BY AAGD STAFF
May 16, 2019–Looking for a way to keep your child productive and engaged in healthy activities this summer just got even easier. Consider having them involved in the U.S. Kids Golf. The U.S. Kids Golf, LLC was started in 1996 as a solution to the problem its founder, Dan Van Horn, experienced when trying to get his children, ages 5 and 8, into golf.
U.S. Kids Golf, LLC was started in 1996 as a solution to the problem its founder, Dan Van Horn, experienced when trying to get his children, ages 5 and 8, into golf. “They were enthusiastic at first, but their interest quickly dropped. “They were enthusiastic at first, but their interest quickly dropped. They weren’t having fun,” Van Horn recalls. At the time, I didn’t realize that cutoffs and junior clubs were so heavy; they were not only hurting my kids’ swings, but also their desire to play.”
That’s when the former golf professional and engineer began developing Ultralight kids clubs, which were designed to be 25% lighter than adult and most junior clubs, and he formed the company, U.S. Kids Golf. Since then, parents and pros around the world have seen the incredible difference that lightweight and correctly fit clubs have made in their young player’s swing and enthusiasm for the game. Today, the company is the world’s leading provider of equipment.
EQUIPMENT FOR YOUNG PLAYERS
U.S. Kids Golf offers nine sizes and three models of clubs, and players are fit by height instead of age. Hats, shirts, gloves, balls, and other golf-related accessories are also designed specifically for young players.
TOURNAMENTS
All roads lead to Pinehurst with our pinnacle World Championship held each year in late July. But it all began back in 2000 at Jekyll Island, GA, with shorter tees based on age and gender, allowing us to “scale the course.” Parent caddies are not only permitted, but encouraged – a concept that is transforming youth tournament golf.
To help parents in the process of making youth sports in general, and golf specifically, a positive experience for their children, in 2009, U.S. Kids Golf began a partnership with the Positive Coaching Alliance. This program has been instrumental in helping players, coaches, and parents realize that all sports are opportunities to learn how to become a winner on the field and in life.
Today, with more than 900 tournaments organized yearly in 50+ markets, players, ages 5 to 14, learn to compete in their local community and then advance to State, Regional, and World Championships. Local Tours are designed for the beginning competitive golfer, as each event provides a fun environment where kids can develop their skills. Two-day events like our State invitational tournaments and Regional Championships are ranked by Junior Golf Scoreboard and are the next step for competitive junior golfers. At each level, players may earn Green, Orange, or Blue Status in order to gain entry into more challenging events.
To see the 2019 schedule and learn more visit U.S. Kids Golf at http://www.uskidsgolf.com/tournaments
