The intent of the program is to provide young golfers a better understanding of the sport, coaching to help improve basic skills and most of all HAVE FUN!

If you are a golfer and carried or pulled your own bag or have seen caddies for professional golfers on TV, you probably understand that carrying clubs can be a tiring business. Rules of golf state that players can carry up to 14 clubs in their bag, however for youngsters just starting out in the game, there’s easily no need to carry the full quota. Most “starter sets” for juniors contain only 5 clubs; a wood, three different irons, and a putter. This is certainly adequate for players to learn basic skills. More clubs can be added as the player develops.

With the increase in club technology junior clubs have improved dramatically. “Cut down clubs” should try to be avoided as much as possible because an adult golf shaft is stiffer than a child’s’ club. When it is cut down it becomes even stiffer and more difficult to hit. Cut down clubs are very heavy, particularly for a small child, and the grip may be too thick for smaller hands as well. These constraints make it more difficult to get the ball airborne, which is the funnest part of the game for young players.

For junior golf all juniors are required to have their own clubs and golf balls.  Please bring golf clubs on May 6.

The tentative schedule is as follows:

May 5                        Basic rules of golf, Golf Etiquette & Golf grip (driving range)

May 12                      Basics of the golf swing (driving range)

May 19                      Basics of golf swing cont’d (driving range)

May 26                      Putting

June 2                      Begin play On Course (refer to tee times)

June 9                     On Course (refer to tee times)

June 16                     Wrap Up                                                                    

Junior golf times will tentatively be from 5:30 – 8:30 every Tuesday. The first 3 weeks will be an hour in length starting at either 5:30, 6:30 or 7:30 pm. The playing time for the younger group (5:30) will be an hour in length from the tee time scheduled. The two more senior group’s (6:30, 7:30) playing time will be an hour and a half from tee times.Times will be confirmed after registration May 7, 2002 depending on age and skill level.

If you have any questions please feel free to call Morningview Park Golf Course (568 4357) or Lyman Rorem at 568 – 4562.

Key Rules, Etiquette of Golf Etiquette

Juniors should always:

·         Arrive on the first tee in plenty of time for their round

·         Wish their playing partner good luck at the start of the round

·         Look out for their playing partners’ ball

·         Shout “FORE” if their ball is in danger of hitting anyone

·         Replace divots

·         Repair pitch marks on the green

·         Leave their bag or cart as close as possible to the next tee, but not to the green

·         Let the group behind play through if looking for a ball

·         Take care not to damage the course with practice swings

Juniors should never:

·         Play a shot while others are still in range

·         Talk while someone is preparing to take a shot

·         Stand directly behind someone when they are putting

·         Shout or swear on the golf course

·         Throw clubs or equipment in anger

·         Mark their own score card on the green

·         Laugh at another player’s misfortune

·         Make practice swings without making sure they have room

·         Walk across someone’s putting line on the green

10 Key Rules of Golf

1.       Furthest from the hole plays first

One of the most important rules of golf is that the furthest away from the hole plays first.  This is safer for everyone and speeds up play.  (Never stand anywhere in front of someone who is hitting, regardless of your distance from them!)

2.       Who has the honor

On the first tee players can select randomly who plays first.  After that the person with the lowest score on the first hole goes first on the next hole.  They retain honor until someone records a lower score on a following hole.

3.       Where to tee up the ball

At the start of each hole, players must tee off from the designated teeing area, a rectangular area two club lengths deep, the front and sides are outlined by two tee markers.  It is important to understand that players can stand outside the teeing area, but the ball must remain within it.

4.       Identifying your ball

A player must be able to identify their golf ball at any time on the golf course, particularly if it lands in a hazard.  Noting just the brand and number is sometimes not enough.  Players may want to make a special mark denoting their ball.  This is the first thing tour professionals do when they open a new pack of balls.  Duffy Waldorf gets his children to draw funny shapes on his golf balls.

5.       When to attend the flag

All players must understand when they can leave the flag in and when they may pull it out when in play.  Failure to do this can result in a 2 shot penalty.  From off of the green the player may leave the flag in or out.  While on the green a player can have the flag removed or have someone attend it.  This means that another player of caddie holds the flag and if the ball is going in, removes the flag before the ball enters the hole.  Failure to remove the flag if the ball is putted from the green and it goes in is a 2 stroke penalty.

6.       Hazards

Golf course designers place numerous hazards on golf courses.  Some of these hazards are in the form of ditches or lakes.  There are two types of water hazards; normal and lateral water hazards.  Lateral water hazards are denoted by red stakes.  In this circumstance if the ball enters the hazard the player may play the ball  where it lies or drop the ball two club lengths from where the ball was deemed to have entered the border of the hazard no nearer the hole with a one stroke penalty.  

If the players ball lands in a regular water hazard, indicated by yellow stakes, they have two options.  The player can either drop another ball and hit it from the point he hit the previous ball or drop the ball on a line between the point at which the ball first crossed the hazard and the hole.  The player may drop the ball as far back on the line as he/she wishes.

7.       Out of bounds

8.       Playing a provisional ball

9.       Marking a ball on the green

10.   Number of Clubs

Putting

1.       At address the player keeps his hands even with the ball and settles his weight evenly on the bottom with both feet.  Grip the putter lightly for maximum feel, and to enhance the pendulum movement, keep arms extended.

2.       The player moves the putter away smoothly, with arms and shoulders working together.  Keep the putter as low as possible (take away).  On short putts the putter should move away from the ball on a straight path, but on longer putts the putter will naturally move inside the line.

3.       It is important to maintain consistent tempo throughout the swing.  While the player watches the putter head make contact with the ball, the back of his left hand moves through toward the target.  The stroke is a positive one, and the putter moves consistently forward through impact.

4.       The putter continues to aim at the intended line into the follow through.  The player should stay down until the ball has left the clubface and is on the way to the hole.  Players should not sneak a peek

Tips:

·         Use the logo to determine the line

·         Short putts take the break out of play

·         Reading greens

·         Pre shot routine