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How to Teach Your Kids to Play Golf: A Fun and Engaging Guide for Parents

Teaching your kids how to play golf can be a rewarding experience for both you and your children. Not only will it give them a lifelong skill, but golf also helps develop patience, discipline, and focus. If you’re eager to introduce your kids to this wonderful game, here’s a step-by-step guide to make the learning process fun, simple, and engaging!

1. Start with the Basics: Understanding the Game

Before diving into swinging clubs, introduce your kids to the basic rules and concepts of golf. Explain in simple terms how the game works — the objective is to get the ball into the hole in the fewest number of strokes. Use videos or illustrations to keep things visual and engaging.

Call to Action: Try watching a short golf tournament together to show them how professionals play. Pause occasionally to explain key moments!

2. Get the Right Equipment for Kids

Children need equipment suited to their size and strength. Get junior golf clubs that are lightweight and easy for them to handle. This will make the experience more enjoyable and prevent frustration. If you’re looking for a reliable option, check out this junior golf set, designed specifically for beginners.

Call to Action: Visit your local sports store or browse online for junior golf sets that fit your child’s height and strength. Involving your child in choosing their set is a great way to get them excited!

3. Make It Fun from the Start

Golf can seem challenging for kids, so make sure to keep the fun factor high! Start with easy activities like putting on the carpet at home, hitting foam balls in the backyard, or setting up a mini-golf course. The goal is to make them comfortable with the feel of the club and ball.

Call to Action: Create fun golf-related games or challenges at home to build their confidence. For example, use alignment training sticks to help them with accuracy during putting practice!

4. Teach Proper Grip and Stance

Once they’re comfortable with the club, it’s time to teach them the basics of grip and stance. Show them how to hold the club with both hands and position their feet correctly. Keep your instructions simple and don’t worry about being too technical — this stage is all about making them feel comfortable.

Call to Action: Demonstrate the grip and stance, then let your kids practice while giving positive feedback. If you need visual aids, these alignment sticks can help guide your kids on how to position their feet and swing properly.

5. Focus on Short Shots First

Young beginners should start with short shots like putting and chipping. This helps them build confidence without the frustration of missing long drives. Putting is also a great way to teach control and precision.

Call to Action: Head to a local putting green or set up a putting area at home. If you’re looking to improve their putting accuracy, consider using junior alignment sticks to help with focus and aim.

6. Use Positive Reinforcement

Golf is a sport where frustration can easily set in, especially for beginners. Always praise your child’s efforts, even if they miss a shot or make a mistake. This will keep them motivated and help them enjoy the process of learning.

Call to Action: After each practice session, celebrate their progress, no matter how small. Compliment their effort and consider rewarding them with a small golf-related gift, like these colorful training grips to help improve their swing.

7. Keep Lessons Short and Engaging

Kids have shorter attention spans, so keep lessons fun and brief. 15-30 minute sessions are ideal, especially when they’re just starting out. You can gradually increase the time as they build interest and focus.

Call to Action: Set a regular practice schedule, but let your child guide the pace. For added structure, use junior practice aids to make each session fun and focused.

8. Introduce Them to a Local Junior Program

Once your child has developed some basic skills, consider enrolling them in a junior golf program. These programs are specifically designed for kids and often offer group lessons that are fun and social. It’s also a great opportunity for your child to make friends and learn from trained instructors.

Call to Action: Research local junior golf programs and sign up for a trial lesson. Help them prepare with their junior golf set and practice some shots together before their first class!

9. Play a Round of Family Golf

After a few lessons, take your kids to a family-friendly golf course. Make it a fun outing where the goal is to enjoy time together rather than focusing on performance. This is a great way to apply what they’ve learned and build their love for the game.

Call to Action: Plan a family day at a nearby golf course! Equip your kids with their junior golf clubs and practice their putting and short shots together.

