In this episode, we cover…
(0:00) Alex’s background in sports, early athletic foundation, and how golf entered the picture later
(0:36) Growing up with baseball and hockey first, and why golf felt like a “secondary” summer sport
(1:17) Getting a job at a private golf course
(2:24) How Alex improved from watching better players and competing daily
(7:22) Burnout, short seasons, rest, and healthy distractions
(9:20) Social media pressure, parent expectations, and why being the “best 8-year-old” doesn’t matter
(14:00) Helping juniors respond to failure: cool-down timing and rebuilding confidence
(17:14) The skill most kids ignore: speed development and why juniors should swing hard in practice
(23:05) Role models beyond mechanics: attitude and what kids can copy the right way
(41:28) A “sneaky” path to access: why a golf course job can be a game-changer for families
How a Multi-Sport Upbringing Led Alex to Golf
In this conversation with Athletes Untapped, Alex Riggs joins us to break down how he helps young golfers improve without burning out. He talks about how athletic development isn’t necessarily about early perfection; it’s about access, curiosity, and building habits that last. Alex’s childhood was filled with multiple sports, including baseball, hockey, and golf. Growing up in Canada, golf was limited by the weather, making hockey his winter priority. Golf existed more as a secondary summer sport in his childhood, largely because there were only a few months a year when it was possible to play. All of this changed when Alex was around 13 or 14 years old, when he obtained job at a private golf course. This job gave him access that he didn’t have before: access to the course, practice opportunities, and exposure to experienced golfers. He says he became really hooked on golf once he had a proper set of clubs and access to practice every day. From this point forward, golf became something he was deeply invested in.
Why Playing Multiple Sports Helped Alex Learn Golf Faster
When we asked Alex whether he would change his path and specialize in golf earlier, he was clear that he would keep the same path. He credits hockey and baseball with giving him better hand-eye coordination and an athletic foundation to improve his golf game. He went from having very little serious golf experience to breaking 80 within a couple of years. He also points out that he didn’t rely heavily on formal coaching, having only technically two golf lessons in his life. Instead, he learned by watching better players, finding people on the course to learn from, and experimenting on his own. He describes this trial-and-error process, saying that having a multi-sport background made that process less intimidating. If something didn’t work for him, he was comfortable trying something else.
Learning Golf Through Observation, Competition, and Daily Immersion
Once Alex had access to the golf course, he became fully immersed in the sport. He describes being on the course almost every day, from the moment it opened in the spring, until it closed in the fall. From around age 16 onward, there wasn’t a day he didn’t have a club in his hands, even when there was snow on the ground. By finding the best players around him on the court, he learned why shots behaved the way they did; how to hit a fade and a draw, how to control trajectory, and how to deal with tight lies. He had to figure these things out himself, which he believes helped him understand the game more deeply.
Burnout, Short Seasons, and Why Time Away Matters in Golf
Alex explains that growing up in Canada with short golf seasons, he was protected from burnout. When winter came around, golf stopped completely, making him eager to return when the course opened again. He talks about the differences from today’s environment, where many kids have year-round access to golf and constant pressure to practice. He emphasizes that rest and healthy distractions matter for these kids. He compares playing sports to the gym; working out the same thing every day without recovery defeats the purpose. Alex works with juniors who hate being told to take a day off, but he believes time away helps athletes stay focused and motivated long-term. When a sport starts feeling like work instead of something enjoyable, that’s a sign something needs to change.
Social Media Comparison and What Parents Should Remember
Alex discusses the pressure that comes with comparison, especially through social media. He notes that parents sometimes feel overwhelmed seeing young athletes online who appear to be dominating at very young ages. His response is that no one remembers the best 8 or 10-year-olds in golf. The goal is not early dominance, but developing into a strong 18 to 40-year-old athlete. He also speaks directly to parents about their role, stressing that parents should be parents, not coaches. He cautions against post-round interrogations about mistakes, especially after a tough day. Instead, he encourages positive conversations that focus on enjoyment, learning, and the child as a person. Technical discussions should happen between the coach and athlete at the right time.
Helping Young Golfers Learn From Bad Rounds
When junior golfers struggle, Alex believes timing and tone are critical. Immediately after finishing a round is not the right moment to analyze mistakes, because emotions are still high. Once the athlete has cooled down, the focus should shift to learning. Coaches should use specific details instead of assigning blame, such as the number of putts or missed fairways, to identify patterns. Alex wants athletes to leave those post-practice conversations excited about training, not discouraged by the results. One of his strongest technical messages is about speed. He believes that many young golfers ignore the important developmental window for speed, becoming overly focused on perfection. Speed is much harder to develop later on, while skills like putting or shot shaping can improve with age. His recommendation is to dedicate a portion of practice to swinging hard without worrying about accuracy. He specifically says kids should not be afraid to hit it as hard as they can during practice, warning not to shut this down just because it looks uncontrolled, as it often looks messy.
How Attitude Drives Long-Term Success in Young Golfers
We asked which professional golfers young players should emulate, and Alex believes golfers should focus on attitude rather than mechanics. He mentions Rory McIlroy as a player whose energy and approach stand out. He is an undersized player who can still generate elite speed, but Alex’s point is not that kids should copy exact swings, but that mindset and enjoyment of the game. He comes back to attitude as something that can’t be measured, but often determines who stays in the game long enough to reach their potential. This episode wraps up with Alex recommending golf course jobs as a great way for kids to access the game. He also notes that being around adults in that environment helps kids mature faster and learn life skills beyond golf.
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