral of poor self-esteem. Over time, low self-esteem can become out of control and result in drug use, joining gangs, or acting out. The good news is, if a player has low self-esteem, with help, he can learn to control and improve it. He doesn’t need to accept it. 5

INSPIRE JUNIOR GOLF The coach of a team sport knows that everyone has his strengths and weaknesses and will take time to point this out to the junior. Whether it is the ability to dance, sing, putt, or be a friend, rejoice in it. Know your strengths! Conversely, everyone has weaknesses. The coach can show the junior the way to turn a weakness into a positive, turn a lemon into lemonade. The junior is the director, producer, screenwriter, and leading actor in the movie that is his life. Through a healthy interest in sports, each junior can win an Academy Award for his own best movie of all time! . . . . Now that we’ve outlined why golf is needed in schools and the benefi ts it adds to a young person’s life, it’s time to talk about how to get the ball rolling. 6

SCORECARD SCORECARD Partner with the PE Department Partner with the PE Department Hold a fundraiser at the local course  Hold a fundraiser at the local course  Find the right equipment Find the right equipment 

chapter 2 .GOLF IN SCHOOLS. Golf in schools is going to happen. When depends on whether you want to be the one that gets it started in your community or have your community get called for slow play. There are many ways to get golf programs started in schools, but let’s examine the easiest. Working With the School’s PE Department Working With the School’s PE Department Just a few years ago, thinking about golf in schools would be laughable, but fast forward to today and it’s a reality. How is this happening? There are many approaches, but we’ll examine one that has had the most success. First, you’ll need a leader, a person who has made a commitment and will not rest until the kids in school hit that fi rst ball. The leader can take the lead role, or she can form a committee that will share some of the responsibilities so it’s not all on one person’s shoulders. Second, the target school could be an elementary school, fi rst through fi fth grades. The next step is an important one; it’s what will set the ball rolling in the right direction. That step is talking to the school’s PE teacher or athletic director (AD) about the advantages of having a golf program in the school. The information in 9

INSPIRE JUNIOR GOLF this book is a great resource and can be passed on. PE teachers are easy to work with and often look for- ward to introducing a new sport or game to the chil- dren. Most of them play golf anyway, so they’ll enjoy the new activity as much as the kids. The AD needs to know that the golf leader or the committee will meet with the PE teachers and explain the fundamentals that the kids will be taught. This can be done during the school year when the teachers have meeting days or right before school starts for the upcoming year. The AD is going to be impressed that the leader or committee is concerned and wants to take on this kind of project, but the AD’s main concern will be, “Who’s going to pay for this? Ours schools are broke, laying off teachers, and cutting back on staff. No one in his right mind would expect the schools to come up with the money.” If the leader or committee has done their homework, the answer will be, “By a series of fundraisers and local donations.” A Golf Tournament Fundraiser A Golf Tournament Fundraiser A golf tournament is an excellent way of raising funds for the project, as well as the easiest (see Junior Tournament on page 121). It’s ironic that golf courses hold tournaments for all sorts of charities, such as for the American Cancer Society, churches, and local football or baseball teams, but rarely for a project that includes golf. The event could be a four-person scramble with fun events like long drive, closest to the hole, high score on a hole, or prize for the highest score in the tournament. 10

Rick Grayson, PGA The prizes awarded to the winners could be discounts from the pro shop, or the golf committee could go out into the community and ask for donations. A tournament is an excellent and fun way to create goodwill between the school, the community, and the golf course. It’s a win-win situation for all involved. Coaches Coaches Coaches help players win, but more importantly, they help juniors develop into outstanding men and women. Coaches are serious about winning, but they make sure the juniors are having fun and enjoying the sport, not an easy thing. It takes a special person to coach. The hours are long and the pay usually isn’t that great, but it’s one of the most rewarding professions in the world. We’ll talk more about coaches on page 127. Finding Golf Equipment Finding Golf Equipment The next step is coming up with golf equipment for the kids. Used golf clubs aren’t hard to fi nd. You can start by placing signs in the clubhouse and in the men’s and ladies’ locker rooms. Using your computer and some clever graphics, create a sign that tells the story of why you’re asking for donated clubs. Most golfers have a garage or basement full of old drivers, putters, and wedges doing nothing but gathering dust. Check with the pro shop and ask if they have any old rental sets or clubs that have been in the lost and found barrel for a few years that they would like to get rid of. Check out garage sales or the local fl ea markets; they usually have old clubs for a low price. Tri-Golf (www.daviesports.co.uk) offers a great way of getting golf clubs in junior hands without spending a lot of money. Tri-Golf is already used in over 1,200 schools in Canada. A Re-Gripping Party A Re-Gripping Party Next on the To Do List is having a cutting down or re-gripping party. This 11

