The Birdie/Bogey Mini-Me

I remember when Ammon was little and he liked going golfing with Josh.When he was 8 years old, he would go golfing about once a week in the summer by himself at the golf course, and sometimes he would even golf with strangers or older club members there. Now he golfs all the time, and he's helped pass on the love of the game to his younger brother Kanyon.

When I took Ammon to his golf tournaments in eastern Idaho this summer, Kanyon came and brought along his golf clubs, too. He's a left-handed golfer just like Ammon, and has inherited his old clubs. He hit balls on the practice greens with Ammon (he does that before each tournament to warm-up before his tee-off time), and he also hit buckets of balls on the driving ranges. He even requested we go miniature golfing after we left one of Ammon's tournaments early to go to a dentist appointment (and I obliged).

Juniper Hills Practice Green

Blackfoot Golf Course Driving Range

Looking for balls at the water hazard on Hole #11 at the Blackfoot GC.

Kanyon has liked golfing since he was about 3 years old, but I've seen a huge increase in his desires to participate in the sport this summer. He is always asking to go golfing at our golf course with Josh or Ammon, and he's mad when tournaments prevent him from being able to golf! Several times he's said "I hate tournaments! Why is there always tournaments?!!" He's steadily improving and he loves every opportunity he gets to putt, swing, and drive!! He's even started driving our golf cart (with Josh or Ammon present of cousre).  

He's gone so much this summer that he's getting very comfortable with being at the golf course. The other day, we dropped Ammon off at Cross Country practice and we went to Josh's work at his shop (which is near Hole #3 at the golf course). The twins and I had brought our bikes in with us because we wanted to ride around the paved loop that circles around the park and golf course perimeter. Kanyon came with us, but he didn't bring his bike, because he wanted to golf instead. I thought he would just hit balls around Josh's shop (which is what he used to do when he was younger). As we were waiting for Josh to fix Micah's bike tire so that the three of us could ride around together, Kanyon said he was going to the Driving Range. He walked the quarter-mile distance to the Pro Shop by himself where he got a bucket of balls and took them to the driving range. He got his golf clubs out of the cart storage barn, and he hit the balls all by himself. When he was done, he put his golf clubs back and walked the quarter mile back down to Josh's shop. I was amazed at his confidence and his willingness to do what was necessary to achieve his desire to golf!

He loves golfing, hitting balls, playing miniature golfing, and putting balls around the house. And his favorite board game is, of course, GOLF Monopoly (which brings both his love of math and his passion for golf together)!

He can't compete in the Idaho Golf Association's youth tournaments until the age of 9, but in the meantime, he's advancing his golf skills and his mental focus; both of which are required to be a great player! I'm glad that Ammon is a good role model for him, and that he takes his brother golfing and shares with him the rules of the game. It's bonding for them, and it's nice that they both have the same love for the sport.