As part of the ongoing Safaricom Golf Tour, I’ve sat and talked to a couple of kids and parents including Sophia and Adam Nesbitt, two siblings who are part of the tour, on the importance of golf in their lives.
Let’s take Sophia for example. She explains how as much as it is a very calming game, one can get frustrated especially when they don’t get their shot and that anger might make them either throw their clubs or the game; but she has so far learnt how to be patient and maintain her cool no matter the outcome of the game.
This got me thinking about the benefits of this game, especially when hundreds of kids take their Sunday to enjoy the beautiful sport among their peers during the tour.
1. Fostering emotional discipline
Learning and playing golf requires excellent discipline. If we start by looking at the rules of the golf course, you have to maintain silence when players are teeing off. That might be easy for adults but imagine an 8 year old child not screaming for joy when their fellow team mate makes a shot, the most you can do is clap.
Also, kids will swing and miss far more often at first and some might not have learnt how to control missing these shots especially in the beginning, so they have to learn patience and how to control their anger.
Golfing also requires concentration and a lot of practice and a child might not see why they should take the weekend that’s meant for them to play with their friends to play golf but they realize that with patience, and practicing these skills, will prepare them for tough tasks throughout life.
2. It’s pretty good exercise
I’ve only walked through very few of these courses and I have never gone till the 18th hole – and let me just say it’s not a walk in the park. Now imagine these children doing this, in the current Nairobi sun.
All in all, golfing is a fun way to be active and get healthy exercise. It’s also one of the few sports that is gentle enough on the body since their is minimal injury and overall sees that the child is fit due to the strengthening of core muscles, flexibility, and coordination.
3. A great way to meet other kids
When I was young(er), going to school wasn’t as hectic as it is today. Today, they have to wake up as early as 4 am to beat the traffic and do the same in the evening, with some kids going to schools almost 2 hours away from home because that’s what their parents can afford. They then have to traverse the craziness that is Nairobi in the evening to tackle their homework and sleep at ungodly hours only for it to become a daily routine.
Thus it becomes a bit more difficult for kids to really be kids, and sports and games have been a welcome breath of fresh air when it comes to them expanding their social circles outside of school.
4. Golf is an full circle sport
Apart from the physical, social and emotional benefits of golf, it is also helps kids learn:
– Decision-making, for example how to position themselves appropriately to swing and get the perfect shot
– Proper etiquette: They have to behave in a certain way at the course and despite it still being a sport where they compete, golfers respect each other on and off the course.
– They get to be a bit analytical since they work with numbers.
– They learn and adapt the principles of honesty and accountability
These and so much more are crucial not just for them as golfers but as kids who are still growing and learning.
5. It opens up the world to them
With more and more kids getting into sports at a young age, the world of sports is continuously welcoming these talented kids into the numerous benefits of these games.
This weekend we head to the Nyanza Golf Club and I can’t wait to see the kids play!
