USKG Player Pathway (for a parent)

[thatsagimme]

Have any of you purchased the US Kids Golf Player Pathway kits just to use with your own children? 

 

My oldest son (6 yo) was at a local golf camp a couple of weeks ago and one of the other kids had some pins from working his way through it (I assume from a program he participates at/takes lessons with).  It seems like a pretty good idea to get your kids motivated to continue to practice to get to the next level and get rewarded with pins, and I am wondering if that someone that knows a reasonable amount about golf could coach/teach the kids through the booklets and so on.  On another note, it seems kind of overpriced at $20 for a single level kit that includes the booklet and pins for only one child (and there are 10 levels).

 

I think that my 6 year old would probably skip some of the levels to start with since he's been playing in our local USKG tour and taking occasional lessons, but it might be a great way to get my younger son (4 yo) more interested in learning and practicing as he is not nearly as self-motivated as the older one. 

 

Any and all thoughts are appreciated!

[Medson]

Jesus, I think my daughter had the first booklet when she started out as a 6 yo. We might have received it as part of camp. And I'm pretty sure we did not use it. 

 

She outgrew it quickly. 

 

I don't want to discount this thing entirely. But to be honest, your son will learn so much if he continues to practice and play in the local tournaments. 

 

p.s. 4 yo is too young. 6 yo is already at the young side. 

[wildcatden]

https://www.charleston-sc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/18311/US-Kids-level-one-book?bidId=

 

No pins needed. Substitute an ice cream for success.

[tiger1873]

Personally it's not something I used with my kids and I don't think it would help to motivate them.  But saying that every kid is different.  I can see where it's a nice reward because they have to earn it. 

 

I think at the end of the day it is what you want to make it out to be.  Some kids the reward is taking time off so you can practice more.

 

The biggest thing to remember is golf needs to fun and rewarding don't push anything on them. You don't want to have a kid play years of junior golf get a scholership and end up being kicked off before the first semester is over because they rather do something else. Happens more then people think.

[TripleBogeysrbetter]

6 hours ago, tiger1873 said:

Personally it's not something I used with my kids and I don't think it would help to motivate them.  But saying that every kid is different.  I can see where it's a nice reward because they have to earn it. 

 

I think at the end of the day it is what you want to make it out to be.  Some kids the reward is taking time off so you can practice more.

 

The biggest thing to remember is golf needs to fun and rewarding don't push anything on them. You don't want to have a kid play years of junior golf get a scholership and end up being kicked off before the first semester is over because they rather do something else. Happens more then people think.

New Phone who is dis?

[TripleBogeysrbetter]

14 hours ago, wildcatden said:

https://www.charleston-sc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/18311/US-Kids-level-one-book?bidId=

 

No pins needed. Substitute an ice cream for success.

Agree with this and @tiger1873.  At an early age I can see the rewards.  I would def do something inline with what the kid wanted though.

 

Maybe if I sink a putt outside of 15 ft. I get an extra hour of screen time tonight.  Sometime I don't know.  6 of 9 GIR small milkshake.

 

At a point you will know if the Kid is serious about playing at the next level.

 

Next level being (random order) Elite junior golf, High school, USGA qualifiers, College, etc.

 

If you are begging them to play or practice after 13 or 14.  Let them find something else.

 

[thatsagimme]

Thanks all. Thankfully my 6 year old is highly self motivated, is a huge golf fan,, and loves to  play (he'd go out and play 36 holes on any day if he could). He is also pretty open to hitting up the range, chipping green and putting green, but not as motivated for doing that as playing 9 or 18 holes (which isn't always feasible with timing).

 

With that said, I think the program might motivate him to practice more often and consistently (other than just playing rounds on the course) since he could tap into it as a sort of competition.  Right now with our local USKG season being over, there will be limited opportunities for competition and so this might give him a taste for the rest of the summer.  I should mention that he is the one that brought up Player Pathway and is sort of pushing for it. 

 

All that said, I am not sure if parents can actually use the full program and it may only be fully accessible (with the mobile app, etc. ) to USKG affiliated or certified coaches. I might still go ahead and pull the trigger on some of the mini kits (including pins) just to see how it goes. If the 4 year old really wants to try it too, I'd let him give it a go so that he can be included.