It is possible that you live in Hawaii and never have an offseason, but for the purpose of this post, let’s assume you have a bit of Winter. Also known as the golf offseason. Snow, sleet, frost delays, and plummeting temperatures don’t have to stop the growth of your junior golfer. Here are some junior golf offseason ideas you can practice to enhance your skills and plan for the coming season.
- Play Other Sports – I love golf – I mean like, really love to play golf, but there are activities on the course. Find a winter sport and let your junior golfer get the team experience. Indoor soccer or basketball, it doesn’t really matter. There is more to their life than their swing plane or ball position. Golf can be lonely, so let them find a sport with teammates.
- Fitness – the offseason is a great time to work on strength and flexibility. Find a Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) certified fitness instructor (mytpi.com) and spend time in the gym. TPI is perfect for the golfer looking to improve their body for next season.
- Reflect and Make Goals – spend time with your junior golfer reflecting on successes from last year. Discuss goals for the next season. Do you want to qualify for a certain event? Do you want to gain 25 yards off the tee? Do you want to reduce your handicap by a few strokes? Do you want to have more fun on the course? Help your junior golfer develop some goals that will be easy to achieve, but also determine some stretch goals.
- Watch the Weather – just because it is the offseason doesn’t mean you need to put the clubs away for a couple of months – monitor the weather and look for chances to play or visit the driving range. If that isn’t possible, you can always try out the new “high-tech” driving ranges that are starting to spring up across the country.
- Get New Equipment – one thing about junior golfers – they tend to grow. Do you want proof? Check out the length of pants at the next junior golf event. I guarantee you will find plenty of boys showing off a bit too much sock – it can be challenging to keep them in the correct equipment and gear as they grow. Is it time for new clubs? stronger shafts? The offseason is a great time to order and break in new equipment.
- Build Your Schedule – what tournaments do you want to play in next season? It is never too early to start figuring out your schedule for the next season. What events are important to your junior golfer? Which events do they enjoy playing or your family enjoys the location?
Any other ideas? What do you like to do during your golf off-season?
Winter is here, but Spring is just around the corner! Get ready for an awesome golf season and tournament.
About the author
Mike Harris is a former college golfer and dedicated father of two talented junior golfers. With a passion for the sport that began in his own childhood, Mike now focuses on helping his children, Avery and Olivia, navigate the world of junior golf. He’s eager to share tips, advice, and insights with other families on their own golf journeys. Join Mike as he tees off into the exciting realm of junior golf, providing guidance to parents and kids alike.