Introducing golf to kids means encouraging them to get outdoors instead of drowning their brain cells in the screens of smartphones. The benefits of playing golf from a very young age also include being more socially interactive and understanding how to face both the mental and physical challenges of sports.
And of course, there’s the huge possibility of them becoming the next golf celebrities. In that case, it’s no wonder you’re looking for junior golf lessons near me. Near YOU is what I mean. And there are quite a few golf training programs/camps/academies near you!
Agreed that golf is no soccer or basketball. But if you really spark your child’s interest and curiosity (in the right manner of course and not by force or getting overly technical), then there’s no turning back.
In This Post
Junior/Toddler/Kids Golf Lessons Near Me
Since the goal here is to locate a well-known junior golf academy or instructor the closest to where you live, let me talk about your options first. And then later we can get into topics such as at what age and how to get your kid to start playing golf.
Here are some best-known and reliable places that offer golf lessons for juniors that are both fun and instructional…
1. PGA – How about a legit. PGA professional as the golf coach?
The Professional Golfers Association (PGA) offers very useful services for to-be Tiger Woods or Lexi Thompson. Junior Golf Lessons and Kids’ Golf Lessons – the latter is for kids 12 years old or under while the former for teenagers (age range between 13 and 18).
Think of PGA here as a tool that gets you a certified PGA instructor near you. The majority of these professional coaches teach the younger generation of golfers and are also on the U.S. Kids certified list.
As to how to go about it, just search for a golf instructor near your preferred location. You can find out more about them quite easily online. For example, check if they have a website, look for any certifications they might have acquired, their specialties, etc. Or you could just drive down and talk to them face to face.
Making sure there’s good communication between you and the coach is a must, which will have an influence on the connection between the latter and your kid. It’s how successful coaching works!
2. PGA Junior League – Complete golf programs just for kids!
I’m almost certain that you may have heard of PGA Junior Golf Camps. They have advanced programs, specialty camps, and even half-day camps – the perfect solution to beginner golf lessons near me!
The organization is fully dedicated to training junior golfers, no matter their skill levels. So your little one can go from being just a new kid on the block, quite literally, to an intermediate-level golfer and then eventually becoming an advanced player.
The camp programs divide participants into smaller, more segmented groups depending on important factors like skills and experience. And this creates the most supportive and beneficial learning environment for them.
For some or the other reason, if you can’t find an active PGA junior league, then you can also just directly get in touch with the main golf coach on the website of the club. Just keep in mind that all the effort is certainly going to be worth it because golf clubs a part of PGA Junior League events have commendable golf training programs for kids.
3. U.S. Kids – It has all the resources needed to introduce golf to kids.
Another perfect solution or tool or whatever you’d like to call it that’s certified to conduct junior-level golf coaching near you. So if you’re looking for a professional instructor closer to where you stay, U.S. Kids Golf Foundation is an excellent resource.
Their ‘Play and Learn’ strategy works really well across not just America but also Canada, England, Australia, Ireland, Scotland, South Africa, Panama, Italy, Germany, and Costa Rica. And there are more than 3,100 certified professionals who teach juniors how to both learn and enjoy the game of golf.
The academy, no doubt, cultivates great players. And since kids need to have fun too while learning something new, that ‘fun’ part of the experience is well taken care of. Plus, it’s affordable golf training with programs based on models that have proven to enhance learning and develop simple, consistent swing concepts.
U.S. Kids also offers Parent/Child Camps – a 4-day adventure specifically designed for juniors to start to really appreciate and love the sport.
4. First Tee – Where kiddie golfers become better equipped for the game.
Not just golf learning/playing opportunities but also personal development through understanding and handling emotions, accepting diversity, setting up future goals, and just overall grasping golf fundamentals like setup, alignment, and swing sequence – all the things First Tee programs are bound to teach your kid between 5 and 18 years old. Hence, toddler golf lessons near me? You now know where to look!
And in case you’re wondering how ALL of this is made possible, the golf instructors at First Tee are specially trained for positive youth development.
Furthermore, the organization consists of programs offered at youth centers, golf courses, and elementary schools in every U.S. state, along with 6 different international locations. So you will find a golf coach near you for sure!
Never Hesitate to Ask for Recommendations
Don’t underestimate the power of “word of mouth.” Always ask for recommendations from fellow golfers, local golf course members, golf community boards, etc.
Facebook is another great source for getting to know more about how and where to find a junior golf instructor or training program near you. Or just go to your local or nearest golf course and directly speak to the person in charge there.
But recommendations are often the better choice since you’re most likely to find someone reliable with a good grasp on how to properly conduct golf training. Think of it like when you want a good doctor or tutor recommendation. Much the same way, don’t hesitate to go around inquiring for a competent golf coach.
When attending a golf tournament (more specifically, a junior-level tournament), strike up a conversation regarding the subject at hand with junior golfers’ parents.
