Children learn very differently than adults. In fact, the main style of learning for young children is through play. Blending goals with challenge, imagination, and self-discovery create the basis for a child’s learning environment. Research shows that people who self-discover a concept are more apt to embrace and ‘own it’ it more fully than being told what and how to execute something by another person.

Ideas for fun golf activities for children

Here are some engaging and fun indoor and outdoor golf learning experiences for teachers and childcare leaders that can be easily adapted for your own children and their friends.

Activity Programs for Holiday Camps and After School

Offer an hour program for ages 2-3 that includes putting, near-golf swinging and an on-course adventure (riding in carts safely, cleaning golf balls at the ball washer, raking bunkers with small rakes, putting a ball into a hole, putting the flag back in the hole, looking for red/yellow/white sticks or animals that live on the course).

For an indoor adventure due to poor weather, consider crafts (coloring with child-safe crayons or using Play-Doh to create golf scenes), reading, hitting foam or soft ball-pit type golf balls into an indoor net or indoor putting games using SNAG (Starting New at Golf) and My Mini Golf.

Offer a two-hour program for ages 4-5 that includes a warm-up obstacle course, a Fun Putting Zone (pool noodles, My Mini Golf, SNAG) and a game of School (each cone represents a grade and to move up one must figure out the right distance to either putt into the hole or into a 2 foot safety zone behind the hole. Use an inflatable such as our Sammy the Shark (Birdie Ball has great inflatables) to have fun with swings that teach one how to hit the board to get the Birdie Balls airborne. End with healthy snacks.

Offer a three-hour program for ages 6-9 that includes Speed Ball warm up (an idea from Michelle Holmes School of Golf in which youngsters stretch by racing against each other to identify a body part such as hips, ears, nose, head, ankles, knees and finally grab a ball when “Ball” is called) or Crab-Frog-Horse (an idea from Stacy Miller-Arndt and the team at Congressional Country Club in which kids begin walking around as crabs and pair up to play Rock-Paper-Scissors and the winner turns into a frog who hopes around to compete and if a winner again, advances to galloping around like a horse).

Split the group into two teams before class begins, have the kids work on their communication and leadership skills to select an appropriate team name and have them work towards earning points towards an overall class winner. Have some putting, chipping and driving stations with certain goals like being able to make a certain number from 2 feet on putting out of 5 putts or two-putt from 10 feet or how many out of 5 shots can one hit into a fairway and up in the air. Adjust the goals based on ability. SNAG Catch is a great game in which a team hits shots to their teammates and points awarded for each ball caught in the air or grounders. For youngsters who are waiting for their turn, have activities to keep them safe and busy, such as staying inside a safe area (hula hoop) with a dry erase board or a Rubic cube or a puzzle or some fitness challenges.

Speed Putting Race

Being able to putt when the pace of play is quickened and there is a competitive team energy in the air can help golfers become better prepared for those conditions of play on the real course. Break a class into 3 teams and line them up behind their team’s starting cone. All putters are kept in front where they will be retrieved and returned for safety. Create a rectangle of string as wide and deep as the skill of the students. Place 3 cones in a slightly staggered line paced out based on the ability of the students. In the race, the first person from each team runs safely and without damaging the green to the first cone and putts. If the ball ends up in the putting box, they run back to the team, leave the club, tag in the next person and that person then putts from the second cone. If a putt is too long or short, the next person must start over again at the first cone. The first team to make all 3 putts in a row into the putting box wins!

Indoor Golf Games

If a golf class must move indoors into a meeting room or large area due to weather, here are some fun ideas to pass the time in a fun and educational way. Split the group into two teams and have them create their team name. Allot points for winning first or second in a challenge (i.e. 10 points first place, 5 points second place). The first team to finish a puzzle wins. Switch puzzles and start again.

Have indoor putting contests using SNAG (Starting New at Golf) flagsticks/balls/Roller putters and My Mini Golf equipment as well. One could also put tape on the floor and have a Tic Tac Putt contest or a Closest-to-the-Line.

Golf Jeopardy is a fun and speedy way to review rules, etiquette and current golf affairs. One person from each team approaches the table with a service desk bell. Hands must be behind backs. A question is asked and the first one to ring the bell and answer correctly gets the point for the team. Rules can be adapted as needed, such as the person answering gets 10 seconds to answer or the other person gets to answer. Another option is to give each team 3 Ask the Audiences (their team) for help. Another rule is that if a person rings the bell before the entire question is asked, the other team gets to answer. Questions can include current professional tour players (who is the #1 player on LPGA/PGA, who has won the most Majors, etc.), rules, manners, equipment, terms, etc.

Golf Design Contest

Having a team-coloring contest (can call it a Golf Design Contest) is great for the team… this can be done on individual papers or on a big banner where the entire team contributes. The team banners can later then be taped to a hula hoop, staked high in the air and then challenged to see if anyone can break the paper. Coaches can also award points for the best drawing for golf concepts learned that day (i.e. showing off back shoe for energy transfer).

Whatever the games, keep them safe, fun and involve the youngsters in helping to make them even better with their opinions. Sometimes what an adult finds fun and interesting isn’t for the youngster. Learn to Play and Play to Learn!

Nicole

As Head Teaching Professional at The Landings Club in beautiful Savannah, Georgia, Nicole Weller is a member of the LPGA T&CP, PGA of America and Proponent Group. She has served on the LPGA*USGA Girls Golf of Savannah Board, two terms on the PGA National Youth Player Development Committee (currently 2017-2019), PGA Special Awards Committee, is a co-author of the LPGA Girls Golf Playbook and is a proud partner with both Little Linksters and The Littlest Golfer (staff ambassador).

Nicole is a U.S. Kids Master Kids Teacher and is certified with U.S. Kids Golf and Spirit of Golf. She was given the prestigious honor of being the first professional to receive both the 2013 PGA and LPGA National Junior Golf Leader awards in the same year and was listed on the 2017 LPGA / Women’s Golf Journal Inaugural LPGA Top 50 Teachers List.

Follow Nicole online at www.nicoleweller.com and on Facebook, Twitter, and Youtube

The Landings Club on Skidaway Island, 71 Green Island Road, Savannah, GA 31411

phone 912.695.5211 | email nicole.weller@landingsclub.com

