A Guide to Junior Golf Coaching Sessions

By How to Read Greens Like a Local Professional
Comments 35
6 Jul 2026

Why structured coaching beats a casual knockabout

Most juniors who fall in love with golf do so in a group session, not on a full round with an adult. A structured coaching programme gives a young player a clear framework: a warm-up, a skill focus, a game, and a finish. That rhythm matters, especially for children under ten, who settle quickly when they know what is coming next.

Across Kent, junior academies typically run in blocks of six to eight weeks, meeting on Saturday mornings or after school on the county's parkland, downland and coastal courses. Sessions usually last 45 minutes for five to seven year olds, an hour for eight to eleven year olds, and up to 90 minutes for teenagers working on course management. A good coach will keep the group to around six or eight players, with a second coach or assistant on hand when numbers creep up.

The other advantage is safeguarding and safety. Coaches working with juniors should hold an enhanced DBS check and a recognised coaching qualification, and clubs should be able to show you their junior policy on request. That structure protects children and gives parents confidence.

What actually happens in a session

A well-planned hour rarely feels like a lesson. It feels like play with a purpose. A typical session might include:

Warm-up and movement — throwing, hopping, balance drills and gentle swings to loosen up and build athleticism.
Skills stations — chipping into a hula hoop, putting along a chalk line, or hitting foam balls at a target to work on strike and direction.
A coached technical point — one simple idea only, such as grip, posture or keeping the head still through impact.
A game to finish — nearest the pin, a scramble, or a points challenge that rewards effort as much as outcome.

For the youngest children, coaches often use adapted equipment: oversized clubs, lighter balls and shorter targets. Tri-golf and similar formats let five and six year olds chip and putt safely indoors or on a practice green without the pressure of full-length holes. As players grow, sessions move onto the course itself, often playing three or four holes from forward tees to keep the pace sensible and the mood positive.

Learning the game in Kent's varied conditions

Kent is a gift for junior development because the ground varies so much. The chalk downland of the North Downs drains fast and rewards a low, running shot. The heavy clay in parts of the Weald punishes a mishit and teaches a young player to strike the ball cleanly. Along the coast, links turf is firm and windy, which is brilliant for teaching creativity and low ball flight, though it can be brutal on a cold February morning.

Coaches use these conditions deliberately. A winter session on a windy links might focus on keeping the ball down and judging the bounce. A summer session on parkland might work on shaping shots around trees. Juniors who learn to adapt early become far more versatile players later. When the weather turns, most Kent clubs move to covered bays, mats, putting greens and indoor nets, so the programme rarely stops completely.

Friendships and the social side of junior golf

One of the quietest benefits of group coaching is what happens between shots. Children chat, cheer each other on, and learn to shake hands after a game. That social layer keeps them coming back through the awkward middle years when many quit sport entirely.

Many Kent clubs build on coaching with junior roll-ups, nine-hole socials, and a junior committee that lets older players help run events. Being trusted to score for a younger group, or to lead a warm-up, gives a fourteen year old a real sense of belonging. Parents often notice the change at home too: more patience, better manners, and a willingness to keep going when something is difficult.

Introducing competition gently

Competition should arrive slowly and always with a safety net. Start with internal challenges inside the coaching group, then move to nine-hole stableford events where every player scores something. Only after that should a junior consider county-level or open competitions.

Good coaches prepare children for the emotional side, not just the technical one. They teach a routine for a bad shot, how to keep a scorecard without panic, and how to congratulate an opponent who holes a long putt. Rules and etiquette come in naturally: repairing a pitch mark, letting a faster group through, standing still while someone else plays. These habits last a lifetime and make juniors welcome at any club.

How parents can help between sessions

You do not need to be a golfer to support a junior. Keep practice short and fun, ten or fifteen minutes of putting on a carpet or chipping in the garden is plenty. Make sure they have comfortable shoes, layers they can peel off, and a drink. Ask about their favourite shot from the session rather than their score, and let the coach handle the technical detail.

Finally, be patient with the pace of progress. Some weeks a child will seem to go backwards, then suddenly a skill clicks. Book a block of sessions, turn up consistently, and let the friendships and the fresh air do the rest. In Kent, with its courses, coaches and junior communities, there has rarely been a better time for a young player to start.

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5 Comments

Robert Sonny says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am

I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
Reply
- John Abraham says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am
  
  I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
  Reply
  - Robert Sonnysays Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am
    
    I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
    Reply
Robert Sonny says Jul 21, 2024 at 10:00am

I must explain to you how all this mistaken idea of denouncing pleasure and praising pain was born and I will give you a complete account of the system
Reply

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