I wanted my kid to love golf. I also did not want to spend $500 on junior clubs that would collect dust if she decided she preferred soccer. Here is how I got her into the game for under $200 — and what I learned about keeping it fun.
📋 Update Log — last updated Apr 24, 2026 ▼
Start With Fun, Not Technique
The number one mistake golf parents make: teaching their kid like an adult. No 6-year-old needs to know about grip pressure, spine angle, or weight transfer. They need to hit the ball, watch it fly, and feel proud. If the first 10 sessions are fun, you have a golfer for life. If the first session is a lesson, you might have a kid who hates golf forever. Rule of thumb: for every piece of instruction you give, give 5 pieces of praise.
Ages 4-6: The Backyard Phase
At this age, golf is just hitting a ball with a stick. Buy a 3-4 club junior set ($80-$120) and let them whack wiffle balls in the backyard. No range, no course, no rules. Let them swing however they want. Take them to a putting green — most courses let kids putt for free. The only goal: make it fun enough that they ask to do it again.
Ages 7-9: The Course Phase
Now they can handle 3-6 holes of a real course. Play from the forward tees. Let them drive the cart. Buy them their own tees and ball markers. This is when a real junior set ($150-$250) makes sense because they are swinging with enough speed to need properly fitted clubs. PGA Junior League starts at age 7 — team-based formats make it social and reduce pressure. Search PGA.com for programs near you.
Ages 10-13: The Commitment Phase
By now they either love it or they do not. If they love it, invest in a quality junior set ($250-$350), get them a few lessons from a PGA junior coach, and start playing 9-hole rounds together. This is the age where the parent-child golf bond becomes real — you are playing together as partners, not teacher-student. If they do not love it, that is OK too. Golf will be there when they come back at 25.
Gear on a Budget
Total cost to get started: $80-$120 for a basic junior set (Precise or Wilson starter), $0 for putting green access at most courses, and $5/round through Youth on Course at participating clubs. If they stick with it past 6 months, upgrade to a Callaway XJ ($250) or TaylorMade Team TM ($200). Sell the starter set on Facebook Marketplace for 50-60% of what you paid. Total investment for the first year: $150-$300.
Frequently Asked Questions
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