For many parents, that first golf adventure with their child can be incredibly exciting. It opens the door to a lifetime sport they can enjoy together, a shared passion. That passion is becoming increasingly rare in today’s fast-paced world. If your child’s first lesson is with a teaching professional, this post can serve as a checklist to ensure they’re in good hands. If you’re giving the first lesson yourself, it can guide you in making the experience as meaningful as possible.
The first golf lesson is no different than a first date, the goal is to make your child want a second one. Your child isn’t going to look like a natural-born golfer on day one; they’re not Tiger Woods or Lexi Thompson. But time is on your side. The priority in any Junior Golf Program should be to help your child fall in love with the game first, improvement will come later.
There are two keys to making sure your child enjoys their first lesson:
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Make it fun.
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Don’t let them get bored.
Redefining Success in a Junior Golf Program
To make sure your child has fun, they need to feel successful — and that means redefining what success looks like in a Junior Golf Program. For a young child, it might be simply making contact with the ball or sinking a short 3-foot putt. If they’re a little older, success could mean getting the ball in the air or chipping it close to the hole — even if it rolls the entire way there.
Set realistic expectations and create achievable goals. Let them know it's okay if it takes a few tries. If they succeed quickly, make it a bit harder. If they struggle, simplify the task. Everyone starts at a different place, and there’s no “wrong” starting point.
Once they reach their goal — celebrate it! Give them a high five, tell them how proud you are, or reward them with a Shirley Temple. Fill the moment with joy and positive reinforcement. That's what builds lasting motivation.
Avoiding Boredom in Junior Golf
No matter how well your child performs, if they’re under 18, boredom is the biggest threat to a great first experience. A simple rule to follow: limit each activity to one minute for every year old they are. For example:
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An 8-year-old should only hit drivers for about 8 minutes.
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A 15-year-old should only putt for 15 minutes at a time.
Rotate activities often. You can always return to a drill later if they haven’t achieved the goal yet — but giving them a mental break keeps them fresh and helps with long-term skill retention. These breaks also give you a chance to adjust the difficulty.
Now, if your child refuses to take a break because they’re so focused on completing a challenge, that’s a great sign that they’re fully engaged! Let them ride that wave. But otherwise, always aim to leave them wanting more. End the session while they're still excited. Tease a new game or skill for next time. Leave them eager to come back and disappointed to leave.
P.S. What About Technique?
You might notice that nothing in this first lesson focused on grip, stance, or posture. That’s intentional. In a good Junior Golf Program, early lessons shouldn’t obsess over technique — especially for kids under 15. Their bodies will change dramatically over the coming years, and focusing too early on technical details will make the game less enjoyable.
If they’re having fun and seeing success, it doesn’t matter if they’re using a split grip, cross-handed swing, or hitting off one foot. All of that can be adjusted over time. What matters most is that their first impression of golf is a positive one.