By Vip Malixi
Golf is such a rich sport that a touring pro can make a darn good living just winning tournaments in the US, Europe or Japan now and then and making the cut more often than not. Even if you’re not a Tiger Woods or an Annika Sorenstam, if you live in a developing country like the Philippines, you can probably save up a nice nest egg with a career in golf. No wonder that Filipino parents are considering golf as an actual “vocation” for their children as swinging clubs and putting balls seem more financially-rewarding than being a doctor, a lawyer, or an architect.
You need talent, passion and an early start to reach “that” level where you make good enough money though (according to Yahoo Sports, Jennifer Rosales’ career earnings are over $2 million! Frankie Miñoza’s 2007 earnings are already over $100,000!). So if your kid shows signs of exceptional hand-eye coordination and body control, if they can sink balls with that plastic putter as if they were born with it, what’s the next step? What can you do to develop your Mini-Me into a Modern Mickelson? We asked the top Junior Golf teachers survey-getters for their tips and advice: Abe Rosal, Balty Baltazar, Jun Cedo, and Carito Villaroman.
Number one for these Master Yodas is: you have to make it fun. Jun Cedo says it’s important for kids to enjoy mastering the game. “I remember attending golf school and really enjoying it. It was not too technical. Kids must feel it’s just a game, where you meet friends, have fun. You must introduce the hard parts of golf slowly.”