When to Start
There is no single right age to start a child in golf — but there is a right approach for each age. Children as young as four or five can begin exposure through play, familiarising themselves with a club in hand, the feel of contact, and the idea of a target. Formal structured lessons are typically most effective from age six onwards, when children can hold focus for a lesson duration and follow sequential instruction.
The most important thing is to take the child's lead. A child who is ready and curious will absorb information rapidly. A child who is pushed too early or too intensely will disengage — sometimes permanently. If they are showing interest, the time is right. If they are disinterested, wait a few months.
"The goal at the start is simple: make the child fall in love with the game. Everything else can be taught later."
— Daren Lim, Junior Programme CoachDevelopment by Age Group
Equipment: Keep It Simple and Appropriate
The most common mistake parents make is buying adult equipment for a young child — or buying the most expensive junior set available before the child has shown sustained commitment. A well-fitted, quality junior club set (not a full bag of 14 clubs) is all that is needed for the first two to three years.
In Singapore, good beginner junior sets are available from most golf retailers and are easily resized as children grow. The key fitting variable at this stage is length and weight — the club must allow the child to set up to the ball naturally without reaching or crowding. Shaft flex is secondary at the beginner level.
A professional club fitting at each age milestone is worth the investment — ill-fitted clubs cause compensations that are difficult to unlearn.
The Parent's Role: The Most Important Factor
In over a decade of coaching junior golfers, the single biggest predictor of a child's long-term enjoyment and improvement in golf is not their natural talent, the frequency of lessons, or the quality of their equipment. It is the behaviour of their parents on and around the course.
Children who are supported with patience and encouragement — and who are allowed to make mistakes without emotional consequence — develop faster, enjoy the game more, and stick with it longer. Children who feel their parent's anxiety, disappointment, or pressure tend to associate golf with stress, and many ultimately disengage from the game.
The Parent's Playbook
- Celebrate effort, not outcome. "Great swing" beats "that shot was short" at every age.
- Stay positive on the course and at the range. Your emotional state sets the atmosphere for your child's experience.
- Do not coach during the lesson. One coach, one voice. Let the professional do the teaching — your role is support.
- Do not debrief bad shots immediately. If they hit a bad shot, say nothing. If they ask, then respond — positively.
- Understand that patience is the timeline. Improvement in golf is not linear. Three steps forward, one step back. That is normal.
- Play with them. The most motivating experience for a junior golfer is playing alongside their parent. Get on the course together as soon as they are ready.
- Let them take the lead on practice. A child who chooses to practise will always outperform a child who is told to practise.
My Approach: Parents as Partners
My junior programme at Tanah Merah Country Club is built on a principle that most coaching programmes overlook: parents need to understand what we are working on. When a parent understands the technique focus of a lesson, they can reinforce it positively at home — and more importantly, avoid accidentally undermining it.
At the end of each junior lesson, I take a few minutes to walk the parent through what we worked on and what language to use (and not use) at home. This continuity between the lesson environment and the home environment accelerates learning significantly — and it keeps the parent engaged in the journey in a way that is genuinely constructive.
What We Build, In Order
1. Love of the game — nothing else matters if this is not established first.
2. Fundamentals — grip, posture, alignment and ball position that can carry them for life.
3. Short game — chipping and putting are where scores are made. We start here, not with the driver.
4. Full swing — built on solid fundamentals, not copied from YouTube.
5. Course experience — getting on the course as early as possible to apply what they have learned in a real environment.
Final Thought
Golf is a gift. It teaches patience, integrity, resilience, and how to handle both success and failure with grace. It connects generations — I still play with people who first picked up a club in their twenties, and I know junior golfers who now play with their parents every weekend. That is what the game offers, if it is started right.
If you are thinking about starting your child in golf, I would love to have a conversation about where they are and what programme would suit them best. WhatsApp me at +65 9622 2845 — the first step is always just a conversation.
