Family-Friendly Golf Lessons for Kids & Adults at TPC Danzante Bay
While some may think otherwise, learning to play golf is not like learning to ride a bicycle. Golf is a simple game, but it requires technique. The best reason not to teach yourself (or take tips from friends) is that bad habits can be ingrained. They can be hard to get rid of. This is true for children as well as adults.
Here’s why proper instruction is essential. Many of golf’s fundamentals are counter-intuitive. A few can feel uncomfortable at first try. And yet the fundamentals—grip, stance, posture, alignment, ball position—must be mastered to play the game with proficiency. A professional instructor can impart the basics.
Apart from the full swing, there are also games within the game, like putting, chipping, pitching, sand play and recovery shots. Through diligent practice, these skills can be mastered over time. There’s a fair amount of trial and error in golf. Ball flight is usually a good indicator of how you’re doing. For many beginners, especially kids, just getting the ball airborne is an accomplishment.
Would You Drive a Car Without First Taking Lessons?
Starting out, there are simple things to consider, like the loft of a club. All clubs, including the driver, have loft built into the clubface. Execute a correct swing, and the club does the work. Trying to scoop the ball to get it airborne is counter-productive. Other distinctions: an ascending swing is required for the driver. For the irons, a descending blow is essential. It may sound illogical, but you have to hit down on the ball with an iron and compress it against the turf to make it go up.
At TPC Danzante Bay, course designer Rees Jones built a firm but fair layout to test golfers at all ability levels. People often wonder why hazards like bunkers are used to defend fairways and greens. It’s best to think of the golf course as a chessboard. The designer has placed obstacles at strategic points that can be challenged–or avoided. The golfer attacks the course, the architect assumes the role of defender. Golf is a game of “risk-reward.” Each shot must be evaluated in terms of nerve and skill. Throughout a round at TPC Danzante Bay, players must calculate the percentages of playing safe–or of gaining an advantage by taking a risk. Tactics and strategy are the soul of the game.
Donald Ross, the legendary Scottish course designer, once said, “Those who play golf for fun soon get over it.” But that’s what a dour Scotsman would say. The fact is, with the right attitude, golf can be a great deal of fun, especially in the company of family and friends. On a truly noble and picturesque course like TPC Danzante Bay, golfers who’ve developed a modicum of skill can experience ‘pleasurable excitement,’ which is what golf on a good day is all about. Whether that’s simply advancing the ball down the fairway or carding pars or birdies, the game is meant to be enjoyed by everyone.
As for children who’ve expressed an interest in the game, Golf Digest’s “Best Golf Tips for Kids” offers several ways to get your offspring hooked on the game of a lifetime.
Here’s the first and most important tip:
Let Them Call The Shots. We all want our children to learn the game the right way. As golfers, we also have firm notions as to what the “right way” is. As parents, we tend to teach by rote, as if we were in school. For a young child, this is not the way to go. Kids just want to have fun! Follow them around and explain the things they’re curious about. Let them drive the cart if they’re old enough to steer and reach the brake pedal. The rule of thumb is this: You are there to do what they want to do, not what you want them to do.
Get Off to A Good Start with the 1-2-3 Beginners Golf Academy
Few parents are qualified to teach their kids how to play golf. The perfect remedy is TPC Danzante Bay’s 1-2-3 Day Beginners Golf Academy, which offers novices of all ages a chance to learn the game from the ground up. The club’s golf academy offers a daily dose of fun and skill advancement for those trying their hand at the game for the first time. This beginner course includes all you need, from top-notch equipment to professional coaching.
The 1-2-3 Beginner Golf Academy includes:
- 90-minute group lesson per day
- Golf clubs and range balls during the class
- Golf instruction under the watchful eyes of first-rate teachers
- 9-hole putting course for the day included
The Golf Academy is organized in a logical way to speed the learning process:
- Day 1: Introduction to golf, short game, long game
- Day 2: Short game, long game, putting
- Day 3: Long game, driver, putting contest
The 1-day package is priced at $100 USD per person. The 2-day program is $187 USD per person. The 3-day package, recommended for best results, is $273 USD per person.
The 1-2-3 Beginner Golf Academy at TPC Danzante Bay is held every day of the week except Wednesday, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Classes are suitable for groups of from two to six beginners. Reservations can be made at the golf desk or at +52 (613) 134 1010 ext. 4403.
Note: The prices mentioned in this post may vary after the publication date.
