This week Hip2trek were invited to a Bloggers event in Leeds by Online Golf to have a day of fun and learn about getting kids into golf. Of course I’m interested in anything to do with getting kids active and outside so we were excited to go along and find out more. I do admit that I don’t know a lot about golf and still struggle with some of the terms, but I was hoping we would come back with some skills to tell the kids Grandpa about.
Once everyone arrived we were taken into a room set up with different games including a mini golf course. An expert talked to the assembled kids about how to hold the golf clubs and then we were set up into groups to compete against each other in a little contest, making our way from one game to the next. I was a little worried that with a room full of excited kids there may be some golf club wielding or balls flying everywhere but needn’t have worried! As every child had a go the experts were on hand to again show them how to hold the different clubs. All were enthusiastic and excited and couldn’t wait to get started. Not a stray golf ball or club in sight.
The first game my kids had a go at was chipping the ball into baskets on the wall. Well, that was the idea anyway! After a few goes my son was thrilled that he managed to get one of the balls in the basket, my Daughter had a good go and with a great swing managed to at least hit the ball. They were off to a good start.
The first game my kids had a go at was chipping the ball into baskets on the wall. Well, that was the idea anyway! After a few goes my son was thrilled that he managed to get one of the balls in the basket, my Daughter had a good go and with a great swing managed to at least hit the ball. They were off to a good start.
Our next game was like skittles but using the golf ball to hit the pins down. My son loved this game but my Daughter found it harder to strike the pins. In this section the kids could also play a bowls like game trying to get the golf ball into a coloured circle to score some points. This was much harder and my son soon found out that an enthusiastic hit of the ball doesn’t always guarantee it making it to the right place!
Our final game was on the mini golf course and my Daughter went round this course quite a few times. To score points they needed to get the ball into the hole in two shots. My son did this several times and kept excitedly running to tell the expert, whilst my Daughter took more shots to get the ball into the hole she was determined to do it and not at all bothered that she hadn’t scored points. It’s the taking part that counts! Bless her.
After lunch the groups were free to play on whatever game they liked, my Daughter making a bee line for the mini golf course, before a contest between the two highest scoring children to win some goodies. The parents also got to take part in a contest and have a go on the chipping game and I even had a little go myself. Despite being left handed and using a right handed club I was thrilled that I didn’t completely embarrass myself and hit the ball. It was nowhere near the basket but never mind!
Our final game was on the mini golf course and my Daughter went round this course quite a few times. To score points they needed to get the ball into the hole in two shots. My son did this several times and kept excitedly running to tell the expert, whilst my Daughter took more shots to get the ball into the hole she was determined to do it and not at all bothered that she hadn’t scored points. It’s the taking part that counts! Bless her.
After lunch the groups were free to play on whatever game they liked, my Daughter making a bee line for the mini golf course, before a contest between the two highest scoring children to win some goodies. The parents also got to take part in a contest and have a go on the chipping game and I even had a little go myself. Despite being left handed and using a right handed club I was thrilled that I didn’t completely embarrass myself and hit the ball. It was nowhere near the basket but never mind!
The kids had a great time and by the end of the day my Daughter was shattered. Here are some of the reasons Online Golf say why kids should get into golf:
- More kids can play golf! For golf you don’t have to be tall, strong or fast or lean. Successful golfers come in all shapes, sizes and ages.
- It’s low-risk! Chances of injuries in golf are very small to non-existent compared to other popular sports like football or rugby. Being no-contact, golf is a very safe, respectful sport.
- It’s healthy! Golf is an outdoors sport giving kids the opportunity to exercise al fresco whilst enjoying nature.
Have I two next champion golfers? Well no probably not but I was impressed with how quickly they both got to grips with hitting the ball. We also have some new skills to show Grandpa!
We were invited by Online Golf for a day of fun and the kids received goody bags. All views are my own.
Kids think they’re cool after learning some new golf skills!