The Best Way To Teach Kids Golf Has Only A Little To Do With Golf

Golf is brilliant for children to learn — but only when it matches their world.

So if you are wanting to get your son or daughter into this great game I would urge you to think fun, safety and tiny wins first. And golf technique last.

Because if I’ve learned one thing in my 25 years of junior coaching it is that kids fall in love with golf when it fits them, their attention span and their curiosity.

Get those things right and most little golfers will be asking to play again next week.

And in this guide, I’ll walk you through exactly how to do that — from first putts at age 2 to simple swing checkpoints at 12 — using the same child-centred, game-based approach I’ve used with thousands of juniors.

Golfing Focused Takeaways For Time Pressed Golfers

• The best way to teach kids golf is fun first, safety second, golf third. Use short, game-based sessions matched to attention span (about one minute per year of age).
• Keep cues tiny: soft Y for putting, three simple swing checkpoints (hot dog in a bun, Y to L, show your shoe).
• Start with putting and chipping, then a basic swing using light, correctly sized junior clubs. And games beat drills!
• Let kids choose the venue: putting green, range, mini-golf, or a 1–3 hole loop at quiet times.
• Stop while they’re still happy. A warm debrief and treat beats squeezing in one more ball!

The Best Way To Teach Kids Golf Starts With Their World, Not Ours

After spending more two decades coaching thousands of junior golfers I always say the following to any parent or guardian who ask me how to get their 2, 3, 4, 5 or how many ever year old into golf.

Kids learn golf quickest when they’re excited and moving — not when they’re being “taught.”

So for me its not really a question of how to start ‘teaching’ or ‘explaining’ golf to a child but how do we get them to have as much fun as possible playing whatever form of ‘golf’ they want to.

And to do that we flip the order of priorities as follows – fun first, safety second and golf third.

Because in my experience kids get into golf best when they feel free. Perfect options to start teaching your child golf could therefore one or all of the following:

• a quiet putting green
• a friendly driving range
• mini-golf
• a short two-hole loop on the course at off-peak times.

Let them choose the venue and meet them where their curiosity lives for the game. Do that and they’ll come back for more.

As when the environment is right the ‘golf learning’ looks after itself.

How to Teach Young Kids Of Different Ages to Play Golf

Children of different ages clearly don’t learn at the same rate but whatever the age of the kid want to get into golf here are some guiding principles I stick to:

1. Use the 1-minute rule – A simple rule I use with 4-12 year olds is ‘one minute per year of age’ before you tweak the activity
   • Four minutes for a 4-year-old
   • Seven minutes for a 7-year-old.
   • Then switch. Tiny doses work wonders!
2. Keep cues tiny – Kids don’t need technical swing positions; they need pictures.
   • For putting / chipping that means ‘soft Y shape’ with the arms and “rock the Y”
   • For the swing itself its: hot dog in a bun (grip), Y to L (backswing), show your shoe (finish)
3. Praise effort, choices, and problem-solving above distance or score.
4. Safety matters more than shape – One hitter at a time. Others behind the balls. Pause any time someone steps in.
5. Finish early to finish happy!

3 Checkpoints To Teach a Kid To Swing a Golf Club

I always start with putting and chipping to get kids into golf but we all want to get to the swing sooner rather than later.

But before you do that here’s my top tip – start with driver!

Why?

Because it’s light, forgiving, and the ball is on a tee. Perfect to set up that early success of watching that ball sailing majestically through the air!

And remember that swing mechanics overwhelm kids.

Pictures stick and here are the only three checkpoints I teach beginner kids to swing a golf club.

1. Hot Dog In A Bun (Grip)
   • Left thumb = hot dog.
     Right hand = the bun.
     Light squeeze.
2. Y to L (backswing)
   • Start with a soft Y.
     Hinge to an L.
     No positions. Just a clear shape.
3. Show your shoe (finish)
   • Swing through until they can show the sole of their trail shoe.
   • Chest to target.
   • Hold the pose. Balance first.

In other words use the “ready… one-and-two” rhythm – one = back, two = finish and freeze!

Ideas to Start Getting Your 2 to 12 Year Old Into Golf

Based on these foundations this is how I would then get kids of different age categories started.

