Summertime is a time of adventure and fun for most people. With the temperature rising, people naturally want to go outdoors. Sports become a major part of summer for many people. In addition to baseball, soccer, tennis and swimming, many students want to start playing golf.
This is a demanding sport that teaches humility and discipline. It seems so easy to hit a golf ball. But the results can be unpredictable. The ball doesn’t always fly straight, which can leave players befuddled. In spite of the demands of the sport, golf is a terrific game that can be learned with practice and discipline.
What skills and instruction are needed to be successful? John Gordon answers many of these questions in his fine book entitled "The Kids Book of Golf."
The author points out that golf is a sport that can be played by all types of people. You don’t need to be tall, or particularly strong, because accuracy is one of the most important elements in golf. Keeping the ball in the fairway is a surefire way to success in the sport.
He gives a history of golf’s origins in Scotland. Then a series of drawings show the most usual golf holes.
Next, Gordon talks about the development of golf clubs and golf balls. When one considers the technological development of clubs in recent years, it is hard to imagine anyone being able to play well with these early clubs.
A picture shows an early golf ball made out of feathers, and another one made out of gutta-percha, a type of gluey rubber. The rubber core golf ball that is used today was invented about 1900.
Gordon states that grip, aim and posture are the three elements of a good stroke. Next, he talks about the importance of chipping and putting. The common phrase "drive for show, putt for dough" becomes apparent after reading this section.
The author then has a section on golf rules. He discourages "winter rules" where you move the ball to a nicer position, and insists on playing honestly. Many adult players could learn from this section.
Since golf is such a physical sport, Gordon places great emphasis on warming up. Stretching exercises, and warm-up shots at the driving range are strongly encouraged. This means that golfers need to arrive at the course early enough to stretch and take some practice shots.
The book then includes some interesting photos of famous golfers, and their stories about learning to golf. Gordon then closes the book with a description of the most important golf tournaments, and some fun facts about unusual events in golf history.
This is an excellent book for students looking to spend their time learning an interesting and challenging sport. Golf cannot be learned quickly, which is one of the most valuable parts of the game. Golf teaches about life and determination. You cannot play well if you are not disciplined.
But it is important to remember that golf is meant to be fun. So while you want to encourage youngsters to try hard, also make sure you show them the joy of experiencing a well hit ball soaring towards the green. That is what keeps people coming back to golf, and what makes it such a great sport. Enjoy!
