Golf is an underrated sport for the whole family to enjoy together! When you think of playing sports with your kids, most of the time you think of tossing a football or baseball. But golf has some particular advantages over other sports.
Your kids get to enjoy physical exercise in a beautiful, natural location, while building up their critical thinking skills and working on hand-eye coordination. No other sport offers quite as many benefits as golf does, and it’s a bonus that it’s low-impact and has a low chance of injury.
Do golf courses allow electric scooters? Check out these top kid-friendly golf courses to visit next year when you’re looking for something fun, physical, and mentally-stimulating to do as a family!
Pinehurst, North Carolina
At Pinehurst Golf Course, kids aged 12 or younger can golf for free in the summer months, as long as they’re joining an adult who’s paid for their round. Ideal for families who have multiple kids 12 and under!
You most likely won’t be able to play Pinehurst Course #2, but all their other courses offer closer tees for kids and beginners. Pinehurst #1 is a stunning course, and an excellent one to play with your kids to cultivate that sense of awe that beautiful golf courses inspire!
Kids Golf Championships are held at Pinehurst in August, and you can also have your child tutored by a US Kids Golf Top 50 instructor if they want to take their game further!
Kiawah Island, South Carolina
One of the most spectacular golf resorts you’ll find. It’s absolutely worth boosting your kids’ love of golf at this lovely resort. Their 5 golf courses are open to the public, so it’s a superb option to keep in mind when choosing a spot for a round with the whole family, husband or wife and kids included.
Kids under the age of 17 can join a paying adult on the Osprey, Oak Point, Turtle, or Cougar courses. They must tee off from the family tees, which are suited to golfers of all skill levels and will give your kids the best chance of having a great round.
Kissing Tree, Texas
This pretty golf course can be played on by kids 15 years old and younger when they’re accompanying a paying adult after 3 pm. That means if you’re traveling from a little way away to play this course, you may want to stay the night so you can truly enjoy your round without rushing through it. A complimentary golf lesson and Callaway rental clubs are also included.
The club is an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, so it’s extremely beautiful as well as a great play. Take note that it’s got quite a bit of elevation change across the course, although it’s quite beginner-friendly and has multiple drivable par-4s that make for great kid-friendly holes.
Baytree National Golf Links, Florida
Baytree Links is a great option for your kids to get into the links aspect of the game. You can take kids of 16 years and younger along for a free round with a paying adult every day of the week, but can only play from 11 am onwards on weekends.
Five sets of tees make the course easy for newer golfers but still offer a challenge for those who are more advanced. There are plenty of water hazards throughout, as the course winds through wetlands and red shale waste areas.
Potomac Shores, Virginia
This course is a stunning woodland course that’s very worthwhile spending some family time on. You can take kids under the age of 15 along with a paying adult after 3pm, which might limit your chances if you live far away, but we still highly recommend playing it!
Beautiful trees make it feel like you’re far away from the city. There are also quite a lot of elevation changes on his course, which makes for some exciting holes! Although it is kid-friendly, it might be a better choice for youngsters who have some experience and are up for the challenge!
Pronghorn Golf Club, Oregon
The Nicklaus course at the Pronghorn Golf Club is spectacular, both in terms of the golf and the scenery. With a back nine carved out of volcanic rock, it features canyons, fascinating lava formations, and juniper trees throughout the course.
You can take 15-and-younger kids along with a paying adult after 3 pm. It’s important to note that this one may also be more suitable for kids who have a bit more experience and a higher level of confidence in their golfing abilities!
The Golf Club at Mansion Ridge, New York
Like many others, this New York golf club allows children 15 and under to join a paying adult on the course after 3 pm every day. The course is long and not for the faint of heart but features multiple tees for players of all levels to get off to the best start.
The first five holes of the course are the easiest, but don’t let that lull you into a false sense of security! From the 6th onward is a much more substantial challenge, so it might be worthwhile to get in a good few practice sessions with the kids before taking on this course!
Scott Lake, Michigan
Kids’ time on this course is limited, as under-17s are only allowed to play free with a paying adult after 4 pm on weekends. You’ll also need to pay extra for carts, so keep that in mind when choosing to play here.
However, it’s a great choice and offers 3 unique nines plus a short, 6-hole course. And of course, an extensive practice area, which is very worthwhile spending time on with your kids to get them up to speed with their game!
This course also has a full roster of events that are open to the public, so if your kid is getting serious about their game, it might be worth entering a few.
About the Author
Jordan Fuller is a retired golfer and businessman. When he’s not on the course working on his own game or mentoring others, he’s researching and writing value-packed articles for his website, Golf Influence.