This program is for youth who are 8 to 15 years-old.

Hook A Kid On Golf, a community-based program, is designed to provide communities with curricula and tools needed to deliver an organized, comprehensive youth golf program that includes competition but focuses on fun and learning.

No peer-reviewed publications evaluating the effectiveness of this program were located.

Hook A Kid On Golf uses curricula and a variety of tools, including equipment, instruction, and a structured system that teaches youth golf protocol, history, and general guidelines. There are three levels of instruction that include the following:

• Tee Level Clinic - An introductory golf clinic that includes instruction in basic swing, putting, chipping, and on-course play and provides a starter set of golf clubs and other items for beginning golfers.  Additional topics addressed include rules, customs, drug and alcohol discussion, and golf course upkeep.  At the end of the end of the clinic, youth keep their clubs and other equipment.
• Green Level Training - This level begins with a skill evaluation and discusses basic rules (e.g., how to proceed when you lose a ball), etiquette (e.g., raking bunkers), and course management techniques (e.g., avoiding hazards) and gives youth practical experience on the golf course.
• Challenge Golf League - A national Little League of golf for youth is formed in which participants must meet a minimum skill requirement and have passed a rules and etiquette test.  Teams of six are formed, and each team competes against another team each week.  This event focuses on the following:  working as a team, respecting other players, and maintaining the golf course.

An optional Traditions of Golf Challenge is available to participants in which teams compete and use a combination of their golf scores and their knowledge of rules, etiquette, and history to determine a winning team.

Hook A Kid On Golf was piloted at Emerald Dunes Golf Course in West Palm Beach, Florida, in 1990. Since then, programs have been conducted in more than 250 communities and have introduced the game of golf to over 75,000 youth.

To implement this program, a site needs to hire a Site Coordinator to oversee program operation including establishing a location, recruiting volunteer instructors and sponsors, registering participants, ordering supplies, and submitting paperwork. Volunteer coaches facilitate the program and are required to order the program manual and will find it helpful to familiarize themselves with the manual prior to initiating play. In addition, coaches should be comfortable working with children and have some specific knowledge in golf instruction. For additional information, please use details in the Contact section.

Considerations for implementing this program include securing a Site Coordinator, obtaining coaches who enjoy golf and working with youth (i.e., one for every eight participants), recruiting participants, understanding this program will need to be funded to purchase equipment and pay greens fees, locating sponsors to possibly help support the program, and finding a facility for program implementation.

The Clearinghouse can help address these considerations. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

If you are interested in implementing Hook A Kid On Golf, the Clearinghouse is interested in helping you!  
Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Tee Level Clinics are 3 hours per day for 4 days and include a golf outing on the fifth day. The Challenge Golf League is held for 8 to 10 weeks. Implementation time for Green Level Training was not located.

Program manuals are $35 each. The costs to implement the three instruction levels are as follows: Tee Level Clinic is $195 per participant, the Green Level Training is $30 per participant, and the Challenge Golf League is $30 per participant. Additional program materials, such as golf bags, balls, clubs, tees, divot repair tool, and other supplies will vary in price. Ordering information for these materials can be found here https://www.nays.org/programs/hook-a-kid-on-golf/site-coordinator/order-program-materials/

To move Hook A Kid On Golf to the Promising category on the Clearinghouse Continuum of Evidence, at least one evaluation should be performed demonstrating positive effects lasting at least one year from the beginning of the program or at least six months from program completion.

The Clearinghouse can help you develop an evaluation plan to ensure the program components are meeting your goals. Please call 1-877-382-9185 or email Clearinghouse@psu.edu

Contact the Clearinghouse with any questions regarding this program.
Phone: 1-877-382-9185     Email: Clearinghouse@psu.edu

You may also contact National Alliance For Youth Sports by mail National Headquarters,5670 Corporate Way, West Palm Beach, Florida 33407, phone 1-800-688-5437, fax 1-561-712-9887, email info@hookakidongolf.org, or visit https://www.nays.org/programs/hook-a-kid-on-golf/request-information/

https://www.nays.org/programs/hook-a-kid-on-golf/