Padraig Harrington and his son Ciaran played the PNC Championship, one of golf's unique events, over the weekend. The tournament features 20 Major or Players Championship winners teaming up with a family member over two rounds.
The three-time Major winner and his son, who was playing in his first competitive tournament, finished tied for 19th on seven-under, 18 shots behind winners Team Langer.
During the tournament, Harrington was asked how his son caught the golf bug. His response, which has received plenty of praise, translates beyond golf to other sports and is also simply good parenting advice.
'That's what will keep bringing them back to golf'
"Padraig Harrington rules. This rules," said Golf Magazine writer Dylan Dethier. "These are some wise words from Padraig Harrington," added sports analyst Joe Pompliano.
Though the Harringtons have golf facilities at their home in Dublin, the 52-year-old felt this was not necessarily an advantage.
17 December 2009; Padraig Harrington pictured with his son Ciaran, age 2, at his home with clubs and equipment which is to be sold in Dundrum Shopping Centre this Saturday to raise funds for GOAL. Rathmichael, Dublin. Picture credit: Pat Murphy / SPORTSFILE
"When it's easy for kids, they just tend not to want to do it," he told the Golf Channel.
"In hindsight, the best way, if you want to get your kid into the game of golf is to bring them somewhere where you're not stressed. That's very important. Kids pick up on that.
"Let them do what they like when they're there. Have a bit of fun. If they want to hit one shot, two shots, 10 shots, play in the bunker, look at the water, or whatever they want to do, let them do it.
"Generally, bring them home before they get tired. The best thing you can do with a kid early on in golf is say 'Hey, we have to go home'. Don't wait until they're tired and hate it. Wait until they're actually enjoying themselves."
Padraig Harrington suggests a stress-free environment is the best way for young players to learn to love golf and improve their skills. ⛳ @padraig_h
📺: @PNCchampionship Round 1 live on @peacock Saturday at 8:15 AM ET pic.twitter.com/2K1mxtiXyf
— Golf Channel (@GolfChannel) December 15, 2023
Harrington continued: "When you're finished, take 10 minutes to spend with your son or daughter, and go and have a Pepsi in the bar, have an ice cream, and spend 10 - 15 minutes.
"If they have that 15 minutes alone time with you, just you and them, for the rest of their life, every time they play golf, they will remember the 15 minutes they had with their father or mother. That's what will keep bringing them back to golf.
"If every time they play golf, it brings that happy memory of when they were a kid, and they got a bit of quiet time, a bit of big boy time where they are sitting there in the clubhouse and enjoying it.
"It's very important to have a stress-free environment. Don't bring them to the nice country club. That's no use, and makes them soft anyway.
A fun week for sure and great way to start Ciarán off in golf. Hopefully he’ll catch the bug and we’ll be back for many years. @PNCchampionship @ChampionsTour pic.twitter.com/B4Q88sup8D
— Padraig Harrington (@padraig_h) December 18, 2023
"All the players out there on tour, we had nothing else to do with our summers. We were thrown out, go to the golf course and we played 45 holes a day. It was something to do. Having too many options won't make them want to play golf.
"Remember, if your kid gets good at the game, that doesn't necessarily make them love the game. If your kid loves the game, it's likely that they'll become good. The love should be first.
"We all know you plateau when you play golf. There are many plateaus where it really gets frustrating. And if you don't love it, those plateaus are going to stop you playing and you are going to give up. If you love it, you will go through anything.
"They'll figure out how to play great golf. Kids are brilliant. You don't need to be teaching your kids how to play golf. You need to be ensuring that they are in an environment that they just love the game and then they'll start asking questions."
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