Thursday, March 12, 2015

Teaching Kids How to Golf and Have Fun

Making Golf Fun for Kids


Hi this Kris Moe, I'm the director of Fun and Player Development at Chuck Corica Golf Complex in Alameda, I've just returned from a US Kids certification program in Los Angeles and I'm fired up to share the fun new
Us pros watching a sample lesson
ways us pros will be teaching kids 13 and younger.

I wish I would had this system available for my own two boys, they are now high schoolers, because I think they would have been more interested in golf.

In a nutshell they have made golf learning more engaging for kids. There is more learning from games and intuitive ways to understand fairly complex concepts like the grip (hot dog in a bun) how to chip (eg swing the letter "Y"). Here's a video of how we teach some of the fundamentals, https://vimeo.com/36619747

They also have badges for each accomplishment that is pinned to their cool US kids golf hat.

I still have a few spots available for the under 13 class beginning this Saturday from 2:00-3:00 PM (mostly 8 and 9 year olds are signed up). You can register here.

Here's more information on the program which I believe your kids will really have fun doing.



Learning Program

The U.S. Kids Golf Learning Program is a proven method to introduce golf to young players. The program becomes more difficult as players advance through each of the three levels, and the Level 1, 2 and 3 booklets provide the framework for both coaches and parents.
The booklets provide instruction and examples of forms and skills, and each level has checkpoints in five core areas: Putting, Around the Green, Full Swing, Knowledge and Scoring. As an incentive to advance through all the levels, players earn an achievement pin each time they complete one of the checkpoints. In order to pass each level, players must play nine holes from at least 1,500 yards (the distance of Level 1 Tees on a Family Course) and meet the scoring requirement.
U.S. Kids Golf Certified Coaches use these booklets in daily instruction and at USKG Camps across the country.
What's Next:  Find a Coach 
The Early Start Booklet is for kids five and younger who are being introduced to the game of golf. You may download the entire Early Start Booklet below for no charge.
The Level 1 Instructional Booklet mixes kid-friendly instruction with on-course play that is suitable for all beginner golfers. The curriculum includes forms and skills tests in five core areas for the player to pass before progressing to the Level 2 Booklet.Samples:  Forms  |  Skills
Ask your coach about the Level 1 Booklet or Buy it Now
The Level 2 Instructional Booklet mixes kid-friendly instruction with on-course play that is suitable for all beginner to intermediate golfers. The forms and skills tests increase in difficulty from Level 1 as the player develops fundamentals in five core areas of golf. Once the player has passed the Level 2 curriculum, he or she is ready for Level 3. Samples:  Forms  |  Skills
Ask your coach about the Level 2 Booklet or Buy it Now
The Level 3 Instructional Booklet mixes kid-friendly instruction with on-course play that is suitable for intermediate golfers. The forms and skills tests increase in difficulty from Level 2 as the player develops the fundamentals to ensure a lifetime of enjoyment in the game. Samples:  Forms  |  Skills
Ask your coach about the Level 3 Booklet or Buy it Now

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

New Grass Practice Area in East Bay

Hit Golf Balls on Grass in Alameda


We're thrilled to have our new grass tee open at Chuck Corica Golf Complex adding another layer of completion in the five year plan to make this one of the top golf facilities in the Bay Area and Northern California.

Have a peek at the new grass tee on the back of the range,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1tG3nv7dt4&feature=youtu.be




Find us on Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/AlamedaGolf

Check out our videos on You Tube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClaTXQXEjFJQS4rEXjXwaiw

Sign up to improve your golf- https://campscui.active.com/orgs/ChuckCoricaGolfComplex

Three Ways to Make Golf Practice More Doable

Three Ways to Make Golf Practice More Doable

If you really want to reach your goals you'll have to practice. There are no little pills that I know of that will help you get around this reality in anything you want to improve at.

It's easy for practice at golf may take a back seat to studies, work, family or what-have-you. Here's a few ways that I hope will make it easier to get out and practice at golf: 

 

Creating S.M.A.R.T. Goals

Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Realistic
Timely

Come up with something measurable like how many four foot putts can you make in a row and practice until you can do it. The ultimate is to do a combine on a Trackman or Flightscope to establish your benchmarks for various distances.

In Alameda we use the Flightscope and I would have you ten balls with say your pitching wedge and we would get an average of your distance and your average distance from a target we picked. ideally we would do the combine for all of your clubs and that would take about an hour and a half (130 balls).




Remember why you are practicing- Whether to beat your buddy in the big golf getaway or win the club championship keeping your eye on the prize is usually a pretty darn good incentive to find a way out to the range or course to play a few. Write it down somewhere and post your goal somewhere easy to see a few times a day.


Think smaller amounts of time- Low dosages more often is better than long sessions infrequently. At the very least keep a club handy to make swings hit into a net or just grab to work on your grip and take your stance. 

If you got 20 minutes that's about a small bucket or 30 balls. Even this amount of time can keep you on track to reach your goals for this season.