Jeff Patterson

Finding values in the fall shoulder season, tucked between peak and off-peak

These hubs* of public golf offer multiple options for buddies trips

Your guide to playing off any turf

I'm often asked what the best age is to start kids in golf. My answer: When they're old enough to catch a baseball. That tells me they've developed basic eye-hand coordination. Plus, sooner or later, someone's going to toss them a golf ball -- either on the range or out on the course -- and if they can't catch it, they might blame golf for the bruise on their forehead. There's one other rule I try to follow when teaching juniors: The lessons must be fun and stay fun all the way through. If you get that right, they'll want to keep playing and learning more about the game. Over the next few pages, I'll highlight six keys for unlocking the golf potential in your youngster. Keep it simple and give them plenty of positive feedback, and you might just hook your kid on golf.

Seven pros tell how they turned their games around