Golf courses for kids

Golf is a club and ball sport which involves using a club to hit small hard balls into a series of holes on varied courses in as few strokes as possible. Although there is some historic reference to similar games in the time of the Romans and China between the 8th and 14th centuries, the modern form of golf originated in Scotland in the 15th Century.

Golf has long been the subject of debate around whether it is a sport or just a game, after being included in the Olympic Games back at the start of the 20th Century and then excluded for 112 years until Brazil’s Olympic Games in 2016. Although not requiring cardio fitness, golf is now widely considered a sport since it is highly competitive, requires mental capacity, physical exertion and muscle use.

Professional Asian player performance is tied to the increase in popularity across the region. Although golf has long been popular in Japan and SE Asia as a way of building business connections, golf is increasingly popular in China, Singapore, India, and South Korea thanks to players such as Shanshan Feng, Andy Zhang, Yani Tseng, Anirban Lahiri,Yang Yong-eun, and Na Yeon Choi.

A child can begin learning mini-golf or playing golf simulation games as young as 2-3 years of age, but a child won’t typically develop technique and a passion for the game until they are at least 6 years old which is the age when many golf clubs start providing group lessons that are fun and engaging while teaching the basics of holding the club, swinging, chipping and putting.

The benefits of golf for children include

• enhancing gross motor development and motor planning
• improving problem solving skills given the consideration of timing, speed, angles
• building confidence, having fun and reducing stress
• aiding hand-eye co-ordination
• strengthening the spine and core muscles
• enhancing social skills and fostering family bonding