Paul Dyer on Junior Golf

"THE JUNIOR PASSPORT IS A GREAT AID FOR TEACHING CHILDREN'

Paul Dyer PGA pro Secret Valley G.C. & Tsada G.C.

I have, like most Teaching Pros, been teaching children most of my working life and I find it one of the most satisfying parts of my week. However, keeping both the absolute beginners and the more proficient youngsters interested week after week is also very challenging.

When Terry Scott was appointed to the CGF as Junior Coordinator he took time to see one of my schools in action and discussed the areas where I thought improvements could be made and what could he do to help. Whilst I had a hardcore group of children who turned up most weeks only a few seemed to have the commitment to playing the game that I used to have when I was young. Tongue in cheek I said to Terry that if he could find a magic formula to get them playing rather than just turning up for lessons it would get my vote.

Weeks went by and I did not hear from him again, it turned out he was in England on family business. On coming back he sat me down armed with sheaves of paper and told me he had been researching teaching programs in the UK and he outlined the pro's and cons of three different training programs, together we decided to trial "The Junior Passport Scheme" by The Golf Foundation.

Positive results could be seen almost immediately, the children loved the books they were given and were enthused by the reward program of hat badges and certificates. Very soon they were motivated by the simplicity of the program and the fact that they could progress at there own speed.

With level one being fairly basic those who had been attending my earlier lessons were soon passing the little tests that make up each level. Attendance was more consistent and I for one could not wait for the time at the end of each lesson when the children would flock round Terry and I to have their achievement books marked.

I find the programs are well laid out, the test pages are well thought out and the training suggestions are a great help on a busy week when I would otherwise be hard pressed to plan the next lesson.