I just watched John Daly. Every time I see him I am more impressed. He is real, an unpretentious gentleman. He offered several warm-up tips I’ll try, but the thing I will remember most is his common sense approach to things.
He spoke of his first attempts at playing golf, and how inspired he was by the series of articles written by Jack Nicklaus which eventually became Lesson Tee. I have that book myself, and always return to it for its simplicity. What JD remembers is that the book was, to a kid, a comic book. Each lesson was lavishly illustrated by Jim McQueen. JD’s point is that if you want to get a kid involved in golf, the easiest way is through illustration. Each lesson also takes up no more than two pages, and maybe two dozen sentences of text. I think he really hit on something which should be obvious.
I remember learning the rules of golf as a kid. I learned from a book written to explain the rules and associated decisions, and it was also amply illustrated. I sometimes embarrassed my dad when I went out with him because I felt no shame in pointing out rules violations to his playing partners. Most of them weren’t appreciative of a seven-year-old who knew rules they didn’t, or rules they ignored. I
Well said. Is this well-illustrated rules book you mentioned still available somewhere, do you think? I’ve got that kid on the way, and I could probably use a refresher myself. Yeah, I know you gave me a rule book, Bunker, but I want the one with the pictures. 🙂
In other golf news: my lovely wife made a sweet par on the last hole at the pitch-&-putt today.
Comment by Rob Lifford — September 4, 2004 @ 6:18 pm
I don’t have that old comic book version, but I do have one with Tom Watson explaining things via photos.
I also have Lesson Tee if you want it.
And thank you for getting that grandchild (I mean almost-mama) out on the links. I’m looking forward to buying one of those little carry bags and a couple of clubs.
Comment by Bunker — September 4, 2004 @ 7:28 pm