How to Teach Someone to Golf and Actually Make It Fun
Learning how to teach someone to golf might feel overwhelming at first, yet teaching golf turns out to be one of the most rewarding experiences you can share with another person. Watching a friend or family member connect with their first clean shot and seeing that spark of excitement light up their face creates an unforgettable moment.
The key involves making the whole experience fun, approachable, and stress-free rather than focusing on perfection.
Get the Right Gear (Without Breaking the Bank)
Before you even think about stepping onto a course or driving range, having the right equipment makes all the difference. The good news? Your golf newbie needs zero expensive equipment to get started.
Start with the basics: a 7-iron, pitching wedge, putter, and maybe a driver if they feel ambitious. Most golf shops sell beginner sets that will save your wallet, or you can often find decent used clubs online. The key involves getting clubs that fit their height and build, nothing kills enthusiasm faster than clubs that feel like baseball bats or toothpicks.
Young golfers need their own properly sized equipment to develop good habits and stay engaged. Having their own kids' golf bag makes them feel like real golfers and encourages them to take ownership of their gear. When children have equipment that truly belongs to them, they show much more interest in practicing and develop a genuine love for the game.
Remember the essentials: golf balls (buy them in bulk, trust us), tees, a glove, and comfortable golf shoes or sneakers with good grip. A towel and ball marker complete the starter kit. You can always upgrade later as their interest and skills develop.
Teach the Basics: Stance, Grip, and Posture
Where many well-meaning teachers go wrong involves trying to cover everything at once. Instead, focus on just three fundamentals that will set your golf buddy up for success.
Start with the stance. Have them stand with feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent in an athletic position, and weight evenly distributed between both feet. Think of it like a basketball player getting ready to defend, balanced, ready, and comfortable (minus the trash talk).
Next comes the grip. Show them how to hold the club in their fingers, not their palms, with both hands working together as a unit. The "V" shapes made by their thumb and index finger should point toward their trailing shoulder. Keep it relaxed, white knuckles work for roller coasters, not golf swings.
Finally, posture. The golf swing is essentially a turning motion around a central column, that central column being your spine. Have them bend slightly at the hips, keep their back straight, and let their arms hang naturally. They should look athletic and balanced, not hunched over or standing too upright.
Practice these three elements without a ball first. Let them get comfortable with how it feels to be "in position" before adding the complexity of actually hitting something.
Master the Swing Fundamentals
Once they feel comfortable with the setup, introducing the golf swing itself comes next. Keep this mantra in mind: keep it simple, keep it slow, and keep it fun.
Start with small swings, think of it as a putting motion that gradually gets bigger. Let them swing without a ball at first, so they get the feel of the swing. This builds confidence and muscle memory without the pressure of making contact (and without the frustration of watching balls fly sideways into the parking lot).
Focus on these key concepts one at a time:
Tempo and rhythm matter more than power. A smooth, controlled swing will always beat an aggressive, wild one. Have them count "one-two" with their swing, "one" for the backswing, "two" for the downswing.
Weight shift gets overlooked but stays crucial. Show them how the weight shifts from the left side to the right side on the backswing, and reverses on the downswing. Think pitcher winding up, the power comes from the whole body working together.
Contact over distance. Have your golf newbie just work on making contact with the ball. This will build their confidence. A shot that goes 50 yards straight beats one that goes 150 yards into the woods every single time.
Start with Beginner-Friendly Drills
Drills never have to be boring, they can be the most fun part of learning! These simple exercises will help your golf buddy develop feel and confidence.
The Tee Drill: Place 3 golf tees in the ground in a straight line along the intended swing path, about 6 inches apart. On the backswing sweep the back tee away and on the downswing make contact with the middle and front tee. This teaches proper swing path and helps them understand the concept of hitting through the ball.
Mirror Work: Practice the swing in front of a mirror or large window. This helps them see their posture and swing plane without the distraction of trying to hit a ball (plus they can practice their victory poses).
Putting Practice: Putting teaches everyone everything they need to know: 1) Put your ball on the ground.
2) Pick up a club.
3) Use the club to hit the ball into the hole.
This applies to adults too, putting serves as golf in its purest form and builds confidence quickly.
Chipping Games: Set up different targets around the practice green and turn it into a game. Who can get closest to the flag? Who can land it in the imaginary circle? Competition makes practice fun and brings out everyone's competitive side.
