If you’re a non-golfer and your son or daughter is talking about taking up golf, this article is for you! To help you navigate the problem, I have teamed with my friends at Operation 36. We hope to provide the basic information you needed about when you should start your children, why Operation 36 works, and what type of investment parents might need to make in introducing their children to golf.

When should I start?

If you have the choice, start younger rather than older. Yes, that’s a broad statement, I understand that. However, if your kid waits until they are 13 to start playing the game, they have a significantly steeper mountain to climb than someone who started at 8. In many cases, starting to play at 13 makes it virtually impossible to play high school or college golf if that is the goal.

In Anders Ericsson’s landmark book “Peak – Secrets From the New Science of Expertise,” he states, “Pretty much anyone can develop with the right exposure and training. Nearly everyone with perfect pitch (expertise) began training at a very young age.”

Why Operation 36 Works

The core of Operation 36 is to develop on-course skills or scoring. Players start immediately on the golf course at 25 yards with a goal of playing 9 holes in a score of 36. When they accomplish their golf, they move away from the hole with the goal of being able to shoot 36 from the white tees.

The mission was founded on the premise that once a player writes down a score and believes they can improve that score with practice, they quickly become hooked! In the program, these players are supported by a coach who delivers weekly lessons to them with a long-term curriculum. They also get a mobile app to track progress, socialize with players in their Academy and motivate them to play and practice outside of class.

Although the premise sounds simple, Operation 36 is effective because it helps young golfers develop sound skills. This includes internal locus of control (or motivation), self-awareness, grit, and focus. The results are that kids feel empowered and engaged in their pursuits each week, which creates a magical connection to the game of golf.

What’s this gonna cost?

Here are the average costs associated with enrolling your child in an Operation 36 program. We have broken the costs into 2 groups; Phase 1 and Phase 2. Phase 1 is a time where your child is learning to build both a passion for golf and learning the basic skills. Based on 11 years of experience, the average player takes about 3-5 years to get back to the front tees. Now that your student has accomplished shooting 36 from the front tees, they are ready to enter Phase 2. In Phase 2, the player’s goal is to shoot 36 or better all the way to the back tee’s at your facility and start playing in junior tournaments.

Phase 1: Introduction to Golf

The costs include weekly classes and bi-weekly 9-hole events. In this graphic, we are assuming a 6-month commitment to golf which would include (24) classes and (12) 9-hole events per calendar year.

Phase 2: Tournament Player

As your junior golfer decides to take their passion to the next level, the costs associated with things like coaching, tournaments, and equipment will increase, looking something like this:

Please note: Not all players want to move on to becoming a tournament player. Some players might want to continue to engage in Phase 1 because their motivations better align with the values of this program.

I hope this article helps parents have realistic expectations of the costs associated with introducing their children to golf. With this knowledge, we can start to make more educated decisions.

If you are interested in learning more about Operation 36, please visit the website to find a location near you with a coach that is specifically interested in helping your child fall in love with playing the game of golf.