The struggles of watching little kids putt.

First time I had the youngest boy’s bag.

He’s about as young as they let you participate. Mom usually has him. She had the oldest at hockey in another city, and the younger sister with her. Obviously she can’t stay home by herself. We had a day without the rest of them. He’s the middle one in the house. If you were a middle child — I’m not — you can attest to being the odd one out at all times, especially when the youngest is the little girl.

U.S. Kids tee times are late. That gave us the morning. Hung with friends at one of our country clubs. Let the kid learn how to talk to grown-ups. That’s part of the best of being at a private club. Practice. Fun. Laughs. Nice having him there without the older one to hang off of. His own day.

Practice went great. You try to make the warm-up feel like games. They’re drills for adults. Almost none of us would still do them if we weren’t trying to get better, or weren’t playing for something. For a kid it’s a challenge and a game with dad. You change the rules if it’s too hard. You make it harder if it’s too easy. Simple. Fun. It works.

The event was a semi-private country club with greens that were actually greens. RightStart tees. The ones that fit. We showed up an hour early. Putting green. I grabbed a beer. Chipping green. A few balls. Off we went.

Anyone who has kids in these locals, or has walked one, knows the putting can get so bad it hurts your eyes. Today was one of those days.

He hit 8 of 9 greens. The one he missed was a yard off, 17 feet from the hole. Every drive down the middle. Almost every shot flush. I have actually never seen anything like it. I’ve never seen the oldest play like this — and he was in contention at Worlds when he was this age.

Then a 39-yard wedge. Landed. Spun. Sat next to the hole. This child has more spin on his shots than I can imagine. Almost unheard of for a little guy. Probably some weird swing thing he’ll have to change when he’s older and actually gets instruction.

Then the putting.

One one-putt, for birdie, because we were a foot from the hole after a real golf shot. Two five-putts from inside 20 feet. A couple two-putts. Everything else a three-putt. Every putt started from inside 20 feet.

Third. Lost by two. Should have won by eight. Should have been under par. Honestly he’s been neglected from a practice standpoint because he’s the middle one who’s always along for the ride. I’ve learned none of it matters. And also all of it matters, for each kid. Maybe we’ll practice putting more. Maybe we won’t. The sun is going down earlier every day and it’s hockey, basketball, football season. Don’t worry much about putting practice. It will come with time.

Forty-five dollars to play. Sandwiches in the car fridge. A couple beers. Lost by two. Had fun. First time I’ve ever caddied him. Technically the second-lowest score he’s ever posted in a tournament.

Met the oldest’s hockey team after at a farm thing. Kids running around. That team got dismantled in their first few games this year. Not close. Not a slow start. Dismantled. Yikes.