Focus on Quick Wins
Nothing builds confidence like early success, so stack the deck in your golf newbie's favor. Make the first time on the course as stress-free as possible.
Start with putting, putting ranks as the easiest part of golf to master quickly and gives immediate feedback. A few made putts will have them feeling like a pro in no time (or at least like they belong on the course).
Move to chipping next. For a basic golf chip: Hold the club lower on grip, with a more narrow stance, lean your weight and torso towards the target, and make a basic putting motion that brushes the grass. Set up easy targets and celebrate every shot that lands within a reasonable distance.
When you do move to full swings, start with a pitching wedge or 9-iron. These clubs offer much more forgiveness than drivers or long irons and will help your golf buddy make solid contact more consistently.
Use tees for every shot at first, even with irons. Zero shame exists in making the game easier while they learn, the goal involves building confidence and having fun, not impressing the Golf Channel.
Play Mini-Rounds or "Golf Games" Instead of Full 18 Holes
An 18-hole round can be overwhelming and exhausting for a beginner. Instead, try these alternatives that keep things fun and manageable:
9-hole scramble: Play as a team where you both hit shots and choose the best one. This takes pressure off them while they learn and lets them see good shots up close.
Par-3 course: Many golf facilities have shorter par-3 courses that are perfect for beginners. Every hole is manageable, and rounds move quickly.
Create your own course: Allow beginners to "break the rules" by playing shorter length holes, utilizing a golf tee on any or all shots, playing a scramble with a partner and playing as few or as many holes as they like.
Target games: Instead of worrying about par, set different targets for each shot. Can they hit the fairway? Can they get within 30 yards of the green? Making it about achievable goals rather than score keeps it fun.
Teach Golf Etiquette Early
Golf etiquette might seem stuffy, but it's actually about respect and safety, two things that make the game more enjoyable for everyone.
Safety first: Teach them to never swing when someone is in front of them, and always yell "fore!" if their ball might hit someone. When someone is hitting, don't move around too much, it's hard to hit a golf shot when people are moving around and making all sorts of noise.
Pace of play: Keep up with the group in front of you, as a beginner golfer, this is probably the most important rule. Show them how to play "ready golf" and keep things moving.
Course care: Teach them to repair divots, fix ball marks on greens, and rake bunkers. Taking care of the course is part of respecting the game.
Basic courtesy: Simple things like staying quiet during others' shots, keeping golf carts on cart paths when required, and being ready when it's their turn to play.
Frame etiquette positively, it's not about stuffy rules, it's about making sure everyone can enjoy their round.
Be Patient, Encouraging, and Keep the Vibes Positive
Your attitude as a teacher will make or break their experience with golf (no pressure, right?).
People learn better if they have a good time. Teachers who come across as impatient, annoyed, or frazzled will not only give their golf buddy a bad experience, but may scare away new golfers from the game for good.
Golf challenges everyone, even people who have been playing for years still chunk shots into bunkers and miss three-foot putts. Every missed shot, every ball that goes sideways, every moment of frustration feels completely normal. Your job involves being their biggest cheerleader, not their harshest critic.
Celebrate small victories. Did they make contact with the ball? That rocks! Did it go straight, even if it was only 30 yards? High five! Did they remember to repair their divot? You are raising a true golfer!
Celebrate Milestones and Progress
Golf serves as a game of incremental improvement, so make sure you acknowledge every step forward, no matter how small.
Set up milestone celebrations: their first ball that goes airborne, their first shot that lands on the green, their first made putt, their first round under 100. These moments deserve recognition (and maybe a victory dance)!
Take photos and videos of their progress. This helps them see their improvement over time and creates memories they will treasure forever.
Consider creating a simple progress chart or journal where you note improvements in different areas, driving, iron play, short game, putting. Seeing their progress on paper can be incredibly motivating.
Celebrate improvement, not just perfect shots. If their slice gets less severe, that counts as progress worth noting. If they make contact more consistently, that qualifies as a win worth celebrating.
Don't Get Too Technical Too Soon
One of the biggest mistakes enthusiastic teachers make involves overwhelming their golf buddy with too much information. Golf stays simple. Ball. Club. Hole. Talking to a child about how to hit a driver versus a wedge gets too complex.
