Golfhacker11

4th Hole: - Bunkered off the tee, then a great
bunker shot, but a tough uphill putt from
40ft, leaves it 15ft short. Again, spectators
walking past watch as they see an 8-year-old
hole out from 15ft!! Smiles and happiness
move to the 5th tee.
I struggle greatly with what is the right thing
for him. If any advice is given it’s deemed to
be shouting or telling off. If left to his own
space, a potential walk-off crying with a
poor score.
All kids are different, over time things will
improve and he’ll figure out what is best,
but having a really competitive kid playing
one of the hardest sports for all ages and
levels is a serious challenge as a parent.
He was delighted; I was delighted because
I don’t want a pension fund, or the next Rory
all that frustration was appeased. It wasn’t a
1st place, but it was a prize.
McIlroy, I want my son to have the
opportunity to play golf and enjoy it as
much as I do. So we can spend time
2018 will (if he wants to) see another few
rounds of competitive golf, lots more
together having fun! At the moment this
seems a long way off, and I really want him
evening and weekend rounds of fun and
frustration, with a little bit of “home”
to continue to learn and develop, but I don’t
want to affect or change his outlook on the
practice thrown in.
game.
The struggles will continue, I’m prepared for
I really try to make it fun, with no pressure
them. I mentioned that I never really
thought golf was something he loved and
and to just go and play. He is the one who
am very aware that I don’t want to scare him
wants to write the scores down, beat his last
one. Balance is the key.
away. At school, one of their tasks was to
write about, “If you could do anything for
one day, what would it be an why?”
In 2017, he played in a total of four
competitive rounds and despite the initial
I picked up his school book and his answer
nerves and the unknown, I’m really proud of
shocked me.
how he handled himself. Performance is
irrelevant to me, but to him where he
finishes is everything.
“If I could do anything for one day, I would
have a golf lesson with Rory McIlroy and
In July, he represented his school at
Justin Rose”
Bedfordshire County Rookie Schools event,
“Because I love golf.”
and a 6th place finish saw a prize awarded.