The Short Game First: Putting and Chipping for Junior Golfers

This month is a celebration of the shots that win golf matches. As a brand-new PGA Tour event tees off this week, the Presidents Cup arrives at Medinah next week, and the Solheim Cup was just decided by the smallest, shortest shots in the game, one message stands out for young players: the short game matters most. At Bronze Tee Junior Golf Club in New Haven, Connecticut, we teach putting and chipping early because they are the fastest path to fun, confidence, and lower scores.

A Timely Week for the Short Game

This is a thrilling stretch for golf on television. Later this week, the inaugural Biltmore Championship Asheville makes its debut at The Cliffs at Walnut Cove in the mountains of North Carolina, the first PGA Tour stop in the Asheville area in more than 80 years. Right behind it, the Presidents Cup returns to Medinah Country Club near Chicago. And just days ago, Team Europe reclaimed the Solheim Cup by the slimmest of margins. In all of them, the deciding moments came on and around the green. That is no accident.

Why the Short Game Belongs First

Coaches have long pointed out that for most players, roughly 60 to 65 percent of the shots in a round happen within 100 yards of the hole, and putting alone counts for about 40 percent of the strokes. Yet too often beginners are handed a driver and told to hit it far. At Bronze Tee we flip that idea. We start young players close to the hole, where they feel success right away. A child who sinks a putt or chips one close experiences a small victory in the very first session, and that confidence carries onto the course and into the rest of their day.

Growing the Game at Home

Parents can reinforce the lesson at home with very little. A junior putter sized to the child, a few balls, and a hallway or patch of carpet become a putting studio. A soft foam ball and a laundry basket make a safe, simple chipping game in a yard or garage. Keep sessions short, five to ten minutes, and always praise the try, not just the make. For the youngest players, a right-sized putter and comfortable shoes are enough; there is no need for a big bag yet. Reinforce the quiet etiquette of the game too: wait your turn, replace your divot, and keep the ball moving. Safety matters most, so make sure there is room to swing and the soft foam ball stays the choice indoors.

The Short Game at Bronze Tee

This is exactly the kind of focused, encouraging practice our junior golf New Haven programs are built around. At Bronze Tee Junior Golf Club, young players learn the game step by step, from the grip and stance to the short game that makes golf fun. They practice with peers, cheer each other's successes, and make friends in a supportive environment that builds confidence on and off the course. Kids golf Connecticut is growing fast, and there is a welcoming place in it for your family.