10. Encourage Consistent Practice

Golf is a game that requires consistent practice to improve. Encourage your child to practice regularly, but avoid pushing too hard. The key is to let them develop their own passion for the game while enjoying the learning process.

Call to Action: Set up a weekly practice routine with your child, whether at home or at the driving range. Use alignment sticks to help them with their swing technique and posture, and celebrate milestones together!

Conclusion: Growing a Lifelong Love for Golf

Teaching your kids how to play golf is a journey that requires patience, encouragement, and plenty of fun! By keeping things light, celebrating small victories, and making every practice an enjoyable experience, you can help your child develop a lifelong love for the game.

Call to Action: Ready to get started? Grab some junior golf clubs, set up a practice area with alignment sticks, and head to the course for a day of family golfing fun. Who knows? You might just have a future pro golfer in your family!


With these steps, you’ll build a strong foundation for your child’s golf skills while sharing memorable moments together!

William Mckenzie (Updated 2016)

Back in 2011, we profiled EGTF Master Professional, William McKenzie. This is an update on what he has been doing since then.

Willie Mckenzie2 (400x300)

Where are you Teaching now?
When I qualified as a Teaching Pro in 2005 I was working as the Manager at Berryhill Driving Range, Peterhead in North East Scotland.  I started teaching, doing a few lessons and steadily built up a client base to keep me busy and worked hard on building my reputation and learning my trade as a golf coach.  I worked at the range until 2013 when I decided to leave and start my own business and started up my own company WLMgolf.  I teach now at Berryhill Driving Range, Myrus Golf Centre in Macduff and Fraserburgh Golf Club.  I now teach 7 days a week dividing my time between the 3 golf facilities.  I also offer an online swing analysis service via my website at WLMgolf.com

Have you completed any additional Courses?
I passed my Diploma course in 2005 and I then completed my Masters Course in 2006.  I have qualified as a Certified Putting Instructor with Eyeline Golf.   I have plans to attend additional courses in 2016 to help increase my knowledge so I can teach other aspects of the game.

Who do you Teach?
I teach a wide variety of golfers from beginners to Tour Professionals, men, ladies, juniors of all ages.  I take great pride in helping all my students improve, from weekend warriors trying to break 100, to County players getting to the standard required to make it on to the team.  To date I have taught more than 30 individual club champions at various clubs in all categories.  One thing I’m proud of was a local ladies club championship quarter final match play.  I was teaching 7 of the 8 players and the eventual winner and runner up.  Also helping a future County player reduce his handicap from 3.1 to +2.1 and helping him to get picked for the first time.

Do you specialise in any areas of the Game?
I  teach all parts of the game from driving through to putting.  I like to work with different players on whichever part of their game needs improving be it driving, helping them find the fairways or long irons to high towering mid irons stopping quickly on the green, to chipping, pitching or improving their bunker play.  As a Putting Instructor, one day I have thoughts to specialise in this but at the moment I enjoy helping with all parts of the game, so will see how it all works out.

What are your biggest changes since 2005?
Without a doubt the biggest changes in the golf industry since I qualified as a Teaching Professional is technology, There is a whole new world of convenience and opportunity for any Teaching Professional to learn from the volume of information available on the Internet.  There is a wide array of launch monitors to provide swing data now, to help diagnose all the key elements in the golf swing.  My only concern as we embrace all the technology available is that the art of teaching is lost in a world of numbers searching for the perfect swing.

What are your plans for the future?
Keep learning, keep enjoying my profession.  I can say the last 10 years as a member of the EGTF have been the best years of my working life.  I still have the enthusiasm of a teenager. I get up every morning looking forward to the day ahead to help all my students / golfers improve their ability to play this great game.  I have always had a thought to  teach in the sunshine as it’s sadly lacking here in Fraserburgh, so if any golf resorts in the sunshine are looking for a good instructor give me a shout.

Willie Mckenzie EGTF Master Teaching Professional – WLMgolf.com

Willie Mckenzie (400x533)

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