Time to Tee it Up!

The unofficial field manual for all golfers bringing home their new bundle of joy.

When you embark on the adventure of parenthood, you usually read a book or two and take a baby class of some sort be-fore your little bundle of joy arrives. The experts will tell you all about how to feed the child and change diapers—among other things. So you are prepared for everything you need to know to be a good parent,right? Well, not exactly. What they always forget to tell you is how to get your child ready for a life at the Club and on the golf course. Some of your best memories as a parent can be times with your children on the golf course and around the club, so you want to be prepared to take advantage of every opportunity. Just because life gets faster and a little crazy doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy a round of golf or dinner out. Here are a few tips to help you fully utilize all the Club has to offer with your entire family.

START THEM YOUNG

We all know the horror stories of babies on a plane, but bringing a baby to the Club is different. Sure babies cry, but who doesn’t love seeing a baby at the Club?

So how about a quick three holes or maybe even nine? Monday afternoons are a great time for taking your young one for a walk in a stroller around the course.

Make it a family adventure and start with playing a few holes, maybe working up to nine holes later. There are plenty of opportunities to play a few holes and make it back to the parking lot if you need to stop the round early. It’s great to see parents playing golf together and taking turns pushing the stroller around the course. The fresh air seems to always do the body and soul good—while also helping to keep your baby asleep or getting your toddler tired for the ride home. There are days and times which don’t work, but UCC is very fortunate to have limited play and a very accessible golf course for walking. Don’t hesitate to contact the Golf Shop in advance to see what the best times and days are for taking a stroll.

But remember, safety first, and be aware of other players on the course, especially on adjacent holes. Late evenings are perfect to enjoy the Club together. Whether it’s hitting a few balls on the range, putting on the practice green or hitting a few chips, it’s truly the best time to be out. Remember to be courteous to other players, and please position the stroller in a safe location to avoid unexpected errant shots or trips to the emergency room.

START SMART

As your children become mobile, it’s important to establish two basic rules for time at the Club or on the golf course. If you can remember back to when you were a child and your parents would get you ready to go to church, what would they say?

Rule #1: Be presentable It’s typical to dress up for church and so the same should happen for a trip to the Club. Maybe not a shirt and tie, but a polo and khakis set the tone for the trip to the Country Club.

Rule #2: Be serious and use your church voice Many parents and grandparents have always whispered in their child’s ear, “You better be on your best behavior in church.” Carry the same thought to the Country Club and onto the golf course. It is always good to be quiet and calm with no joking around or craziness.

For you and your toddler, being at the Club can be very enjoyable, and it becomes easier for both parent and child with each year older. You’re creating some of the best memories of their childhood, regardless if there is a hiccup or two along the way.

So at what age do you start to bring your little ones out onto the golf course? While it depends on the demeanor of your child, parents can share the experience as early as two years old. They may only be able to sit and watch you putt, but soon after a few sessions, they will start to putt too. Sure, there will be times of kicking or throwing golf balls or picking grass. It is only with patience and teaching that those actions will stop. At first though, you can expect to get only a few minutes of putting or hitting golf balls or maybe a hole or two with your young one. Make sure to keep the expectations low and enjoy the time no matter what.

START SMALL

If you are nervous about taking your child onto the golf course at the Club at an early age, try a local public course putting green. The other option is always the local putt-putt course. What kid doesn’t like going there?

To make the process that much smoother once you do make it to the Club, here are some helpful tips for conduct with your child on the course.

Around the Clubhouse

Establish a quiet rule, no running and always use manners. May we even suggest no electronics from the beginning? It may not work all the time, but it’s a rule that may also be good for dinners and around the clubhouse.

The Golf Shop is a great place to practice addressing adults and hand shaking while making eye contact with the Golf Professional and their staff. Children need to be able to engage with adults and it’s a great place to start.

On the Range

When practicing with your child on the range, always keep them in the hitting bay in front of you. This makes sure you can always see them and avoids the chance of a back swing meeting a forehead.

On the Course

Demonstrate and use proper golf etiquette toward golfers at all times. It’s never too early to start instilling these key principals.

Set riding in a cart as a privilege and do not play around while driving. Teach them that golf carts can be just as dangerous as a car can.

