Introducing your son or daughter to golf is a tricky business. Unlike baseball, which has t-ball, or minor recreational hockey, golf doesn’t have a set age when your child should start playing. Although the putting greens in our stores are a popular spot for little ones to first pick up a club, some great golfers haven’t started until they were almost in their teens. While there’s no set guidelines on how to introduce your child to golf, here are a few things you should consider.

Fun

The key to starting a lifelong passion for golf is to allow your child to experience the joys the game brings. We all know golf is a tough game, but taking a kid to a golf range and letting them experiment is a great way to get them hooked. Kids love driving ranges, especially since there’s little concern about results. It is just about staying safe (like not running 25 feet ahead to pick up a ball) and swinging away. Occasionally they’ll wallop one and that will get them coming back. That said, don’t push it. If you keep your child hitting balls too long, they’ll likely grow to dislike it. Instead, recognize when they want to shut it down and do something else—like play in a bunker or on the putting green.

Fundamentals

Even though the game is fun, learning the basics—the grip, stance, and some of the game’s rules—is a great way to start. Golf is an honourable sport that teaches hard work and integrity, and those are great basics for any child to learn. By pointing out a few elements of the game they’ll become ingrained habits for your children.

Gear

Once upon a time, young golfers simply got hand-me down clubs that were often adult clubs that were cut down and proved very difficult for a child. Now with the propensity of junior package sets that are fit based on height, your golfer will have clubs that are made specifically for their age group.

Developing their skills—Instructors and competitive golf

A lot of children—and adults for that matter—will never play competitive golf, instead enjoying the social aspect of the game and the ability to escape to the outdoors for four hours. However, if your child has progressed to the point where you’d like to have some structure, there are a number of leagues where they can play with golfers of similar ages and abilities. That’s how Brooke Henderson learned the game, and while your youngster may never play on the LPGA Tour, he or she can grow to love a sport they can play for decades.