2 to 3-year olds – Playful, safe, super short

We take a in-depth look at the best age to start golf in another post here but if you’re thinking about how to teach a 2-year old or 3-year old ‘golf’ this is my top suggestion

Keep it super simple with:

• A light plastic club
• Big foam ball
• In the garden or hallway
• Roll putts to a doorway
• Chip into a laundry basket
• Red-light/green-light swings

Grip and stance don’t matter yet. Celebrate trying, stopping safely, and taking turns.

From 4 to 7 — same fun, slightly more structure

By this stage you’ll probably be wanting to take the kids to the driving range or even a golf course but whatever the venue I’d say the same thing – quiet times only.

Start with putting and chipping before moving onto to teaching them how to swing the golf club. We run through loads of fun golf game ideas for kids here but here’s a sample session idea:

• soft Y arm shape for putting
• the tee-gate contact game
• 3–5 minute rotations
• tiny distances and big targets

And let them choose the next game or the colour of the target. Because remember for kids starting to play golf … choice = engagement.

8 to 12 Year Olds — add a sprinkle of structure But Keep It game-based

At this point we can now include simple decision-making:

• hot-dog-in-a-bun grip
• Y-to-L backswing
• show-your-shoe finish
• ladder drill for distance
• landing-spot square for chipping.

Start to give them ownership too –“Two games, then ten drivers, then a three-hole loop?”

Group classes and junior golf lessons also shine at this age — the social side is gold.

Plus a few game ideas to build enjoyment and skill fast try:

• Tee-Gate contact – Gate narrows with clean hits. Widens if a tee is clipped.
• Finders-Keepers Targets – Scatter mini-targets. Hit one, keep it. Race to collect more.
• Ladder Distance Control – Stop one ball in each zone. Shrink zones as they improve.
• Landing-Spot Square – Bounce the ball in or through the square. Move or shrink the box once mastered.
• And rotate: one contact game + one distance game → first to three points.

And if your interested in some more easy and fun golf drills for kids check these out here.

Equipment: Size for Today, Not to Grow Into

Any post that covers the topic of the best way to teach kids golf must of course cover equipment.

Once again we cover how to find junior clubs and what kids should wear golfing in depth in other articles but here’s a summary of the key points:

Junior golf clubs must be light, short, and forgiving.

A quick handy check you can also use to make sure they are right size is – a child’s driver should stand about two-thirds of their height.

And as we’ve already covered – if you buy just one club, make it the driver — it’s light, has the biggest face, and sits on a tee. Huge for confidence.

Then add a putter, and later a wedge or mid-iron when they’re keen.

Second-hand junior clubs are a brilliant option too that means you don’t have spend a fortune; just make sure though you check length and weight!

Andy Little is a UK PGA Professional with over 25 years of coaching experience. As a Golf Monthly UK Top 50 Coach, the founder of Little Golfers and the first English PGA pro to earn U.S. Kids Golf Master Kids Coach status, he’s taught thousands of juniors from across the UK. Currently coaching online via Skillest (4.99/5 rating with 2000+ reviews – Use code GOLFINGFOCUS for 50% off the first month of lessons) Andy specializes in making golf accessible and enjoyable for all ages and abilities. 

Before you go …

As parents think through the best ways to get their kids into they often wonder if and when they’re allowed onto to the golf course or the driving range.

Check out this next article to find out what the best approach is and also some great fun games you can play when you get there!

Forget Birthdays Regarding the Minimum Age for Golf Courses & Driving Ranges

More great articles related to this topic:

• A Master Coach’s Take on ‘Is Golf Good for Kids to Learn’?
• A Little Coach’s Advice on What’s The Best Age to Start Golf
• Finding the Right Junior Golf Clubs for Every Age Group
• Junior Golf Style Guide – What Do Kids Wear Golfing?
• How Much Are Junior Golf Lessons Really Worth?
• How Much Do Kids Golf Clubs Cost? A Little Guide To Smart Spending
• Golf Drills for Kids of All Ages That Make Things Fun
• How Many Clubs Does a Beginner Need? Save Your Money to Start With!