Junior golf in the UK: clubs, lessons and competitions

Looking for junior golf lessons, a welcoming club or a first competition in the UK? Start with the kind of experience your child wants. A beginner group and a full tournament can both be called “junior golf”, but they ask very different things of a new player.

This is a curated set of starting points, not a complete list of clubs or an endorsement of an individual provider. Follow the official links for current venues, availability, costs and entry conditions. Republic of Ireland events are outside the UK, even when a provider operates across both.

Find a club or introductory programme

• England: use England Golf's club and activity finder, then ask the club about junior groups and its route onto the course.
• Scotland: Scottish Golf's junior programme information explains options including skills and shorter formats.
• Wales: Wales Golf's New2Golf information is a starting point for introductory club opportunities. Check which sessions suit juniors.
• Northern Ireland: Golf Ireland's junior information supports clubs across the island. Ask for a Northern Ireland club or programme when searching locally.

Explore a shorter team format

GolfSixes League gives juniors a team-based route into on-course play through participating clubs. Contact the local junior organiser about eligibility, sessions and how teams are selected. You do not need to treat a national calendar as your child's starting point.

Junior Hubs provide another route to clubs developing junior participation. Use the programme to identify possibilities, then visit and ask questions about the actual experience.

Find junior competitions

• PING Junior Golf Tour publishes its event and division information. Read the appropriate category and conditions before entering.
• Wee Wonders is a further junior competition route with regional events.
• British Junior Golf Tour's BlueGolf calendar provides event information and host venues.
• Stephen Gallacher Foundation and Paul Lawrie Foundation offer further starting points for junior golf in Scotland.
• Golf Opens' junior listings can help identify club-hosted events. Confirm the details with the organiser.

County unions, girls associations and your own club may offer a less daunting first step than a national tour. Ask the coach which local events match the child's experience. Our first-event checklist helps you compare what is involved.

Questions to ask before booking lessons

1. Is this group suitable for a complete beginner of this age?
2. What equipment can we borrow, and what is the full cost?
3. Who leads the group, and who is the welfare contact?
4. Does a parent need to stay, and where should they wait?
5. How do children move from lessons to a short course or the main course?
6. Are rules and etiquette explained through practical activities?

Ask your child what they enjoyed after the first visit before committing to a long block or buying a full set of equipment. Read our guide to choosing a junior golf club for a more detailed comparison.

Practise the rules between visits

You do not need a course to discuss a rules situation. Start with our junior rules guide or print the ten-question worksheet. The R&A's education pages are the authoritative next stop for further rules learning.