The WRG Junior Improvement System

We created the hat system to give both our juniors and their parents a clear path to improvement, like in martial arts. The hat system is based on having our juniors focus on the parts of the game they can master at their age and strength level. All players start at a White Hat level, which is based on scoring from 100 yards and in to the hole. This is the most critical part of the game and what juniors can master at a level far beyond their age and strength level. They are unable to hit the ball 250 yards physically but they can play to the equivalent level in their chipping and putting. If we want our juniors to love the game, they must see improvement, have success, and be on a path to mastery.

Junior Developmental Tour

For a junior to advance in our hat system, he/she has to play in our Junior Developmental Tour in which they play 9 holes with their teammates on a Sunday afternoon with a parent or grandparent caddying. This gives them the opportunity to compete, which unfortunately in the past was not an option for beginning golfers. Unlike other sports where you play matches, games, or scrimmages right away (baseball, football, etc.), golf has been set up that you can only play in tournaments when you become a “good golfer." Well, how are you meant to get good if you cannot play in tournaments? This is why we created a junior tour in which our players can learn how to play the game with their friends with very little pressure on a course they can succeed in with lots of fun and prizes.

The WRG Hat System

In each hat level we have stars,

So level 1 White Hat

Play a tournament – 1 Star Pin to add on junior’s hat

Shoot 50 or lower – 2 Stars Pins to add on junior’s hat

Shoot 45 or lower – 3 Star Pins to add on junior’s hat

Shoot 39 or lower – Advance to Yellow Hat

The progression then follows to Yellow Hat once a player shoots 39 or less.

This continues all the way to Blue Hat level – Click here to see the WRG Full Hat system layout

As your child advances through the WRG Hat system, they advance in our programming and receive additional coaching time, skill development, and mentoring.

Junior Tour Philosophy

At Will Robins Golf, our goal is to give juniors the coaching, instruction, and positive support needed to improve their games and grow as individuals. We believe that golf gives juniors of all ages and skill levels the opportunity to learn valuable life skills and build character. We also believe that golf is learned from the green back, not from the tee box forward. That is why we have developed a comprehensive testing system that teaches kids how to score first and hit for distance second.

The driving force behind this addition - besides having fun and giving our players the opportunity for increased competition - is to embrace the philosophy at WRGolf and give each player an incentive to apply the following to their game:

·Purposeful Practice

·Practicing outside of class

·Score lower to graduate to the next set of tees to get higher points

·Understanding how to score – golf is learned from the green back

·Distance does not matter

·Course and game management

Junior Tour Description

The juniors play from a specific distance based on skill level and past tournament scores. There is a progression that they will go through to designate what set of tee markers they play from. In order to graduate to the next set of tees, they must shoot the required score:

Graduation Levels

39 or lower from 100 yards

39 or lower from 150 yards

39 or lower from 200 yards

34 or lower from Junior Tees

34 or lower from Red Tees

34 or lower from White Tees

The tournaments will be held once a month at the location and juniors of all ages can participate. They will be paired with others playing from the same set of tee markers with the maximum score of 8 for any given hole. The parents can caddy the junior until they are playing from the red tees.

Caddie Tips

Be a supporter! Plenty of encouragement for all players in the group. High fives, clapping, positive feedback, and lots of smiles!

Let the players play! They know more than you may think, let them show you. Learning sometimes comes from trying new things. If they want to hit a certain club, let them try it out.

This is not a playing lesson! Please limit the advice you give your player, ask questions instead. Ask them what club they want to hit, where do they want to aim, which way does the green slope?

Enable learning instead of being told what to do! We do not always hit the ball where we want to or how we want, let them surprise you with their creative ways. If they just get told what to do every shot, then we are not helping them think for themselves.

Enjoy the day on the golf course! Do not forget that this is time you get to spend with family and friends, outside in beautiful California, watching your child play this great game. Let’s provide a great atmosphere for the players to have fun and want to keep coming back!

Ready golf! Help the players be ready to hit before it is their turn. Have tees, a ball, ball marker, and divot tool in pockets. If your player is ready to hit and everyone is in a safe zone, go ahead and hit. We do not have to wait for the farthest player away from the hole to play.

WRGolf Junior Tours in the Media

• 7 Year Old scores hole-in-one - Folsom Telegraph - October 2015
• Local golfers have productive summer - Folsom Telegraph - August 2013
• Junior golf tour grows at Empire Ranch - Folsom Telegraph - July 2013