Avoid parking the cart on slopes and remember to remove the key whenever you exit the cart. Children always happen to find their way back to the cart and no one wants to see anything bad happen.

Carts are a major liability, and we ask you to refrain from allowing your children to drive them at any time.

Teach your child about all aspects of the golf course and what it means to be a golfer. Things like how to hold a club still when you are not swinging, and so on.

In regards to the course, teach your child how to walk without dragging their feet on the putting surfaces and the importance of properly raking footprints out of a bunker if they walk through it. Practice leaving the golf course in better condition than you found it.

Playing Golf

Keep the game fun. There’s a time for instruction and a time for fun. You will have many years to turn them into the next Tiger or Rory. They will naturally gravitate to the game and the last thing you want is for them to begin to hate playing golf. A college scholarship is a realistic attainable goal for any child, but give them time to grow into the game.

Teach them etiquette—how to pick up their feet, how not to swing a club on the putting green, placement of the flag, marking the ball and retrieving the ball out of the cup, etc.

Play less golf. Play from the forward tees or junior tees with them and play fewer holes. It’s a great way to speed up the game and work on your short game at the same time. They want to be like you and be a part of the group, so everyone should play from the same location. Starting at the 100 yard marker is always a good idea, too, if they are new to the game.

Proper club sizes are important. Talk to the golf professionals and size your children correctly. Bad habits can form from improperly sized clubs. Too heavy, long or even short clubs can affect their swings. It's a good idea to change golf clubs for kids about every two years. US Kids is probably the leader in junior clubs, but there are other great options in the Golf Shop as well.

Junior camps and lessons are a solid foundation for a long life of enjoying the game. Be sure to continue lessons on a regular basis.

Avoid demonstrating any anger, frustration or club throwing. Your child or grandchild is always watching.

Show them any wildlife and teach them to be good stewards as you play. There’s a lot more out on the golf course than just the game of golf.

FOSTERING THE LOVE OF THE GAME

Attending a professional golf event during a practice round is a great way to expose your child to another golf course, the pros and even to get a few autographs. The pros are more accessible, and they are often more kid-friendly than you could ever imagine. We are lucky to be near a major market like Chicago and we usually get a major event about every year. Living in Central Illinois, we are two and a half hours from the John Deere Classic in the Quad Cities and 90 minutes from the Web. com event at Panther Creek in Springfield. All PGA and LPGA events are free for kids under 16, and each event usually has a variety of free activities for kids to participate in. The small events are easier to navigate and you can usually attend any day of the week.

If you have an opportunity to attend a major event like The Masters, PGA Championship, a US Open or even a Ryder Cup, Wednesday is a great day to go. Sometimes avoiding the actual tournament days can make for a more enjoyable experience. Kids can interact with pros, it’s more fun and stress-free and there are a lot less people to navigate through. Photography is also allowed on practice days, so you’ll be able to snap a few pictures to mark the occasion.

TREASURE THE MEMORIES

Your kids and grandchildren grow up fast, and these memories at the golf course are priceless. It’s important for you to maximize the time you have with them because in a blink of an eye they won’t be little kids anymore. You’d be surprised at what they remember years later—making that really long putt uphill on #5, their first par, Noe’s wood-fired pizza or just having lunch outside on the patio with grandma and grandpa or mom and dad on a Tuesday afternoon.

Sure, the pool is always the easy place to take the kids at the Club, but there is so much to offer your child by exposing them to golf. Golf is a game played from age three to 103 and you can compete on a level playing field with anyone. It’s global and connects people from all walks of life. It’s founded in principles of honesty and integrity, not to mention it’s one of the healthiest activities you can do in life.

It’s a little daunting at first, navigating the Club or the golf course with them. But keep it simple. Set the expectations low and realistic. In a short amount of time, you’ll find that bringing those now not-so-little kids to the Club is stress-free. Well, that is until you reach the point where you can no longer beat them on the putting green and you’re the one headed to the Golf Shop to schedule an extra lesson. But no matter the point you are at in you or your children’s lives, the Urbana Country Club is a family-friendly club first, and we all look forward to seeing you and your little ones on and off the golf course.