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Golf 101
Basic Golf Tips for Family Fitness
By Kelly Burgess
"My daughter not only carries her own little set of clubs, she's always running everywhere to look at something," Mario says. "She gets twice as much exercise as I do."
However, it is important that the kids' gamboling not interfere with the play of any other golfer. Which brings us to...
Golf has enough rules to fill dozens of books. The United States Golf Association (USGA) also has a complete rules listing on its site. But, for the family that's just decided to take up golf, there are just a few basic guidelines that must be observed.
- Play through. Never hold up other golfers while you or one of your kids hacks their way to the hole. Allow faster golfers to play through. When playing with younger children, it's best to go during times when the course is not as busy, such as midday.
- Think safety first. In golf, there are balls flying everywhere. Do not allow your children to run onto driving ranges or allow them to get in the way of another player's shots.
- Courtesy counts. Golf is a sport of concentration, so yelling, loud play and other noisy distractions are frowned upon.
Having duly noted those important basics, Van Horn says not to harp too much on the many "rules" that govern the actual golf swing or you'll drive your kids – and yourself – crazy.
"Golf as we know it is just a ball and a club; that's fascinating for kids," Van Horn says. "What brings down the game is when parents are constantly correcting them. It's a natural urge for parents, but if we want our kids to want to come to the course with us, we have to make it fun. It's no fun to be corrected all the time."
