15 PROVEN WAYS TO GET KIDS INTO GOLF (AND 3 THINGS NOT TO DO) -

Frustrated after several failed attempts of trying to get your kid into golf?

My parents got me hooked on golf as soon as I could walk and swing a club. Now I’m doing the same with my 3 young kids and adding a few more tricks into my arsenal using these 15 ways to get Kids into Golf.

1. Start kids young

Bring them to the course or range with you as young as a few months old! Bring a stroller and push them along for some great exercise and bonding time.

Check out my article on several ways to golf with a stroller.

Please check with the course first if they will allow it and I would discourage bringing kids to a crowded course.

Remember the main goal is to keep the kids entertained.

Let them putt on the green if they are old enough, rake bunkers, hold the flagstick, etc. Do anything and everything to keep their experience as fun as possible!

See this article for more tips on how to get the most out of golfing with babies and toddlers.

2. bring kids to putt-putt, topgolf, etc.

We want our kids to have as much fun as possible learning the game of golf.

We want to start kids at putting and work their way back to the tee box as their strength and coordination develops, so why not start at a Putt-Putt course?

Putt-Putt is super fun, cheap, quick, and the perfect way to get kids interested in golf.

TopGolf is another excellent way to get kids excited about golf in a non-traditional way.

It can be as short a time as you want, and kids will have a blast hitting at various targets.

If TopGolf is out of your price range or your kids are too young, make your own top golf in your backyard with hula hoops, buckets, etc.

3. use an indoor mat

Indoor putting mats are a very cheap way to practice at home and to spark your kid’s interest in golf.

Show your kids how to putt first by playing “Simon Says” and try to repeat your putting stroke.

Don’t worry about results, consider it a success as long as they are having fun and hitting the golf ball. Start having friendly competitions with the family once their skill level increases.

4. Start practicing on the green, and work your way out

Since most kids don’t have the coordination to consistently hit full shots, it makes sense to start with the basics of putting, then going to chipping, then pitches, and eventually full shots.

Make fun games out of practice! Try putting or hitting inside of a circle or play “mini-golf” and see how many shots it takes to get into the hole. Anything fun or engaging to keep the kids entertained will be good enough.

5. Hit Golf Balls Outside or into a net

If you have room in your yard, it would be great to use real golf balls. If not, plastic or foam balls will do.

A golf net would be a great way to show kids how you practice and take a full swing and have them try to copy it.

6. Concentrate on Fun over Fundamentals:

There would be no quicker way to turn your kid off of golf than trying to repeatedly force it on them. Most kids attention spans are about 2-3 minutes per year of their age, so don’t expect a cooperative kid on a 5 hour round.

Make it as fun as possible when practicing or golfing on the course. Hit water balloons to teach them to accelerate through impact.

Hit golf balls into the water, there is something about watching a golf ball splash into water that is highly entertaining for kids.

7. Have Clubs that are the right size and weight

First buy one iron to see if they will enjoy golf. If it appears they want to continue with golf, then buy a starter set.

If the clubs are too heavy and the shaft is too stiff, the kids will get inconsistent results and be discouraged. Discouraged kids will lose interest quickly.

Find cheap clubs on Ebay or try out UsKidsGolf.com as they have great selections and recommendations for kids of all heights.

8. Give them feedback, but only regards to the club position when it hits the ball

Don’t try to give the kids technical device on why they hit it off the toe or topped the ball. Let them know the ball is hitting the toe of the club and let their instincts take over.

Too much technical talk will make it feel like work, and will suck the fun out of it for the kids.

9. Give out tons of praise and encouragement

NEVER discourage a young kid on the golf course. Always say “Great Shot” when they hit it and even if they miss the ball, say “Good Swing”. Nothing will kill enthusiasm quicker than not having the approval of Mom or Dad on the golf course.

If they are struggling, let them know all golfers, even Tiger Woods has bad days. Remind them you are there to have fun and not worry about the end result.

10. Let them quit when it stops being fun

Kids have very short attention spans, about 3 minutes for every year of age.

Unless you are consistently trying to entertain them, chances are they will get bored sooner than later. Make fun formats for each hole, have fun with raking bunkers, using ballwashers, etc.

If they get bored and keep saying they want to go home, quit and either go to the clubhouse for a treat or get a milkshake on the way home. You don’t want the golf course to become the boring place that Dad makes me go to, further driving them away from the game.

