“ My recommendation for the parents out there is to push your kids on the golf course , but push them to be good people , push them to have fun , and push them to make friends .” |
Gavin Parker works with children at Salisbury Country Club in Midlothian . |
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IMAGES COURTESY GAVIN PARKER |
Learning how to become the best in the world wasn ’ t a goal of mine . That moment made me realize that the traditional approach to teaching junior golf was flawed and that I had an opportunity to get more kids into the game by understanding that being a part of a tribe or community was more important than being the best .
Don ’ t get me wrong , David gave me the tools necessary to become the coach I am today . David had the unique ability to connect with your soul while coaching . He empowered me to believe in myself , and I strive to re-create that same feeling in my students when I coach . I feel like coaching is the most splendid and rewarding profession .
I am a coach of all kids , not just kids who want to be skilled . Junior golf should be a choice , not a chore . I empower as many kids as possible with a stick and a ball . In order to empower these kids , I started aligning my value system with something that all kids want , a sense of community .
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The thriving community that exists now started with just my dad and me , then grew to a couple of friends who needed internship hours . That transformed into an entire academy centered around having fun for the sake of having fun .
My dad ’ s name was Flo , and we made sure we were always flo ( w ) ing not in the way that performance coaches flow when they talk about being in the zone , but we Flo by having a good time . For us , it ’ s so vital that we create an environment where kids can be themselves and feel safe . Our juniors are developing into good human beings , not just good golfers . The
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values that we instill into our juniors are transferrable to life .
My recommendation for the parents out there is to push your kids on the golf course , but push them to be good people , push them to have fun , and push them to make friends . If they happen to become great golfers that is a bonus , but that should not be the main goal of junior golf .
Gavin Parker is the Director of the Salisbury Golf Academy at Salisbury CC . “ The CEO of Junior Golf ” is the No . 3 rated instructor in Virginia by Golf Digest .
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