The complete guide to getting your kids into golf

Golf is enjoying an explosion in popularity right now, with more and more people taking their first tentative steps onto the golfing greens, discovering a love for the game and enjoying its wealth of benefits. At golfclubs4cash our collection of second hand junior golf clubs and equipment is a great way to grab a bargain and start your child off on their golfing journey.

This increased attention is thanks in no small part to there being more TV coverage of the biggest golfing championships than ever before, with record viewing figures being noted for the Major 2022 season, and the best golfing professionals of the moment rising to new levels of international fame. With golf getting more and more attention, it’s easy to see why there is a surge in the number of children keen to get into golf, each fancying themselves as the next Tiger Woods or Brooke Henderson.

In this article, we’ll show you how to encourage your children to get into golf, outlining the many benefits that it brings and giving you some fantastic top tips along the way..

Children in golf - the basics

The great news is that there’s no lower age limit to getting into golf. Indeed, children as young as two years of age can start learning the absolute basics of golf. Of course, it’s more about getting a feel for the equipment at this age, but give them a junior golf club and a ball and you’ll be planting a seed that may well stay with them for life!

Once a child reaches 5 or 6, they’re probably ready to take some more formal instruction. By school age, children are usually able to listen to and follow basic instructions and enjoy a sense of accomplishment when they feel themselves improving. Lessons at this age are generally quite short - 10 or 20 minutes at a time is usually sufficient. But if you give them somewhere to practise at home, they’ll spend loads of extra time honing their skills away from the driving range. Their golf teacher will be able to let you know when they think they will be ready to extend the length of their lessons.

Children need to start learning how to use the equipment, but they will also need to learn about the game of golf at some point too. There are loads of great ways to introduce children to this, such as taking them out on a round of golf with you (if your golf club allows it), or sitting them down in front of a televised game so that they can start learning how it all works and what the rules are. The more you expose kids to golf when they’re young, the more they’ll pick up, so don’t miss any opportunity to get them involved in any way you can.

Why golf is so great for children’s health

Golf - at whatever level it is played - brings a wide range of benefits to players of all ages and stages. But what are the main benefits to their mental and physical health?

Benefits to physical health

Learning to play golf has a positive impact on a child’s development in many ways, allowing them to hone their fine motor skills and use their muscles in different ways than they are used to. It’s great for their brain and body development, and of course it gets them out into nature too. When practising their swing on the driving range, they’ll be able to start learning which muscles to use, and when - which aids their coordination development significantly. Once they’re out on the greens they’ll benefit from all the many ways that walking in fresh air affords you.

Benefits to mental health

Taking part in any sport is known to positively impact a child’s mental health, and it’s a great antidote to video games and other sedentary activities. The extra exercise they get will keep them fit, healthy and active, and this is always beneficial to mental health. In addition, golf has been shown to help reduce anxiety and depression, boost social interaction, and reduce stress. And with children struggling with more mental health disorders than ever before, golf has an important role to play in their ongoing health and wellbeing.

How to start your child off in golf

If you’re a golfer yourself, then you’ll be at an advantage when it comes to getting your child started in golf. But if you’re not then don’t worry - there’s really not much to it and you’ll still be able to support your child as they take their first golfing steps. We suggest that the first thing you do is pop down to your local golf club and/or driving range. Most clubs usually have PGA professionals who can answer your questions, advise you on equipment and get you up and running.

Perhaps your child might enjoy playing a golf simulation game - this can be a great way of introducing them to the game, as can letting them watch the exciting big championships on the TV. But there’s nothing better than taking them down to the driving range, getting them a box of balls and letting them start work on that all-important golf swing.

No matter what you do, make sure your child is exposed to golf as much as possible. Their young minds are little sponges, and they will be constantly absorbing skills and information without even realising it.

What equipment do you need?

You’ll need to get your child set up with some basic golf equipment. You’ll find a golf clothing and equipment shop at most golf clubs - while these are useful for seasoned golfers we strongly recommend that you do not invest in brand-new golf equipment for your child. This is for a couple of reasons: firstly, while your child is still growing you’ll find that they grow out of their clubs in no time at all. And secondly, until you know that your child is keen on getting into golf (and it’s not just a passing fad!) there’s no point investing in new golf equipment.

While as Europe’s biggest second hand golf equipment retailer it may come as no surprise that we would say it(!), you’ll find that most experts will agree that used golf equipment is the way to go - saving you money and offering you plenty of flexibility when it comes to trading it in and upgrading to the next club.

Junior golf clubs

So, to get started you’ll need a few junior clubs. At this point, we will assume that your child is aged 5 or over, and that they are ready to start building a set of clubs. They will need a second hand driver, a few irons, a wedge and a putter. This will enable them to practise all the main shots needed in golf such as long strikes from the driving range or tee, or precision shots into the hole using the putter.

Once they’re playing on the greens they will need to adhere to the rules when it comes to the number and types of clubs in their bag, but while they are just getting started it’s not something you’ll need to worry about. Our article on the three most important clubs to have in your bag will help you get them set up when the time is right.

When you invest in preloved kids’ golf clubs you’ll get access to some of the best clubs on the market that often have barely been used. You can check out our condition rating guide to learn more about how we appraise the condition of each used golf club we sell.

They’ll also need a few golf balls to practise with, and a golf bag to keep their growing collection of equipment in.

You may find that second hand children’s golf equipment is tricky to come by, and while that used to be the case, the great news is that at golfclubs4cash we have a growing selection of used junior golf clubs and equipment, and our stock changes all the time. To be the first to spot a bargain make sure you have the golfclubs4cash app downloaded on your phone.

If you’re local to our golf equipment stores in Edinburgh or Warrington, the best way to get your child started with the correct golf equipment that’s the perfect size for them is to pop into our stores and ask one of our friendly professionals for fitting help and advice. And if you’re not local, you are very welcome to give us a call and we can talk you through your options over the phone.

Once your child has outgrown their clubs, you can sell them back to us for cash or store credit that you can put towards their next upgrade. We’re committed to sustainability at golfclubs4cash, which means doing what we can to reduce the amount of golf equipment that ends up in landfill.

Tricks to keep children interested in golf

One of the biggest challenges as a parent is to encourage children to keep up a hobby without it turning into another thing to nag or pressurise them about. Once you’ve invested all that money into the golf equipment they need, you’re going to want them to retain at least some of that enthusiasm so that they are motivated to practise and improve.

Keep it social

The single most important thing you can do to ensure your child stays interested in golf is to capitalise on the social element that brings so much to the experience for kids. Children love taking part in activities where they can play and socialise with other children. So, look up a junior golf club where they can join in and meet new friends. And if there isn’t a local junior golf club then ask around your fellow parents and see if you can set one up. The more children can play with their friends, the more they’ll discover a lasting love of golf.

They don’t have to play on the greens - you can set up practice shots at home in your garden, or even take them to a crazy golf course so they can work on their putting technique.

Keep it fun

While of course there is a competitive element to golf, and this can be motivating for some children, it’s important not to focus too heavily on this side of things. A child could easily lose motivation and enthusiasm for golf if they find they are constantly losing to their peers. Find ways to keep it fun - it is a game after all. Don’t focus on the results, but instead let them enjoy the process, and the many benefits to their health and wellbeing.

If you find that your child is losing interest in golf then don’t push them - give them a few days off and gently encourage them back when they’re ready. You’ll probably find that they will rediscover their enthusiasm for it pretty quickly, especially if they know that all their friends are playing without them!