Want to Take Your Toddler Golfing? Everything Parents Need to Know

Want to Take Your Toddler Golfing? Everything Parents Need to Know by AllKidsGolfClubs.com

Parents can’t help but wonder how much fun it would be to play golf with their young, wide-eyed toddlers. It can be difficult to picture focusing all that energy into a round of golf - the purpose of this article is to share some of the aspects I learned to prepare for - sometimes the hard way!

Let’s take a look at equipment, food and drink, expectations, on the course (attention span, distractions, attitude, etiquette, highs and lows, snacks, first aid), cart or no cart, big course vs. par 3 (or executive) course, traditions and rewards.

Below you will actually see a picture of Rick Fletcher, who wrote this article at AllKidsGolfClubs.com. He is our founder and created the shop by height, not age for junior golf. Is there anyone better to talk to you about starting your toddler in golf? Nope, he is the best out there. In this toddler golf era, all these new companies say, "they couldn't find" any toddler golf clubs on the market, but that is not true. Rick Fletcher began building toddler clubs in his garage in the mid 1990's and AllKidsGolfClubs.com has been carrying toddler clubs for over 25 years.

Equipment: What Clubs Should Toddlers Start With?

All Kids Golf Clubs recommends a putter for a child’s first club, because it helps toddlers learn eye-hand coordination, and it works best for indoor play. To prepare for a trip to the golf course, it's helpful to add a 7 or 9 iron, as a putter would limit the toddler’s play to the greens only and an iron is much easier to swing and see success on the course than a driver or fairway wood. 

A golf bag at this age is optional, as toddler clubs can easily be carried in mom or dad’s bag. Golf shoes are optional at this age, it’s best to wait to see if your child likes the sport. A golf hat and sunscreen are a must!

Make Your Own Backyard Their Golf Playground 

Before heading to the course, I recommend parents have their toddler practice hitting foam rubber balls with a 7 or 9 iron in the backyard or at a local park.

If you have grass in your backyard, it’s a lot of fun for kids to make their own holes with a pair of scissors (to cut the grass short around the hole), a gardening trowel to dig the hole with, and even a practice green cup. For practice hitting real golf balls the ideal practice area would be at a driving range hitting standard golf balls (this eliminates the possibility of breaking windows). 

Plan in Advance to setup a day of golfing success

It always helps to share expectations before heading out to the course. Begin by viewing online videos and pictures of kids on the golf course with your toddler. Be prepared with an answer to the inevitable questions, “When can we go? Can we go now? I wanna go now!” A response could be, “We might go on Monday, but before we go, you have to promise you won’t jump in the pond or bother other golfers - most golfers like it to be quiet when they play, just like on TV. It’s going to be so much fun!” 

Call the golf course not only for a tee time, but for a recommendation on the best days and times to bring a toddler - most courses won’t charge you for a young child, especially if you tell them he or she is only going to hit a ball now and then, and you’ll be sure not to affect the pace of play for others.

What to Expect with Your Toddler On the Golf Course

Start with a Par 3 Course

You’ve acquired the equipment and practiced with your toddler in the backyard or at a driving range, now it’s time for the big day on the golf course! For toddlers it’s highly recommended to play a par 3 since it’s walkable, or a regular course with a cart.

Bear in mind there could be a meltdown at any time - exiting the course and heading for ice cream at that point is the best idea. It is especially important during these first few trips to keep it as fun as possible. Don’t be shy about leaving the course prior to completing the round, in fact you might plan for it just to avoid any bad memories.

Bring Snacks and Water when at the golf course

Be sure to bring plenty of water, a small first aid kit (a band aid can be quite comforting for kids), snacks, a sandwich, juice box and napkins. If the weather is warm at all, use a cool pack to keep any chocolate items from melting, and place it on top since cold air sinks.

Additionally a golf towel for the child can be very useful, especially if mom or dad shows them how to clean their club when it gets mud on it. Always plan to arrive an hour prior to your tee time to allow time to practice putting and returning to the car should you (your toddler) forget something in the car. There are many aspects of the game you could discuss prior to arrival, but at this age very little of it would be retained in memory.

Remind Your Toddler of the Basic Rules of golf

With this in mind, it’s much more impactful to stand next to the practice putting green and remind your junior golfer to only use the putter, no full swings, and no running or screaming or getting mad - sometimes you can be successful with just asking them to watch and imitate what others are doing. Advice to practice hitting the ball just hard enough to go a little past the hole can be extremely effective!

Start at the Practice Area at the course

There may be a practice chipping area, make sure to demonstrate a chipping stroke, while reminding them to not swing hard - start by pointing out a spot a few feet onto the green to shoot for (this should reduce the risk to other golfers, and you can tell them to save the hard swings for out on the course).

About 15 minutes before your tee time it’s a good idea to head for the cart and make a final check on the presence of equipment and provisions. It’s also a good time to outline the plan for play, for example, “I’m going to tee off while you wait IN the cart, then you will hit your 7 iron when we get up near the green.” 

Be Aware of Those Around You

A little pep talk is good too, think, “It’s going to be so much fun playing golf together, give me a high five, I hear there’s a lot of squirrels on this course!”  Always keep an eye on the group behind you. If you notice them waiting on you, there is no law against skipping a few holes to find a “less busy” part of the course.

When you are no more than 100 yards from the green, let your child play some shots toward the green. It will no doubt take several shots, and it’s a great time to remind them they are just learning, and they will get better with practice. If their attitude is going south, simply have them pick up the ball and head for the green where you’ll have some fun putting. 

Think of the Bigger Picture when it comes to your toddler golfing

Golf can be thought of as a reflection of life in general, dealing with handling success and failure in a positive way is one of the best lessons that can be learned on the golf course. 

When you reach the green, it’s a great time to teach some etiquette. Farthest away putts first, how to fix a ball mark, staying still while the other person is putting, properly marking your ball, and being ready when it’s your turn are some fundamentals to share at this time.

Building Golfing Traditions: Don’t Forget the Rewards

Fast forward to the end of the round. No matter how many holes you played, or meltdowns that occurred along the way, there's always positive aspects to the experience. Remember: it only takes one good shot to make you want to come back. Take a moment on the last green and teach them how to take their hat off, shake your hand, look you in the eyes and say, “I had a great time.”

No need to get a commitment to play again from your toddler, since they may not be “in the mood”. Whether it’s their favorite fast food, playground or they just want to go home - listen to them and do it - no need to stack on more disappointment if they struggled on the course. 

Your job was to make it an enjoyable time, and show support coupled with a positive attitude. Soon they will forget about any struggles and remember a squirrel they saw or a good shot, and be asking you when they can go again. At that time your answer can be, “If you get all your chores done this week maybe we can go this weekend!”