U.S. Kids Golf,
by Michelle Anderson

Interactive video games have become the primary source of exercise for a large number of North American youth. Therefore, when a child expresses an interest in a sport that is not played using a joy stick, encouraging his or her desire to become active is a must.

Golf is the ideal sport for families looking to become active as a whole. Instead of sitting on the sidelines, parents are able to walk alongside their children,

encouraging them as they play. While many children beg their parents for a chance to play golf, this interest is often short lived. As Dan Van Horn, a father of two young golf players, discovered that a child’s desire to play golf may quickly disappear if the child is forced to play with clubs that are meant for older, stronger individuals. Watching his children struggle to swing their heavy clubs inspired Van Horn to design clubs light enough for a young child to use comfortably.

In 1997, Van Horn established U.S. Kids Golf, a company whose main objective is to make golf fun for children. They have accomplished this by designing a line of Ultralight Kidsklubs that are easily swung by small children. These clubs are 25-per-cent lighter than those designed for adult and even junior players.

In 2007, U.S. Kids Golf launched their Tour Series line of equipment. Each set is customized for the individual purchasing them, offering the perfect fit for each pint-sized player. The Tour Series clubs are already the most popular for 12-and-under competitors at the World Championship because they help improve a child’s swing, resulting in the ball being hit farther.

"As a baseball coach, I had some kids on my team who were striking out too much, and I noticed they weren’t keeping their eye on the ball. They’d come back to the dugout frustrated because they tried so hard and had not succeeded," said Van Horn.

Golf and baseball both require a great deal of hand-eye coordination, which younger children have not yet developed. In order to counteract the disappointment of a missed swing, Van Horn recommends parents focus on something the child has improved on, in order to encourage them to keep playing. Van Horn’s experience coaching young children has certainly given him insight about the importance of making sports fun for kids. His outlook makes U.S. Kids Golf stand out amongst other companies, because of their family-oriented vision of what golf should be. Van Horn started the business in order to mitigate any aspect of the sport that children were turned off by, allowing a child’s initial interest to be developed into a "lifelong enthusiasm for the game."

The company also hosts over 400 events globally, which gives people of all ages a chance to compete in their preferred sport. By combining instruction, proper equipment and competition, U.S. Kids Golf allows participants to feel good about their game while they simultaneously improve it.

The frustration associated with using inappropriate equipment can be felt at any age; however, children are more likely to simply give up once they have deemed golf too strenuous and no longer fun. When children are given the Ultralight or Performance Light Kidsklubs they are able to enjoy the game as it was meant to be played. Making golf fun for children means they are more likely to continue playing the sport for years to come.

Michelle Anderson is a member of the Class of 2011, Corporate Communication and Public Relations post-graduate program at Fanshawe College of Applied Arts & Technology in London, Ontario.

Return to Women's Golf