Fellow parents, no doubt, will give you exact and thorough feedback with all the much-needed details you ought to know. This could include if the kids are actually enjoying the golf lessons or not, what level of improvement they’ve shown, and how good are the instructions, guidance, and method of the coach.
If possible, speak to these children as well. Surprisingly enough, kids tend to offer more honest and straightforward answers than their adult counterparts. So why not make the most of this kind of practical, valuable insight by asking for recommendations!
What Makes A ‘Good’ Junior Golf Instructor?
How do you tell if the coach or golf training program is the best way to get your kid to play and enjoy the game of golf? Just keep the following basic instructions in mind…
#1 Technical Knowledge/Tools
First of all, is the golf instructor a qualified and/or certified PGA professional?
Does he/she know how golf club fitting works? Among many others like being able to measure the progression of skills, using tournament stats and results, having the required, basic knowledge of the design and performance of toddler golf clubs and complete kids golf set.
#2 Communication/Interaction with Kids
It’s very, very important for the golf coach to develop a solid connection between himself/herself and juniors. What’s equally important is that the kids have an enjoyable time learning the fundamentals of the game.
Communication is key here. Is the instructor able to communicate in a friendly and positive manner? The instructions related to explaining crucial golf concepts, techniques, etc. should be conveyed in a way and tone that are easy to understand. And that means not being overly technical, otherwise kids inevitably lose interest.
Moreover, the learning environment created by the golf coach or program should consist of accomplishing tiny milestones on a more regular basis, which ought to be as habitually celebrated too for encouraging more and more younger golfers to become a part of the game.
Therefore, the chemistry between instructor and student has to “click” for the golf training program to work. Otherwise, you’re only just wasting your money and your child’s time and energy!
Moving On, So What Age Is Best for Kids to Start Golf Lessons?
Here are the general guidelines for when is it the best time for kids to begin playing golf…
Between 1 and 5 Years
If your little one is around 6 or 5 (or below), your aim should be to make the activity more fun instead of focusing too much on the technicality of things. For instance, letting them hit plastic or foam balls rather than actual golf balls, even if they’re the cheap ones that mostly beginner and recreational golfers use.
Hitting plastic or foam balls in the house, garage, or backyard seems like a delightful idea to a kid. You can also head to the closest putting green, driving range, mini golf course, or facilities like that where your child can whack balls around, ride in a golf cart, and of course snack as much as he/she likes.
You can’t and shouldn’t expect kids between the ages of 1 and 5 to be able to understand, let alone remember, formal golf instructions. Instead, concentrate more on developing the required motor skills, showing the right way to grip golf clubs, where and how to stand, etc.
Between 5 and 10 Years
Within this particular age range, juniors are ready to take on golf instructions and etiquette. This could happen in the form of individual lessons or group sessions.
One-on-one or individual training is better if your kid seems to be overly interested in the game of golf or is showing early signs of being a child golf prodigy like Tiger Woods. This also applies if he/she wants to start playing tournaments (here are the best ones listed by US Golf Camps).
This is when you purchase golf clubs specifically designed for kids. They’re not too heavy nor too long, meaning simply perfect for encouraging the development of solid swing mechanics.
But don’t leave out the “fun” part too. No matter what, golf or any other sport should also be fun, enjoyable, and maybe even not too challenging. We don’t want the future generation of Tour-level players to get discouraged, right?
Between 10 and 14 Years
In my opinion, now is the best time for your kid to join a junior-level golf training academy or program. Getting trained or coached by a qualified PGA instructor seems apt at this point. Because it’s during this very stage that the child begins to make the transition to easy, lightweight “adult” beginner golf clubs from the kiddie set.
14 Years and Above
There’s no debating the fact that teenage golfers drastically benefit from individual golf lessons. In comparison to younger juniors, teenagers’ attention span is longer. And if your kid well into his/her teens is still playing golf, it may be a clear indicator that they’re genuinely interested in the sport and value the lessons and the entire game in general.
Golf camps, golf academies, etc. – there are plenty of these for your teenage golfer to hone his/her skills and get out there to acquire a taste of competitive play.
There’s also the option of highly specialized boarding schools with junior golf as the main focus. But of course, these kinds of facilities are certainly not cheap or even affordable sometimes. However, golf’s a rich person’s game anyway!
Alright Then, Now You Know!
Your involvement in all of this is crucial when it comes to encouraging your kid to learn and play golf the right way. Keep a check on his/her performance during practice or training sessions. Look out for their strengths and weaknesses. And most important of all, make sure they’re having the time of their lives out there!
Also make it a point to pick a good golf coach or instructor, mostly one that’s been recommended to you by a fellow golfer. Training is best, and most effective, when done by a certified or qualified professional (PGA golf coaches – there’s no shortage of those!). And lastly, I have listed quite a few junior golf training programs you can find near you. So lay out all your options, either physically or digitally verify these options, and then based on the feedback/results you get, choose the most beneficial path for your kid on his/her journey to becoming a hopefully legendary player over