INSPIRE JUNIOR GOLF can be a lot of fun. Plan it around a sporting event on television, call the local pizza shop, and have a party. Cutting down clubs and watching a golf tourney or football game is a great way of getting the project done while having a great time. Junior grips can be ordered from any grip website. Explain what you’re doing and ask for a discount to help offset the cost of the project. The number of clubs you’ll need will vary based on how large each class is. You can start off with 15 wedges and 15 putters, then add to that amount if needed or if you want to introduce more options for the juniors to use. The wedge can be cut down to 30 inches in length, and the putters cut down to 28 inches in length. Then the clubs can be used for different classes. For example, when the second grade is through using the clubs after two or three weeks, the third grade class can start using them and then, after two or three weeks, the fourth grade can use them. The school should stay in contact with the committee and notify them if they need longer clubs or more clubs, enough to accommodate the needs of the program. Golf Balls Golf Balls Most schools start out with plastic balls or Almost Golf Balls (which can be purchased from the internet) and use the school grounds as a golf course. Have the kids help set up the course they are going to play. They enjoy being involved, and it makes the event much more fun. Fun targets for the kids to aim at are laundry baskets or hula hoops instead of a hole. When the kids hit the ball within the length of two clubs from the target, they can use their putter. The kids will love it. Check Out Existing Programs Check Out Existing Programs In the Springfi eld, Missouri school system, SNAG (Starting New at Golf) is in every elementary school (37) and in every middle school (10). The kids get six weeks of golf every year. Over 13,000 kids are getting exposed to the game. SNAG is a partnership between a local golf foundation, PGA professionals, and the school system. 12

Rick Grayson, PGA The Colorado Section of the PGA has a detailed program called “How to Launch Golf in a School Program from A to Z.” You can download the material at www.pgahq.com. . . . . This type of involvement can happen in your community, but it’s up to you make it happen! Get involved; you’ll be glad and proud you did. 13



To learn more about Rick Grayson’s work and to order a soft cover copy of Inspire Junior Golf, click here:

INSPIRE INSPIRE JUNIOR GOLF The Future Of The Game Is In Your Hands INSPIRE NOW is the time to turn this game upside-down and really make an impact that will be felt for future generations! As a golf enthusiast, you need to have a strong commitment to get up every day and ask, “What am I willing to do to improve the game?” The Denitive Book on Junior Golf! JUNIOR GOLF Written by Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Golf Instructor, Inspire Junior Golf provides all the information needed for PGA/LPGA Professionals, high school coaches, PE and athletic departments, camp organizers, and everyday golfers to start junior golf programs in their communities. It’s time to boost juniors’ interest in the game while providing them with fun-lled instruction through programs suited to their ages. Inspire Junior Golf is the deinitive handbook on creating these programs. A few of the topics included are: Go Where the Kids Are Setting Up Courses Working With Kids Practice Sessions Clinics, Programs and Events Rules and Guidelines Grayson Fundraising Health and Fitness Coaching Scholarships Equipment College Recruiting Rick Grayson, PGA, has spent more than 35 years in the golf industry as one of the most celebrated golf instructors in the Midwest. He was recently awarded the PGA’s highest honor for teaching juniors—PGA National Junior Golf Leader, as well as Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Golf Instructors in America, and U.S. Kids Top 50 Golf Instructors in America. During the National Rick Grayson, PGA PGA Award presentation, Jimmy Roberts of NBC Sports called Rick “Mr. Junior Golf.” PGA National Junior Golf Leader