Golf lessons for kids

Golf used to be seen as the ultimate bourgeois activity but now increasing numbers of Chinese parents, whether to prepare them for the world of business or to burn a few calories, are sending to learn how to tee off

It's morning at Bayhood No.9 and the last day in a week-long beginner's golf boot camp. Dressed head-to-toe in matching uniforms, a gaggle of hip-high disciples – the academy's newest recruits – are eagerly gathered on the pristine lawn of the club's driving range. While being showered with praise by their English instructors, each conscript solemnly collects a framed certificate and a personalised DVD simulating their swing to the rapturous applause of their parents.

Once frowned upon for being a bourgeois luxury, golf is now China's sport of choice for just that reason, with clubs offering summer classes and weekend training courses for young children. Thanks to a handful of Chinese players like Zhang Lianwei, who once saw off seven-times European Number One Colin Montgomerie, parents are now falling over themselves to turn their darlings into the next Tiger Woods.

However, there's more to playing golf than instilling kids with a competitive spirit. A typical round of golf can burn off more calories than a five-mile run, making it a great way to get children exercising without noticing. If you thought golf was just about chasing balls up and down a lawn however, think again. Research suggests the sport is just as strenuous psychologically as it is physically and converts say this is what makes it so good for training young brains. 'It's as much about psychology and communication as it is about the game,' explains Li Nan, a representative from the PGA's youth section in China. 'Children are taught early to be patient and apply control, which inevitably translates elsewhere in their life. We get a lot of parents telling us their children act more maturely after learning to play golf.'

Many parents are also attracted to the sport because of its links to the world of finance and international business and see the game as a great way to give children a head start later in life. 'I want my son to learn the etiquette of the game so he can use it if he ever needs to make deals with important people,' says actor Xu Yajun, who sent his six-year-old son Xu He for a week at Boyhood No.9. 'He's not exactly naughty, but my wife and I signed him up in the hope he'd learn to focus some of his boisterous energy.'

Despite (or perhaps because of) golf's growing appeal, clubs still try hard to maintain a level of exclusivity and lessons, ranging from 250RMB to 700RMB per hour, don't come cheap. However new facilities with state-of-the-art equipment certainly mean you'll get what you pay for. Classes start for children as young as five and go up to 18 at junior level. Both group and individual tuition is available and most clubs offer a discount if you book a block of lessons at once.

Beijing's most kid-friendly clubs and ranges:

Beijing Chaoyang Kosaido Golf Club Shangsi Lu, Tuanjie Lake, Chaoyang district, (tel 6507 7389). No fixed classes, but call the club for an appointment and a coach will evaluate the child's level and draw up a coaching plan. All coaches are of Australian PGA standard and cost 1,000RMB/hour. 朝阳区团结湖上四路

Jinggao Golf Club No.28, Guangqu Lu, Chaoyang district, (tel 5863 3738). Junior classes for 6-14 year olds cost 1,500RMB for ten two-hour classes. Private coaching is 300RMB/hour. 朝阳区广渠路28号

PGA Academy Bayhood No.9 No.9 Anwai Beihu, Chaoyang district, (tel 6491 8888-9638). Weekend classes for children aged 5-18 years old. Group classes 600RMB/four two-hour lessons; private coaching available at 800RMB/hour for a PGA Senior director coach, 700RMB/hour for a PGA coach, 500RMB/hour for an ordinary coach. 朝阳区安外北路9号

Tianyi Golf Club 886 Dongran Village, Sijiqing Qiao, Xisihuan Lu, Haidian district, (tel 8846 3340). All kids over six welcome. Coaching costs 350RMB/hour for ordinary coach (or 3,500RMB for 12 classes), 660RMB/hour for pro coach (or 6,600RMB for 12 classes), or 1,200RMB/hour for professional player coach. 海淀区西四环路四季青桥东冉村886号

Flora Bagenal