{"id":1240,"date":"2012-03-04T02:13:23","date_gmt":"2012-03-04T02:13:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/janinajacobs.com\/?p=1240"},"modified":"2012-03-04T02:13:23","modified_gmt":"2012-03-04T02:13:23","slug":"how-to-create-a-prima-donna-or-donald","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/golf\/instruction\/1240\/how-to-create-a-prima-donna-or-donald","title":{"rendered":"How To Create A Prima Donna (or Donald)"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Teaching junior golfers 'the right stuff'.<\/p><\/div>\n

The game of golf surely has changed since I was a kid growing up in the 60’s \u2013 and the key word here is \u2018GAME\u2019.\u00a0 What we see now in tournament golf on TV is more of a business, not a game.\u00a0 But I suppose the same could be said of any professional sport.<\/p>\n

It is no surprise that with the emergence of Tiger Woods in the 90\u2019s, Lexie Thompson last year, and now, the weaning of countless other young golf stars from amateur sensations to professional contenders, many parents see the game of golf as a way for their kids to succeed in a career which can be fun as well as lucrative.<\/p>\n

It can also be brutal.<\/p>\n

Are the professionals having fun?\u00a0 Is this what our kids should emulate?<\/p>\n

Over the years I have mentored many young people as well as the parents who created them.\u00a0 Here\u2019s what I see:\u00a0 too many young golfers are over-scheduled, over-indulged, over-coddled, and over-coached.\u00a0 They come off of the 9th<\/sup> hole literally in tears at the turn because they shot a 41.\u00a0 They smack brand new Titleist Pro-V1\u2019s into the water because they\u2019re angry.\u00a0 They snap at parents who ask what they want for lunch.\u00a0 They complain about having to walk all 18 holes. <\/em>Worse yet when they grow up a little, they are tossing their clubs into a neglected garage corner after their last college tournament because they never want to see those ‘things’ again.\u00a0 Take a look at declining golfer numbers and the trend is clear: we are creating a generation of potentates who are really not interested in tradition.<\/p>\n

OK parents, do you really want to create a great player \u2013 but maybe one you can\u2019t live with?\u00a0 Here\u2019s what to do:<\/p>\n

<\/em>Do everything for the kid<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Manage their schedule, arrange and supervise their practice, pick out their equipment, buy them the best golf balls, designer clothes, chauffer them anytime anywhere day or night no matter what other plans you had.<\/p>\n

Caddie for the kid<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/em>This is vital so that you receive optimal abuse.\u00a0 Let your kid blame you for poor shots, improper club selection, incorrect green reads.\u00a0 Most of all, stand impassive while your kid tells you \u2018You don\u2019t know ANYTHING!\u2019\u00a0 But always have your money ready when cash is required for a paid-out.<\/p>\n

Be a practice valet machine<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Get on your hands and knees and tee up balls for the practice Driver session so the kid doesn\u2019t have to bend down.\u00a0 Then, move to the putting green and do the same thing as an automatic ball feeder so the kid can practice 15-footers.\u00a0 Your back will be gone, but hey, you<\/em> don\u2019t need your back as much as junior does.\u00a0 (Think I am being silly?\u00a0 Think again: \u00a0I actually witnessed this with a young phenom).<\/em><\/p>\n

Sympathize with the kid about being overworked<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

When the kid complains about being tired after walking 9 holes in practice, run and get a cart so the kid won\u2019t have to endure the back 9 on foot.\u00a0 After all, kids can\u2019t be expected to walk all 18 holes.<\/p>\n

Allow the kid to have their own room on golf team trips<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Kids need their space and privacy.\u00a0 4 to a room hotel sharing and dorm living is unacceptable.\u00a0 And, won\u2019t they be spending enough time with their coach and teammates during practice and play?<\/p>\n

Make sure the kid knows that he or she is THE most important person out there<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/em>Self-centeredness is necessary to be a great player.\u00a0 Kids should know that the world revolves around their wishes and needs.\u00a0 If Winifred is playing slowly and groups are piling up behind, her attitude should be, \u2018Hey, tee times are the luck of the draw.\u00a0 They\u2019ll have to wait their turn behind me.\u2019\u00a0 Then Wini can proceed with her deliberate pace of play.<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Understand that tournament officials, coordinators, and volunteers are there to serve<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/em>Kids have a right to be upset with rules officials who penalize an infraction or with spotters who can\u2019t find their wayward shot.<\/p>\n

<\/strong>Encourage complaints about course conditions and set-ups that favor the \u2018other\u2019 teams<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/em>Course superintendents have all the time in the world to study the list of players and see who they\u2019d like to harass\u2026..this week.\u00a0 And of course, they are in cahoots with opposing teams\u2019 coaches.<\/p>\n

<\/em>Encourage emotional outbursts<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/em>Whacking that $400 club to the ground, tossing clubs at your caddie (for them to pick up), crying after a bad hole are all indicative of a very upsetting experience for the kid.\u00a0 It is OK to show optimal outrage for a REALLY bad shot by gouging a hole in the ground or green.\u00a0 That will show everyone how much the horrible shot differed from your normal one.\u00a0 Don\u2019t forget the $5 Pro-V1 toss into the water.\u00a0 It was an unlucky ball anyway.<\/p>\n

When there is a dispute in the group, step in immediately and defend your kid<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/em>You have to assume the others are wrong.\u00a0 Keep a watchful eye on everyone in the foursome to ensure the others<\/em> aren\u2019t forgetting a stroke here or there.<\/p>\n

Sacrifice everything:\u00a0 your money, your time, and your emotions<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Junior truly expects every aspect of your life to be subordinate to his or hers.\u00a0 You may not have money to pay the bills or save for a rainy day, but by goodness you can procure that $400 range finder that\u2019s needed; you can forego that once-in-a-lifetime fishing trip in order to see your precious progeny throw tantrums on the course.<\/p>\n

Parents, if you follow these guidelines, your kid will be forever grateful and take marvelous care of you in your old age\u2026\u2026not.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The game of golf surely has changed since I was a kid growing up in the 60’s \u2013 and the… Read more »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":1529,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,5,18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1240","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-golf","category-instruction","category-lifestyle"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/24\/2012\/03\/TGA-Kerby.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1240","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1240"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1240\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1900,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1240\/revisions\/1900"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1529"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1240"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1240"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theaposition.com\/janinajacobs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1240"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}