What Are The Best Juniors Becoming?
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Hopefully not robots !
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 At a recent major junior
tournament, this reporter had a chance to
spend several hours watching players compete.
It was a bright sunny day, no wind, course was
fair, and the temperatures were moderate. In
other words, the conditions were perfect. So
everything was in place for the players to be
in the best of moods and happy at their
successes. Right? No, wrong. As I sat
watching long birdie putts drop, sand saves
end up from a foot from the hole, and tough
pars being made from 20 feet, you would have
thought you were watching TV with the sound
off during a re-run of "Return of the
Zombies". Now we know that $10K a year in
sports psychologist bills has probably created
this mindset in these young minds, but now it
is getting ridculous. There were absolutely no
fist pumps, smiles, exclamations of "yes!" or
looks of joy. I guess it could have been
boredom but I think it has more to do with too
much preaching about no emotions. Guess what,
emotions are good. Not temper tantrums or
boastful screams but appropriate displays
of "gee I'm glad that happened" or "Way to
hang in there kid." said quietly to oneself
are very important. Julie Inkster, Hale Irwin
might be a little over the top but you know
what, I bet they are far more interesting to
watch and talk to. So lighten up everybody.
enjoy yourself. You won't break or crack. And
junior golf coaches...... give these kids a
break. |
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