Collaborative post
Getting children interested in a new sport can be challenging, especially one that is often seen as quiet and grown-up. Golf is actually one of the easiest games to introduce young children to. It costs very little to try, it gets everyone outside, and most of the early skills can be picked up in the garden or at the local park. Here are some simple ways to get started.
Why Golf Is Good for Getting Kids Outside
One of the best things about golf is that it gets children moving outdoors without feeling like exercise. The NHS recommends that children aged 5 to 18 get at least 60 minutes of activity a day, and an afternoon of chipping balls around the garden or walking a few holes counts towards that far more easily than a structured session ever will.
It also suits mixed ages and abilities. A four-year-old tapping a ball two feet into a bucket and a nine-year-old working on a proper swing can play side by side, and both feel like they are getting somewhere. That makes it a rare activity that keeps siblings of different ages happy at the same time.
Golf also slots in nicely alongside walks, bike rides, and garden games. There’s no fixed way to play, so you can make it as gentle or competitive as your children want.
Easy Ways to Start in the Garden
You do not need a membership or a bag of expensive clubs to begin. A cheap plastic set, a few foam or plastic balls, and some buckets or hula hoops as targets are enough for weeks of fun. The aim is to let children hit the ball and enjoy the feeling of it, not to worry about technique straight away.
The same order works whether children are at home or being taught by a coach. Beginners usually start with the basics, things like grip, aim, and short shots, and pick them up through games rather than drills. You can copy that at home with almost no kit. A small piece of artificial golf grass gives them a flat, consistent surface to practise those short shots on, whatever the lawn is like.
Once your child wants to take a fuller swing, a bit of space and something to aim at helps. Golf practice nets are a simple way to let children take proper swings in the garden without sending balls over the fence, which means they can keep hitting without you constantly fetching stray balls or worrying about a neighbour’s window. Even ten minutes after school gives them a real sense of progress.
Simple Golf Games to Play Outside
Children stay interested far longer when practice feels like a game rather than a lesson. A few favourites that work in almost any garden or park:
- Target buckets. Set out buckets or hoops at different distances and score points for landing a ball in each one. Move them further away as your children improve.
- Closest to the pin. Push a garden cane or an umbrella into the grass and see who can stop their ball nearest to it. It teaches control without anyone needing to keep proper score.
- Around the garden. Build a mini course using trees, plant pots, and washing line poles as holes, then count how many hits it takes to finish. It is a bit like a homemade version of crazy golf.
- Putting race. Line up a few balls and race to tap them all into a cup or a mug lying on its side. This one is great for the youngest players who cannot manage a big swing yet.
Games like these quietly build the coordination and strength that come from active outdoor play, and as a bonus, plenty of time outside is good for children’s eyesight, too. Best of all, they rarely notice they are practising.
Take a Few Clubs on Your Next Day Out
Golf does not have to stay in the garden. A couple of plastic clubs and a few balls slip easily into a bag for a trip to the park, the beach, or a campsite, and they are brilliant for burning off energy when children get restless. A wide open field or a quiet stretch of beach makes an ideal free driving range. Regular trips to the park are worth building into the week anyway, since Fields in Trust research found that people who use parks and green spaces often report better health and well-being than those who do not.
It works well on slower days, too. If you are heading out on a family walk and want something to break up the grumbles halfway round, a quick putting game at a picnic spot can turn a reluctant walker into a keen one.
Keep It Light and Let Them Enjoy It
The quickest way to put a child off golf is to turn it into a lesson. Keep sessions short. Ten or fifteen minutes is plenty for a young child, and stop while they still want more rather than pushing on until someone gets frustrated.
Focus on fun and effort rather than perfect form. Cheer the good shots, laugh off the air swings, and let them make up their own rules if they want to. The technical side can come later if they take to it. For now, the win is a child who thinks golf is a good time and wants to play again next weekend.
You don’t need a golf background to give your children a great start. A few cheap clubs, some soft balls, and a garden or park are all it takes to teach the basics, and the games grow with your children as their skills improve. Try it the next time the sun is out, and you might find that you have all picked up a new family hobby.