Basic Golf Rules: Part 3 - Golf Games for Kids

Sometimes basic golf rules are too advanced for young or beginning players. While golf is a great game, it can be very frustrating and difficult for many.

If you're just learning how to play golf or want to introduce it to young kids, here are some great ideas for modifying the game.

I have to admit that golf is one of my favorite sports to play. I'm not that great at it, and I don't get to play near as often as I'd like, but I love it! To me, there's not a better way to spend a beautiful day than on the golf course.

However, golf can be prohibitive for people for a lot of reasons:

It takes a lot of time – It's not uncommon for a round of golf to take 4-5 hours.
It can be expensive – Golf is an expensive sport. Green fees can cost anywhere from $10 (really cheap) to $100s.
It can be boring and frustrating for little ones and beginners.
There may not be a golf course near you.
Beginners may feel uncomfortable and pressured by players if they are playing too slow or taking too many strokes.
Golf clubs can be expensive, and every golfer is expected to have their own set of clubs out on the course.

So, if the basic rules of golf are too much of challenge, here are some fun alternatives that might be more appropriate for you and your kids:

Basic Golf Rules
Alternatives to Traditional Golf

Find a Par-3 golf course in your area. These are 9-hole golf courses, and every hole is a par 3 which means all of the holes are very short. These are great courses for kids and beginners. You can easily walk the course, and you only need a couple of clubs which you can all share. The green fees are much more reasonable, and you can finish a round of golf in roughly 1-2 hours.

"Just play 9" - Don't commit to an entire 18-hole round. See if your local course will allow you to play 9 holes for a discounted fee.

Learn scramble golf rules to play a fun version of golf that really speeds up the game and limits the number of strokes players take. My friends and I play scramble often. It's a blast and helps even the playing field if there is a wide range of abilities in your group. It's perfect for beginners.

Join a player development program at your local club. For a certain monthly fee, I have access to free skill clinics from the local pro, unlimited free access to the driving range, and discounted green fees.

Basic Golf Rules
Putting Games

Play putt putt games either at a local mini-golf facility or set up your own putt-putt course in your backyard.
Set up your own indoor putt-putt course – Using shoes, boxes, cans, etc, you can set up your own course throughout your house. Use your imagination to create obstacles. You can hit a soft nerf-type ball or tennis ball and use a plastic golf club, plastic bat or pool noodle.
Have a putting contest. Using either the practice putting green at your local golf course or a putting green you set up at your house, have a contest to see who can get the ball in the hole with the least strokes. Here are some quick tips so you can learn how to putt.

Putting green

Buy putting games at Amazon

Mini Golf

Basic Golf Rules
Golf with a Twist

How about a fun game of Frisbee golf? Instead of clubs, balls, and holes, you use Frisbees and hoops.

Frisbee golf

How about a fun pool-side game?

Backyard pool golf

Foot golf is a fun game that combines soccer and golf. You can play in your backyard or find a Foot Golf course in your area. A local par-3 course near us has been converted to foot golf. The holes have been enlarge to fit soccer balls. It's a fun group activity for kids.

Foot golf

Basic Golf Rules
Target Games

Instead of trying to hit the ball into holes, set up targets. Try to hit them, knock them down, get closest to the target, or land inside a target area, like a circle.
Really young kids will love hitting a beach ball with a pool noodle toward a big target.