Getting started in golf can be confusing for juniors and parents alike.
- How many clubs do they need?
- When should they start playing on the course?
- How long should they practise?
- And when does keeping score actually matter?
I spent some time helping PGA Professional Chris Tyson with junior golf at Westbury, which gave me the opportunity to see how beginners approach the game both in practice sessions and out on the course.
This section brings together some of those experiences alongside practical articles about getting juniors started in golf, choosing equipment, practising, playing their first rounds and keeping the game enjoyable.
I’m not a PGA Professional, so this isn’t intended to replace professional coaching. It’s simply what I’ve observed and learned from helping with junior golf and spending time around golfers who were just starting out.
Junior Golf Articles
Explore the latest Weekend Golfers articles about junior golf, from choosing a first set of clubs and starting practice to playing on the course, keeping score and helping young golfers enjoy the game.
-
Teaching Junior Golfers How Texas Scramble Works
Introduction This week’s junior session focused on learning how to play as a team on the course while continuing to build confidence and understanding around real playing situations. A lot -
What If A Junior Gets Frustrated On The Course?
Frustration is a normal part of golf, especially early on. This is one of the most common situations I deal with during junior rounds, and one of the moments where -
Should Junior Golfers Keep Score Early On?
One of the most common questions I get once juniors start playing on the course is whether they should be keeping score. This is also one of the points where -
How Many Holes Should A Junior Play At First?
One of the most common questions I get from parents once their child starts playing on the course is how many holes they should actually play. This is also one -
How To Make A Junior’s First Round Enjoyable
A Junior’s first round of golf is something many parents look forward to, but it is also one of the stages where things can feel uncertain. This is one of -
Driving Range vs Home Practice for Junior Golfers
Once your child starts practicing more regularly, the next question usually comes up, is it better to use a driving range or practice at home? Most parents assume the driving -
How Long Should Junior Golf Practice Sessions Be?
Once you start thinking about how often your child should practice, the next question usually follows, how long should those sessions actually be? Most parents assume that longer sessions will -
How Often Should a Beginner Junior Golfer Practice?
Once a child starts enjoying golf, the next question usually comes quickly, how often should they practice? Most parents assume that more practice will lead to faster improvement, but what -
Do Junior Golfers Need Lessons Early On, or Should You Wait?
One of the first questions I see from parents is whether they should book golf lessons straight away. It feels like the responsible thing to do, especially with a game -
What To Expect On A Junior’s First Round
A junior’s first time on the course is often something parents look forward to, especially once their child has started to enjoy practice and is becoming more comfortable hitting the -
What Age Should A Child Start Golf?
This is one of the most common questions parents ask when they are first considering golf for their child. It usually comes before any sessions have taken place, and often -
Simple Practice Ideas For Beginner Junior Golfers
One of the most common questions at the early stage is what juniors should actually be doing when they practise. It is easy to assume that practice needs to be -
When Should A Junior Start Playing On The Course?
This is something most parents begin to think about fairly early, often once a child has had a few sessions and is starting to enjoy hitting the ball. There is -
A Common Mistake Junior Golfers Make Early On
This is something that shows up very early on and tends to be consistent across different ages and abilities. It is not usually about effort or ability, and it is -
The Clubs A Beginner Junior Actually Needs
This is one of the first questions that tends to come up when a child starts golf, often before they have had many sessions or spent much time around the -
Why Junior Golfers Hit Low Shots (A Simple Tee Height Fix)
This came up this week when we went out onto the course and played a Texas Scramble. It’s a format I like using with a mix of abilities. There’s less