Stick to one or two simple thoughts at a time. "Keep your head down" or "swing smooth" provides plenty for someone who still figures out how to make contact with the ball.
Avoid golf jargon in the beginning. Terms like "pronation," "swing plane," and "clubface angle" might as well be ancient hieroglyphics to someone who just wants to hit the ball forward.
Let them explore. Let them try things that fail spectacularly. If you stay positive and reassuring, most people will keep exploring till they find something that works for them. This natural exploration often leads to better results than forced instruction.
Save the technical stuff for later, when they develop some basic competency and actively ask for more detailed help (and when they can tell a sand wedge from a pitching wedge).
Use Visual and Video Feedback
Sometimes a picture really is worth a thousand words, especially when it comes to golf instruction.
Take videos of their swing from different angles, face-on and down-the-line views can be incredibly helpful. But remember, use these as learning tools, not criticism sessions. Point out what they're doing well before suggesting areas for improvement.
Use alignment sticks or clubs on the ground to show proper setup and swing path. Visual guides often make more sense than verbal instructions.
Show them videos of professional golfers, but focus on tempo and rhythm rather than complex technical elements. Watching smooth, balanced swings can help them develop a better feel for the motion.
Sometimes having them watch their own putting stroke or short game technique can lead to "aha!" moments that hours of instruction couldn't achieve.
Introduce a Pre-Shot Routine
Even beginners benefit from having a consistent approach to each shot. A simple pre-shot routine helps with confidence and consistency.
Keep it simple. Pick a target, take a practice swing, set up to the ball, and swing. Nothing fancy, just a consistent process they can repeat (like a good morning coffee routine, but for golf).
You can spot a good golfer before they even hit the golf ball. Their key fundamentals of posture, grip and stance all look good, and they usually have a very specific order in which they do these things (known as a pre-shot routine) which helps them repeat the process each and every time.
A routine also helps with nerves, having a familiar process gives them something to focus on instead of worrying about whether their ball will end up in the water hazard.
Start building this habit early, even if their swing needs work. The routine will serve them well as they improve.
Invite Friends or Pair With Another Beginner
Golf becomes more fun with friends, and learning alongside someone else can reduce pressure and increase enjoyment.
Consider organizing beginner group lessons or casual rounds with multiple new players. They will realize they are not the only ones struggling, and they can celebrate successes together (misery loves company, but so does golf success).
Pairing with another beginner creates natural camaraderie. They can encourage each other, share laughs over bad shots, and celebrate improvements together.
Many who take up golf later in life will find it challenging to create new motor patterns, especially if they were not active in other sports growing up. Having peer support makes this challenge feel less overwhelming.
If you have friends who are patient, encouraging golfers, invite them along. More positive voices usually equals more fun for everyone (and more people to help look for lost balls).
How to Teach Someone to Golf FAQs
What are the 5 fundamentals of golf?
The five fundamentals of golf are grip, stance, posture, alignment, and ball position. By familiarizing yourself with the fundamentals of grip, stance, posture, and ball positioning, you establish a strong base for success. These building blocks create the foundation for a consistent, effective golf swing.
How do you convince someone to play golf?
Focus on the social aspects, beautiful outdoor settings, and personal challenge rather than the difficulty. Emphasize that golf is a lifelong sport they can enjoy regardless of age or fitness level. The goal should be to make their time on the course as positive, relaxed, and enjoyable as possible so they will be encouraged to keep playing.
What do you say to someone playing golf?
Common encouraging phrases include "nice shot," "great effort," "you're getting the hang of it," and "that looked much better." Focus on positive reinforcement and effort rather than just results. For playing partners, simple phrases like "good luck" before their shot and "nice playing with you" show good sportsmanship and respect.
Turn That Rookie Into Your Favorite Golf Partner
Teaching someone to golf goes beyond swing mechanics or course management, you share your passion for a game that can bring a lifetime of enjoyment. When you focus on fun over frustration, progress over perfection, and encouragement over criticism, you create more than just a golfer, you potentially create a lifelong playing partner.
The most important thing to remember? Golf does not have to be intimidating or overly technical, especially in the beginning. Some of the best golfers in the world started with nothing more than enthusiasm and someone who believed in them.
Keep it fun, keep it simple, and watch as they discover what makes golf such a special sport.
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