Enrolling Your Child in Golf: Age, Cost, and Benefits
Are you unsure about signing your child up for golf? This CitizenKid article answers parents’ questions: the ideal age to start, what a session is like, the cost, the commitment required, and what your child will gain from it.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
According to the teacher interviewed, Starting around age 7 is ideal. Depending on a child’s physical abilities, they can start a little earlier—around age 5 or 6—provided the club is suitable. A typical one-hour session consists of a warm-up, some technical instruction divided into three segments, and a short game at the end in the form of a competition. As for the budget, he cites (in 2017) a half-set priced at 50 to 100 euros in-store, with gloves, a bag, and clubs, and about 350 to 400 euros per year for 1.5 to 2 hours of group classes per week with an instructor.
Golf requires children to have good balance, with a weight transfer from the rear to the front, a throwing motion, and a bit of thought, since there’s an element of strategy involved. Children as young as 8 can compete, once they’re able to navigate a course on their own. For recreational play, parents simply accompany their children at the scheduled times; in competition, the commitment is greater, even though professionals and club sports organizations often handle travel arrangements. Golf can be played year-round—you just need to dress your child for the cold.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Check your child's age: 7 years old is a good guideline, but they can start earlier if the club provides appropriate equipment.
- Find a club or organization near you.
- Ask about the structure of a session: warm-up, brief explanations, and a final game.
- Be sure to bring the basic gear: a half-set, a glove, and a bag.
- Decide whether it’s for fun or competition: the level of parental involvement is different.
- Dress your child warmly so they can keep playing in the winter.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Buy a full set of equipment before you know if the child will take to it.
- Enrolling a very young child in a club that doesn't have the right equipment.
- Focusing on the competition without considering the travel distances and the time it requires of parents.
- Put winter on hold when you can play golf all year round.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- A short warm-up followed by some small challenges, just like in the video session
- Final game in the form of a contest to put what you've learned into practice
- Let the child go get his balls: he gets to move around and have fun
Your Questions
Can my 5-year-old start playing golf?
The instructor in the video says the ideal age is around 7, but believes it's possible to start around age 5 or 6, depending on physical ability, provided the club is suitable.
How much should you budget for a year?
In this 2017 article, he cites a price of 50 to 100 euros for a half-set including a glove and bag, and then 350 to 400 euros per year for 1.5 to 2 hours of group lessons per week. Check with your club for current rates.
Do parents have to put in a lot of effort?
For recreational activities, all you need to do is take your child to the scheduled sessions. For competitions, there’s more travel involved, although professionals and club sports organizations often handle the logistics.
At what age can a child start competing?
According to the video, ages 8 and up, provided the child is independent enough to navigate the course on their own.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator. Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.