In his new book, PARdon Me: 50 Years of Golf, One Hole at a Time (Silicon Valley Press, April 2025), Joe Bronson, celebrated golf writer and passionate amateur, shows that there’s a right way (and a wrong way) to get your kids into the game. All proceeds from his books help fund university golf programs, The First Tee, and youth golf organizations in local communities.
Drawing from decades of personal stories, lessons learned from legends like Arnold Palmer, and reflections on golf as a lifelong pursuit, Bronson shares how golf can be more than a sport, it’s a powerful way to build relationships, teach life skills, and foster mutual respect between generations.
Through humor, humility, and heartfelt tales from iconic courses around the world, Bronson offers the perfect conversation starter on how to encourage (not pressure) the next generation to find their own love for the game. His approach isn’t just about teaching swings or rules; it’s about creating memories, modeling sportsmanship, and celebrating perseverance, patience, and fun.
I had a chance to learn more in this interview.
What are some of the best ways to introduce kids to golf?
My opinion is that you should introduce kids to golf as soon as possible. The best way to introduce golf is to make it fun for the child so they have a positive experience. It is important to make it as easy as possible for them and get them the proper instruction.
The instruction should be low-key with the emphasis on fun. Once a child hits a good shot, it starts to become infectious, positive and reinforcing. Outside the instruction, take them to a driving range and just have fun—attention spans of kids are limited, so 30 minutes is probably enough to start. Another good way of introduction is to enroll the child in The First Tee program if there is a chapter in your area. The First Tee gives golf instruction, and also teaches manners, etiquette, discipline and fun for the kid in the company of other kids of similar ages. Get the kids their own clubs! You can get a great starter set for less than $100 with a bag. My grandson has a Sonic the Hedgehog cover for his driver.
What are some mistakes that people make when introducing kids to golf?
The biggest mistakes people make in introducing kids to golf are:
- Forcing the kid to take up golf and trying to instruct the child personally and impose do’s and don’ts, which generally confuses the kid and reduces their self esteem. You want the child first and foremost to have fun.
- Not respecting the attention span of the child—more than 30 minutes may turn off the child from wanting to play and then it becomes a compliance matter for the child and a “turnoff.”
- Creating expectations for performance by the child—it is very important for the child to enjoy the game and want to improve on their own.
- The parent decides that the child must learn the game irrespective of what the child wants to do. Parents push the kids too hard.
Golf can be a significant teacher of values. I believe that golf is a microcosm of life itself. It is the only sport that I believe teaches values outside of the home. It is a game and activity that can reinforce the value system that is being developed at home or in the educational system. The game presents a significant challenge that requires continuous improvement no matter what the skill level. In order to develop skills in the game, golf requires the integration of physical and mental ideas within societal norms of behavior and emotional control. The game offers unique insights that the individual has to process mentally and transfer to playing the game. These requirements are very similar to receiving educational inputs and enables the child to transfer these ideas to practice regimes to play at a desired skill level.
How can golf make opportunities for family bonding?
Golf can create great opportunities for family bonding. I would suggest a family outing to a TopGolf facility where the family can hit balls, hang out, eat and drink and have a great time (albeit it is a bit expensive). You might be able to do something similar at a local driving range. Family involvement in the game encourages participation and once some good shots are hit, the outing becomes infectious to everyone. My experience has been that once a few members of the family become involved in the game, it can spread to the entire family by watching professionals play on TV, or going to a live PGA tour event or local event. My wife, who doesn’t play, was completely engaged as we watched the recent dramatic end of the Masters on TV.
My first book covered my relationship and development of golf with my son and how we are still playing together for the last 40 years.
About Joseph Bronson
Joseph Bronson, author of PARdon Me: 50 Years of Golf, One Hole at a Time, brings a lifetime of golf passion and experience to his writing, having played 93 of the top 100 courses in the U.S. and many of the finest courses worldwide. A member of the iconic Monterey Peninsula Country Club in Pebble Beach, California and Cordevalle Golf Club in San Martin, California, Bronson combines his global business expertise with a deep love for the game. His extensive travels and hands-on experience make him uniquely qualified to share insights, stories, and commentary on the sport he loves.
Bronson is also the author of two previous books, Through the Green: Golf Shots, Spots, and Stories and Golf Chronicles: An Amateur's Lifelong Dedication to the Game.
Through his books and popular Golf Chronicles blog, Bronson offers readers a fresh, thoughtful perspective on golf’s iconic courses and memorable moments. All proceeds from his books provide funds to support university golf programs, The First Tee, and other youth organizations that support golf in the community.
To learn more, please visit his website josephbronson.com and follow Joe on Instagram and Facebook
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