Girls Play Sports - Guest Blogger: DNH Daddy (aka. Craig Ward)
Want to save this project?
Enter your email below, and then we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus get awesome new projects from us each week.
I am one of the lucky fathers- We recently blessed a new son into this crazy world! As I would imagine with most dads, my initial though is, “Cool we get to do all kinds of father/son activities, playing baseball, coaching little league, and getting him into all kinds of sports.” My next thought was, “Wait a minute, my baby girl can do all that stuff too!!!” Why is it that its second thought when thinking about your baby girl and sports? They can be quite the athletes too and can definitely enjoy many of Daddy’s favorite past times too!
We have made it a point to get Diapers-n-Heels girl involved in sports and activities from an early age. She is in swim classes, sports class where she learned to kick the soccer ball, hit the tee-ball, ride bikes, and to be a dare devil sledder. The question I’m now being faced with is whether my three year old is mature enough for Daddy’s favorite sport, golf?
Oh boy, what can go wrong? A temper tantrum at an expected quiet place? Taking divots out of a well-manicured AND expensive putting green? Chasing other people’s golf balls? Grabbing others equipment? Running in front of people swinging clubs? Basically, a lot could go wrong! My anxiety is rising just thinking about it.
Well a few weeks ago, I put my nerves aside and said, “Hey Sydney, do you want to go to the golf course with daddy?” Happy and a little worried, I received an enthusiastic, “YEAH!!!!” After all, it’s a common theme in the house for daddy to watch a little golf on the tube and I think she really did know what I was talking about.
Luckily, we have received a couple of hand-me-down clubs including a small putter (still too big for her, but it will work). Off we go to a local course near our house which I have scouted out in advance many times. They have a fun, 5- hole putting course which is perfect for kids. It’s not a true putting green, more like putting on a fairway. There is a hole with a flag in it and that is all that matters. Plus I don’t want her on well-manicured green which would be too difficult and crowded anyways, so it is perfect!
This is a big moment for this daddy. We get out of the car- I have my putter and a ball in hand and Sydney has her putter and ball in hand. We walk up the 100 yards or so to the putting area. Sydney was excited! I could sense her anticipation of the new experience. She loved the trees, the large well-mowed grass areas, and seeing what all these other people were doing. We got to the mini-putting course and dropped the golf balls near the hole. Without hesitation, Sydneyknocked the ball into the hole with her backward/ sideways strike from one foot away! “YAY!!!” she said!
I nearly broke into tears…. I was so proud of her and so happy that she enjoyed it. We stayed for about 20 minutes. Sydney had her favorite hole and liked staying within a three foot radius of the hole. Her technique is not of LPGA quality yet, and that doesn’t worry me in the slightest. The most important aspect of the experience will be the experience itself. She learned something new, other golfers enjoyed seeing her and many came by to say hi. My initial worries were put to rest!
Now when we have a little golf on the television at home, or drive by a course she says, “I do that daddy!” This adventure didn’t cost any money, but was truly one of my all-time best moments. We had an amazing father/daughter sporting experience. I’ll worry about the technique and college scholarship money later
Here are a few pictures from our adventure:
