09/15/2026
š« WHAT NOT TO SAY AFTER YOUR CHILDāS TOURNAMENT ROUND
The ride home can either become a safe placeāor the most stressful part of tournament golf.
One question parents should avoid asking:
ā āWhat did you shoot?ā
Scottie Scheffler recently shared something powerful about how his parents treated him after a round. His mom never asked for his score. Her philosophy was simple:
āIf you want me to know what you shot, youāll tell me.ā
Think about that.
She allowed Scottie to decide whenāand whetherāhe wanted to talk about golf. His parents didnāt make their love, energy or mood dependent on a number written on a scorecard.
Here are a few other questions and comments to avoid:
ā āHow did you make double there?ā
ā āWhy didnāt you hit a different club?ā
ā āYou should have shot better than that.ā
ā āWe spend too much time and money for you to play like this.ā
ā Comparing their score to another juniorās.
ā Beginning a swing lesson before theyāve left the parking lot.
Your child already knows where the round went wrong. They lived every shot. They donāt need an emotional recap from Mom or Dad five minutes later.
Instead, try:
ā
āI loved watching you compete.ā
ā
āWhat are you most proud of today?ā
ā
āIs there anything you learned?ā
ā
āDo you want to talk about the roundāor give it some time?ā
ā
āWhere do you want to eat?ā
After a difficult round, your child doesnāt need another coach. They need a parent.
Give their coach time to coach. Give your child time to process. And make sure they understand that their score may changeābut your love, support and belief in them never will.
The goal isnāt simply to raise a junior who shoots lower scores.
Itās to raise a confident young person who loves competing, handles adversity and knows that one round of golf will never define them.
Thatās how we help kids stay in the game long enough to discover how good they can become. ā³ļø
