Core Value: Responsibility

updated 3/13/22

A caddie is a person that carries a golfer's clubs and provides assistance during match play.  In junior tournaments, parents usually play the role of caddie when they are allowed.   While this can create great bonding opportunities, it can also create some tense moments on the golf course.  Either the golfer blames their caddie, their parent, for the bad decisions they make or worse the caddie is unwilling to allow the golfer an opportunity to make a bad decision.  

Then, when the golfer progresses to a level of play where  caddies are not permitted, the parents are still coaching from the cart path or interfering with play by walking in the fairway. This kind of parental interference in tournament play should never be tolerated. 

At some point, parents have to be ok with being a spectator.  Allow your golfers to apply everything they have learned.  It is their game. Let them make their choices and adapt.  If you don't how will they become responsible for their own actions?

original post

An important core value that I believe juniors need to learn early is responsibility.  Responsibility is the state or fact of having a duty for something or someone.  In golf, we must first be responsible for ourselves, this includes how we respond to situations.  Most amateur golfers are willing to take responsibility for the positive outcomes but are quick to assign blame for the negative outcomes.  In my opinion, these people lack integrity.  

I hope to instill a desire in my students to own every decision they make and every action they take in golf and in life. 

added 5/1/2020

I had the pleasure of teaching this group of siblings the day before the golf courses closed.  We had a blast and Mom tells me that they left with a new love for golf.  So much love that they have been practicing at least 3 times a week in the yard and recently were inspired to start a putting game based on one of my videos.  They are definitely taking responsibility for their golf journey!!!