The Ages 7–9 program is your child’s first introduction to the game of golf and to the First Tee community. Our goal isn’t to create the next pro golfer. It’s to give kids a safe, encouraging, and active environment where they can explore a new sport, build confidence, make friends, and start developing the character skills that will serve them for life.
What a Typical Session Looks Like
Sessions at this level run 60 minutes and follow a consistent three-part structure so kids always know what to expect.
Golf Fitness Warm-Up (first ~10 minutes) Kids get moving with fun activities that build fundamental movement skills including strength, balance, flexibility, coordination, and object control. It’s active, energetic, and sets the tone for the rest of class.
Games & Activities (bulk of class) The heart of the session. Kids learn and practice golf skills through games, challenges, and team activities — not drills. Golf etiquette, rules, life skills, and character development are all woven into the fun naturally.
Wrap-Up (last 5–10 minutes) Coaches bring the group together with open-ended questions that help kids connect what they learned on the course to real life at home, at school, and beyond.
Golf Skills Your Child Will Build
At this age, the focus is on exploration and fun — not perfection. Kids are introduced to four golf skills: putting, chipping, pitching, and the full swing.
Coaches focus on three core fundamentals that give every child a strong foundation to build on as they advance in the program:
- Get Ready to Swing — proper grip, stance, and aim
- Distance Response — understanding how swing size affects how far the ball travels
- Target Awareness — learning to pick a target and swing toward it
Don’t worry if your child’s swing looks a little uncoordinated at first — that’s completely normal and expected at this age. Coaches are trained to balance encouragement with simple, age-appropriate feedback so every child feels capable and excited to keep learning.
Life Skills & Character Development
Golf is the vehicle — character is the destination. Every lesson is built around one of five Key Commitments that shape how your child thinks, acts, and treats others:
- Pursuing Goals — setting expectations, learning from wins and setbacks, not being afraid to fail
- Growing Through Challenge — building resilience and digging deep when things get tough
- Collaborating with Others — respecting differences, showing kindness, understanding the impact of words and actions
- Building Positive Self-Identity — developing confidence and feeling safe to be themselves
- Using Good Judgment — honesty, integrity, making smart decisions, and respecting the rules on and off the course
What Kids Learn Throughout the Program
- Teamwork & Respect — From day one, kids learn what it means to be a good teammate and a respectful playing partner. They explore how their words and actions affect others, practice taking turns, and discover what it looks and feels like to truly collaborate.
- Responsibility & the Rules — Kids learn that golf is one of the few sports where players keep their own score and call penalties on themselves — a powerful, real-world lesson in honesty and personal responsibility.
- Honesty & Integrity — Through golf scenarios and guided conversations, kids practice making honest choices and understand why integrity matters in the game and beyond.
- Sportsmanship — Kids learn how to win and lose graciously, cheer others on, and keep a good attitude regardless of the score. How you play matters far more than whether you win.
- Self-Confidence — Kids are encouraged to try new things, embrace mistakes as part of learning, and celebrate small wins. Two of the eight sessions are dedicated Play Days on the course, giving kids the chance to put everything together and feel proud of how far they’ve come.
- Decision-Making & Good Judgment — Kids practice making smart choices, from deciding which club to use to navigating rules situations to thinking through how their decisions affect others.
- Goal Setting — Kids are introduced to setting goals, working toward them, and learning from both successes and setbacks.
- Perseverance — The program wraps up with a lesson on not giving up. Kids learn that challenges are opportunities to grow stronger, and that sticking with something difficult is something to be proud of.
Safety First, Always
Every session is structured with clear safety expectations so kids can focus on having fun in a secure environment:
- Coaches use consistent signals so kids always know when to stop, look, and listen
- Designated safety zones keep kids completely separate from hitting areas at all times
- A minimum of 10–12 feet is maintained between each hitting station
- A maximum of 2–3 players per station ensures individual attention
- A clear behavior policy is in place with consistent expectations and fair consequences
- All coaches are trained in Safe Sport policies and chapter incident reporting procedures
