PennLive is launching its first "Ask the Pros" Q&A, with the objective being to educate the area's young golfers on the game. We plan on chatting with regional golf pros once a week until at least the end of the high school golf season. Do you have a particular question about golf you'd like to have answered? Email your golf questions to PennLive freelancer Andy Sandrik (big_andy76@yahoo.com) and they just may be featured in an upcoming "Ask the Pros" Q&A.
This week, we chatted with head golf pro Chip Richter from Carlisle Country Club about what it takes for a young player to get started, and improve, in the game of golf.
Sandrik: For the younger kids interested in getting involved in high school golf, what advice would you give them?
Richter: I would tell them to get with a local PGA Professional to get the fundamentals of posture, grip and alignment down and then then get out and play often. When playing, they should always keep those fundamentals in mind while hitting the ball as hard as they can. Kids need to develop timing, tempo, rhythm and balance, but to be successful in this game anymore you almost have to hit it hard and that needs to be learned at an early age or it is very difficult to develop later.
Q: How much practice and teaching is good for a youngster?
A: Personally I like to see a kid play more than they practice full shots. Practice from 60 yards and in is important, but learning how to actually manage the golf course is also very important and most kids are not very good at it. In short, you have to learn how to get a good score out of a round where you are not hitting it as solid as you would like and that is learned by playing. Getting a decent score out of a below average ball-striking day is what separates the better players.
Q: What's the best way for a young player to develop tournament experience?
A: The Harrisburg Junior Tour is great for kids to get exposed to tournament play, especially at a young age. The organizers of those events really do a nice job. Once a junior gets into the single digit handicap range then they need to get to the Philadelphia Junior Tour for some events as well. The courses are better and there are more good players to challenge yourself with for both boys and girls. It is important to play around here, but kids need to be put outside of their comfort zone if they really want to improve. Once they see how good the players are down there it is easier to get a feel for what they need to do to improve their games and what they need to work on to improve.
More golf:
Complete PennLive golf coverage: Boys | Girls
Allison Cooper on the 64: 'The while round just flowed together.'
Q&A with head golf pro Chip Richter, Carlisle Country Club: Ask The Pro
SANDRIK ON TWITTER: @AndySandrik