11. Keep it straightforward and relatable

Don’t use technical terms with kids and keep it on a level they can understand. Sayings like “Give the grass a haircut” and “hot dog in a bun” grip are great ways to portray the game of golf to young kids.

There is a great song called the “Junior Golf Song” that makes the golf swing a short, easy song for the kids to use.

12. Let Young Kids play Several Sports

If kids primarily focus on one sport their whole childhood, chances are they will burn out at a young age and end up hating that sport.
Instead, let kids enjoy as many sports as they want too.

Dustin Johnson said in this golf.com article, “You don’t just need to focus as a young kid on one sport. I think playing all of them for me was fun and I enjoyed it. I think it helps you develop skills that are needed for golf.”

Young girls are incredibly social, especially as they get to their teenager years. If they see their friends or other girls their age golfing and/or getting group instruction, they will be more likely to want to join.

They are likely to have more fun with a small group of girls, even if it’s just a friend or two. This fun with their friends will make them more likely want to come back next time with you to the range or course.

14. Results are meaningless

Remember, it’s all about making the range and golf course as fun as possible.

It doesn’t matter if it’s their first time or if they are in their 10th junior golf tournament, always have a positive attitude and always provide encouragement.

Let them know that their skills will progress over time, but it takes practice to get there.

15. Start off with a Par 3 Course

A short course will be perfect for young kids because they may be able to start reaching some of the par 3s at a young age. I remember being so proud and excited the first time I drove the 120 yard par 3 at our local par 3 course.

If you can’t get to a par 3 course, have them tee off in the fairway from 30-150 yards away. Then play it as a par 3/4/5 like on the scorecard. If they are teeing off at 300+ yards everytime, they will lose interest when they have to hit it 6+ times to get to the green.

Never say or do the following things to kids who are new to golf.

1. Don’t offer corrections every time they mishit the ball

Golf is hard and frustrating. We don’t need to lower our kids’ confidence by constantly correcting them.

Always give positive reinforcement such as “good swing!” and make golf as fun as possible.

2. DON’T TRY TO CONSTRICT SWING MOTION, LET THEM HAVE THEIR OWN UNIQUE SWING

When they are real young, kids may not have the strength or coordination to have a proper golf swing. If they sway through the golf swing or step through the follow-through, allow it as long as they are making contact.

I even had a phase early in my golfing career where I would step back with my back foot to try and get some momentum and power for my swing. Thankfully my parents never corrected me and it went away when I got stronger and more coordinated.

3. Don’t saw down your old clubs for theirs

This is a common occurrence and an unfortunate mistake.

Even a regular shaft or senior shaft becomes a lot stiffer when you cut down the shaft to convert it to a kids club.

Buy a kids club with the appropriate shaft flex. https://www.uskidsgolf.com/ has sets/single clubs for kids of all ages and heights. THere are other great used options as well on Ebay, Amazon, etc.

FAQS about getting kids into golf:

What is a good age to start golfing?

Earlier the better! Studies show that the earlier they are introduced to golf, the more likely they are to golf as adults. Start them off with plastic clubs as toddlers, progress to junior clubs, and keep getting them longer clubs as they grow and become more coordinated.

Just be yourself and get out there and enjoy the game! If people see your love and happiness for the game, you will attract like-minded golfers.

How to teach golf to young kids?

If you are trying to teach a 2 or 3 year old, teach them the absolute basics of how to swing.

Let them swing away and have fun.

Once they get to about the age of 5 or 6, then is the time to sign them up for golf lessons or a junior clinic.

Tips to encourage kids to play golf:

Make it fun
Positive encouragement
Never force it on them
If they want to go home, go home
Show them visually instead of verbally
Rewards after golf (milkshake, buy a colored golf ball, etc.)

Final Thoughts:

As I wrote this list, these 15 steps were the most common ideas that came to mind on how to get kids into golf.

I’ve been swinging a club since I’ve been 2 as well as slowly easing my own kids into golf. It’s exciting to use the tips and tricks my parents used on me to get me hooked on golf as well as using a few of my own ideas.

Just remember to always have fun and never push it on the kids. It’s about their enjoyment, not yours. So have fun and enjoy the game you love with the people you love!