Juniors age and caddies

[a_ryttet]

Hi all,

iv’e  Never introduced my self here and have a very limited posting history. Im a dad golfer from Copenhagen Denmark. I’ve used all the debates and info here, as junior golf is quite a bit less developed here. 
 

my question is regarding age of golfers and caddies. Whats common practice as to when players play with and when they start playing without a caddie. Will the have an adult keeping score for the group also or after the stop having their own caddies?

 

thanks in advance. 
 

Edited April 19, 2021 by a_ryttet

[TripleBogeysrbetter]

My opinion:  Don't ever score for a group.  The players are responsible for their scorecards and keeping their partners honest.

 

Nothing worst than seeing a parent chasing down a group to record all the scores.

[heavy_hitter]

Parent Caddies often times do too much.  I have seen them tee up balls, keep score, yell at their kid, do AIM point for their kid, align their kid, drop a ball for their kid, mark balls for their kid.  Just my opinion, if a kid can't do all those things for themselves, they aren't ready to play tournament golf.

I know people will disagree with me, but this even goes for the 7 and under age groups.  A parent Caddie is only there to give encouragement and at times help them make a decision on a club when asked.

[MWhack]

1 hour ago, heavy_hitter said:

Parent Caddies often times do too much.  I have seen them tee up balls, keep score, yell at their kid, do AIM point for their kid, align their kid, drop a ball for their kid, mark balls for their kid.  Just my opinion, if a kid can't do all those things for themselves, they aren't ready to play tournament golf.

I know people will disagree with me, but this even goes for the 7 and under age groups.  A parent Caddie is only there to give encouragement and at times help them make a decision on a club when asked.

Fully agree, I have done this on my daughters first tournament I tried to help, but my feeling was its not right, next tournament I stopped doing it she scored worse and complained why I dont help I'm a bad caddie, but then she started to practice more with alignment sticks which she didnt liked before, and her Aiming is muuuuuuch better after just few weeks. Imo parents should just help during practice, let them do by their own will help them in the long run. Same with routine, told her so often, please do your routine, after I stopped she played few bad rounds and is doing it now by herself. I guess Kids need some "worst" rounds to understand certain things.
Keeping score for 7-9y  I think should be done by both, kids keep score but before writing on score card double checking with Parent, everything else just by kids.
And now if I see parents lining putts up or telling them before a swing more left or right I'm sorry for the kids.

[a_ryttet]

Thanks for all the replies. 
 

but you are with them on the course? Pushing the cart or carrying the clubs?

[TripleBogeysrbetter]

2 minutes ago, a_ryttet said:

Thanks for all the replies. 
 

but you are with them on the course? Pushing the cart or carrying the clubs?

Mine are 17 and 15 now.  I am lucky if leave the house.

[MWhack]

15 minutes ago, a_ryttet said:

Thanks for all the replies. 
 

but you are with them on the course? Pushing the cart or carrying the clubs?

Yes I do for my girl (8y in few days) but as soon she will be 10+ and wish to go without me it will be her choice.

[a_ryttet]

My son just turned 8 and they play full length courses here ~5500yds

[heavy_hitter]

25 minutes ago, a_ryttet said:

My son just turned 8 and they play full length courses here ~5500yds

 

They are killing an 8 year old at 5500 meters (6000 yds).  That makes little to no sense for the progression of a junior golfer.  Scores have to be really high.  Caddies should get 18 shots a round just to help their score.

Edited April 19, 2021 by heavy_hitter

[a_ryttet]

Its 5500yds courses and they play 9 holes.

but i agree, but cant change that, people seems to be ok with that.

[MWhack]

We play sometimes from the reds, just for fun cause she wants to hit lot of different clubs and spending more time on the course. If a Par 4 gets Played like a Par 6-7 and you dont get mad that your kid shot a 7 on a Par 4 its fine I would say.
It all depends on you and the feeling you give your Child, and just dont call it triple bogey if he does a 7 😄 Tell him its a Par, will help him to have fun.
For Competition I would avoid that kind of tournaments, cause kids can get frustrated very fast, long waiting time if another kid hits bad (and someone always does) I doubt they do max 10shots per hole (which might even be very bad as well, if a kid has to pick up his ball = crying), they actually see the Score which might be a good score but a +20 doesnt feels good.
Instead playing this kind of tournaments, take the Fee and play another nicer course maybe with a friend or save it and travel a bit to play proper ones.

[BloctonGolf11]

16 hours ago, a_ryttet said:

My son just turned 8 and they play full length courses here ~5500yds

That is idiotic and can only be detrimental. I would find somewhere else to play pronto. 

[heavy_hitter]

9 hours ago, a_ryttet said:

Its 5500yds courses and they play 9 holes.

but i agree, but cant change that, people seems to be ok with that.

 

Out of curiosity, what are the scores like?

[a_ryttet]

Not enough young kids to have them set up shorter courses most places. I tried at my home course but the other parents didnt want to have their kids play the short course i set up with tees in the fairways. Official tournaments dont have agegroups under age 12.

 

kids play stableford in locals here and hence pickup after 4x bogey.

 

my kid shot +23 there on monday on the front nine which is 2600yds par 34. Fine score, but not good for him.

Edited April 20, 2021 by a_ryttet

[MWhack]

If they pick up it has be mentally really bad for them the tournaments, would avoid this tournaments

[a_ryttet]

25 minutes ago, MWhack said:

If they pick up it has be mentally really bad for them the tournaments, would avoid this tournaments

All the tournament are like that here. Not very developed junior  golf scene unfortunately.

[Medson]

In the U.S., there is an emphasis to play the right yardage. Here is what U.S. Kids recommends https://foundation.uskidsgolf.com/tournaments/info/age-groups-and-yardages It is a pretty good reference and you can adjust up or down according to your situation. 

 

 

[MRx747]

I let my boys play the red tee here or the ladies tee whenever they want, its about 5500-5800 between a few clubs, my little one normally plays 3600-3800 yards and my older plays 4200-4400 yards, I let my older one take off 14 strokes, and my little one take off 28 for +/- total end of the round. One club has a 642 yards Par5, my little loves it, most times 5 just to get on or around the green.

[kekoa]

For Boys, I say 8-9 years old is a good age to let them do their own thing.  For girls I would say 10 years old.

 

It also depends on the development of the player and how much experience they have under their belts in tournament play.  My son is 11 now and knows the rules/etiquette very well.  He doesn't  want me caddying at all anymore 😞