Island Life Magazine Ltd November/December 2005 | Page 19

HOBBIES

Chris Reed

Giving
kids a
swinging
time
Are you harbouring a budding young
Tiger Woods at your house?
You may never know unless your
youngster has the chance to practice his
or her swing on the golf course.
Though it's not the most obvious choice,
golf can in fact be a great hobby for
children of all ages, because it's
challenging and fun as well as extremely
skillful. Peter Hammond from Shanklin
Sandown Golf Course reckons that more
children should try the sport: "Children
from all backgrounds can take part - it's
not an expensive hobby for parents, and in
fact, we find the mums and dads often
become involved and decide to take
lessons themselves".
Children can start golf as early as the age
of five. Currently Peter coaches approx 25
children with a group lesson once a week
on either a Saturday or Sunday morning.
All the required equipment is included
within the price of the lesson, right up
until the point where children are old

enough to purchase their own equipment.
However, for those youngsters who show a
natural talent for the game early on, it
can be a good idea for the parents to
invest in a set of golf clubs and shoes for
their child.
Peter also spends time visiting local
schools introducing children to the game
of golf. "At first, many kids are not that
keen on the idea, but once they have the
chance to pick up a golf club and have a
go, it then becomes a challenge for them,
and most children who decide to give it a
go end up loving the game. I think it's
just a case of introducing them to it in
the first place".
"Even in the early stages, there are
competitions that kids can enter at all
levels. We also have match days that the
kids can come along and watch. I Ё