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Golf Is a Lifelong Journey: Tips to Manage Expectations and Goals

By Brendon Elliott, PGA
Published on

This week, Kearney Hills Golf Links in Lexington, Kentucky will be hosting the Boys Junior PGA Championship.
The Junior PGA Championships see the absolute best junior golfers from around the country tee it up and there is a long history of past participants including Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Cameron Champ, Pat Perez, David Toms, and Stewart Cink, that have gone on to golf stardom.
One thing I am constantly talking about with my juniors, as well as their parents, is the idea of managing expectations and setting realistic goals during this pivotal point in their golf journey. The game offers ample opportunities for golfers in the early stages of their development to compete and experience everything that goes along with it, however, without carefully navigation during this time, things do have the potential to go off the rails fast and could in fact lead to things like burnout or a desire to leave golf altogether. 
Some tips on managing expectations and goals…
Always, no matter what, keep it Fun!
Golf is a game, and like all games, the main purpose of playing is to have fun. In my mind, it does not matter if you’re a golfer with +4 handicap or just starting to break 100, you must, above and beyond anything else, keep the love of the game at the forefront. 
High-level golfers surely spend a great deal of time practicing and playing...why would anyone that is spending many, many hours doing something, do it without enjoying it? 
Hard work should never equate to something that is not enjoyable. Whether it is listening to music while they practice, taking frequent breaks, hanging with golf friends and having friendly competition, or anything similar, you should always enjoy and play down the notion of their practice time being "work."
Every outcome, good or bad, is a chance to learn!
Making sure that you understand golf scores do not define the individual is incredibly important. Even without pressure coming from a support system, there still is an incredible amount of pressure that golfers put on themselves. To a point, it is indeed important to have your junior hold themselves to a defined standard, based on where their games are at currently. 
However, if this is not managed correctly, through continuous and caring conversation, your child could be putting undue pressure on themselves which could equate to roadblocks in their development. 
Golf is very much a mental game, that is common knowledge, but the idea of mental roadblocks being self-induced because of poorly managed expectations rarely gets talked about, especially among better players. Learning to take the good with the bad and more importantly, taking the bad as an opportunity to become better, rather than getting upset by it, is a sign of a mature golfer. It is also the sign of a golfer that will more likely than not, find ongoing successes. 
Brendon R. Elliott, PGA

Sorrento, FL

Brendon Elliott

Director of Instruction, Freelance Golf Writer

[Brendon Elliott, PGA](https://brendonelliott.com/), is an award-winning PGA Professional, player-development coach and nationally recognized golf writer with three decades of experience in the golf industry. As of 2026, he has been a PGA Professional for 17 years and has earned more than 25 PGA Section and Chapter honors for his work in coaching, education and player development. In 2017, he received the PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award. ## Coaching Competitive Teenage Golfers Through [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home), Brendon specializes in working with competitive teenage golfers who want to improve their performance, better understand their games and prepare for the demands of high school, junior tournament and college golf. His primary focus is [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching), which allows him to remain actively involved in a player’s development regardless of location. Rather than relying on occasional lessons or isolated swing fixes, Brendon works with players throughout their competitive journey. His coaching covers much more than the golf swing. Players receive ongoing guidance in structured practice, short-game development, putting, course management, tournament preparation, performance analysis, goal setting and the mental and physical habits required to improve over time. Using video analysis, virtual coaching sessions, performance data and regular communication, Brendon helps each player understand what to work on, why it matters and how to make meaningful progress between practices and tournaments. Brendon accepts only a limited number of in-person students in Central Florida. His priority is building long-term [Remote Coaching](https://beagolfer.golf/remote-coaching) relationships with competitive teenage golfers and their families. The goal is not simply to help a young player hit better shots. It is to help that player become more prepared, more accountable and more capable of navigating everything competitive golf demands. Brendon’s career has included serving as a head golf professional, general manager, college golf educator, career development director, academy owner and longtime junior golf leader. He founded Little Linksters Golf Academy in 2008 and led the organization for more than 16 years before selling the academy in late 2024 and launching [BE A GOLFER](https://beagolfer.golf/home). ## Golf Writing and Media Brendon is also a nationally recognized and prolific golf writer and storyteller. He is the Senior Golf Writer for [Athlon Sports](https://athlonsports.com/author/brendon-elliott) and has written extensively about professional golf, instruction, player development, equipment, golf history and the people shaping the game. His work has also appeared with PGA.com, GolfWRX, PGA Magazine, MyGolfSpy and several other prominent golf media outlets. Through [One More Roll Golf Media](https://onemorerollgolf.com/), Brendon provides editorial content, feature writing, consulting and media services throughout the golf industry. His background as a coach and educator shapes the way he writes, while his work as a writer strengthens the way he coaches. He understands how to explain complicated ideas clearly, ask better questions and connect the technical, strategic and personal sides of golf.