Fairway Girl makes gear for future LPGA players

Last summer, my six-year-old daughter became interested in golf. Or I should say more interested. For several years, we have enjoyed going to the practice putting green together. This time, though, she expressed interest in taking a full swing at the ball. So I bought her a putter, 8/9-iron, 5/6-iron, driver and matching bag, all by La Jolla Golf. Then we hit the putting green, range, and par-3 course.

Let’s just say we experienced modest success. Generally after two holes, she was pretty much exhausted from walking the 100-yard holes (even with me carrying her bag) and frustrated from taking a half-dozen swings at the ball before connecting.

This year, she is a re-invigorated seven-year old. Not only is she two inches taller (4’8” already), but she also has a sparkling new purple set of clubs made by Fairway Girl, the first company to focus exclusively on equipment for young girls.

So far, Fairway Girl has marketed two sets, a pink one for girls 3-5 ($79) and a purple one for girls 6-8 ($89, both sets include stand bag). My daughter is so tall that the purple might not even last her the entire summer, but she is determined to play with them instead of the male-biased yellow and black La Jolla set. (She could always send the clubs to Prince when she gets too tall for them.)

Best of all, though, is the unique putting aid made by Fairway Girl called Putting Chimes ($25), which consists of 30 aluminum chimes suspended from a heavy wooden base (also painted purple, of course). When struck by a well-stroked putt, the chimes emit a very pleasing jingle.

These chimes have been excellent not only for motivating her to practice putting, but also for getting her to not peek too soon. Before, when I told her to not look up until the ball got to the hole she’d ask how she would know without looking. Excellent point. But now, she can just listen for the chimes.

My son, who is two and a half, is also fond of the chimes. But just wait until he gets bigger and I tell him that he’s going to have to use his sister’s old purple set. If Prince doesn’t want them, that is.