One of the aims of our junior golf programmes is to create an interest in playing golf .
Said another way, one of the goals here is to make learning and playing golf much easier than some may believe it can be.
At Dunes Golf Centre we believe that golf can be uncomplicated, interesting, and fun to learn and play, which leads to developing other physical and mental skills.
The junior golf program at Dunes Golf Centre is designed to help each individual play golf and learn in their own unique way
We do not actually have a learn to play program, we use a play to learn approach.
Play births developmental learning). One of the techniques we use to keep a student’s interest engaged is to give them choices.
Studies show that giving students a choice is perhaps the most meaningful approach for learning and making progress.
We may ask, “Which way of swinging the club would you choose?”
Showing swings, A, B, and C.
Our program gives students choices, it does not give commands, criticisms, or judgments of outcomes. Students learn to use their own power of self-assessment.
Efficient approaches to developmental learning are designed to make students feel smart. These approaches take place in smart classrooms and smart learning environments.
These environments take into account that Students Minds Are Really Talented.
“My golf clubs and golf ball were my playmates growing up. From tee to green everyone has a different swing; everyone is an individual, with a different way of playing. I learned the game from the green back to the tee.” Tiger Woods
Our coaching programmes are designed to help students learn “what to do,” (a positive) and avoids any “How to” directions that try to fix poor outcomes.
Studies into the nature of learning show that fixing is a negative approach to progress, and has never supported developmental learning.
By focusing on “what to do,” long-term learning is encoded through the students’ own reasoning and deduction skills.
Credit due to fellow PGA Professional – Michael Hebron for sharing his insightfulness into learning from which much of the following is derived.
So, why should children learn to play golf?
Some people would say; to develop a great swing, to win tournaments, to be a golf professional winning majors, or simply to learn life skills.
These views shoud be rethought and replaced with…
“Children should learn to play golf simply because it’s a great game that’s fun to play with friends and family.”
Great golf swings, winning tournaments, professional golf and life skills may be possible outcomes, but they should not be someone’s (parent or child’s) reason for playing golf or any game.
There are many skills that acts of learning and playing golf develop that unconsciously “flow through” and mix with future acts of learning in other environments, including classrooms.
While this may be a counterintuitive insight, it’s a reality. Studies from cognitive science show that past experiences in golf can unconsciously “flow through” and mix with new learning experiences, making them deeper and more meaningful.
Acts of true play improve one’s capacity for learning anything. Developmental learning (or what is referred to as real learning) is grounded in the kind of active play that enhances one’s ability to evaluate and solve problems.
When we are learning, long-term progress requires more than the skill of remembering information.
Studies from modern science not only support this view; they suggest that learning golf, more than any other sport, can accomplish this goal.
Acts of “play” and “flow-through learning” support progress in schools, and beyond in any real world environment.
Reasons for children to play golf…
- Promotes group interaction
- Promotes reasoning and deduction behaviour (critical thinking)
- Promotes physical development
- Develops choice making behaviour (critical thinking)
- Promotes pattern and sequence recognition (critical thinking)
- Helps individuals to understand they are unique
- Enhances auditory and visual memory
- Helps develop strategy making behaviour (critical thinking)
- Helps develop both fine and gross movements
- Helps develop alertness and visual tracking behaviour
- Helps develop foresight and operative behaviour (critical thinking)
- Helps develop locomotive skills
- Promotes problem-solving behaviour (critical thinking)
- Helps eye-hand coordination
- Promotes patience
- Develops self-assessment skills
- Promotes logical thinking
- Develops self-discovery behaviour
- Promotes self-development
- Develops competitive spirit
- Promotes sportsmanship
- Develops cardiovascular fitness
- Enhances emotional-social growth
- Develops cognitive skills (critical thinking)
- Promotes combining a variety of thinking and motor skills (critical thinking)
- And, most importantly, golf helps to develop self-reliance and self confidence.
When learning golf, some of the same skills needed to be successful in school and beyond classrooms are being advanced.
Golf and “flow- through” learning improve self-skills.
Of all the self-skills, self-confidence is the most important when it comes to making progress in school and sports. Our program is geared for supporting and enhancing your children’s self-confidence and self-reliance.
ONLINE BOOKING PORTAL
Choose which level you wish to book your child on to.
If you are unsure please do not hesitate to contact us on 01346 510693
TIGER CUBS
For 4 to 7 year olds
Perfect introduction to the game and best suited to boys and girls aged 4-7 years old that have never played any golf before. Lots of games based learning with the emphasis on having fun whilst learning through play.
JUNIOR TIGERS
For 8 to 12 year olds
For boys and girls aged 8 to 12 years old. The Junior Tigers is a structured learning programme that incorporates all aspects of the game from Driving to Putting and includes rules and etiquette information.