Best Golf Practice Schedule for Juniors (Expert Advice From a Golf Professional)

As a golf professional who has played the game for over 21 years and works in the industry, I have experienced golf from several levels—junior golf, amateur golf, and playing at the professional level. If there’s one thing I know for sure, golfers who are fortunate enough to begin playing the game at a young age have the advantage of time. However, the proper golf practice schedule for juniors is essential to prevent wasting time and gaining an edge.

Before diving into the practice schedule, there are a few things parents, coaches, and supporters of junior golfers should know, all of which I’ve outlined below.

Keep it Fun

Since I believe in keeping golf fun for juniors and all golfers, it should be the first point of discussion.

Regardless of how much talent a golfer has and their skill level, their game and interest will suffer when the enjoyment of the game is gone. In terms of junior golfers, they will likely quit and never return to golf, or at least drastically reduce their practice and playing time if they are no longer having fun. Notice that the practice schedule I created below is based mainly on having fun, as it is the most important factor for encouraging and teaching a junior golfer.

Playing vs. Practicing

Whether a golfer should spend most of their time on the golf course or the practice tee is widely discussed in the golf community. Some golf professionals are keen on practice time, while others believe in a mixture of both playing and practicing golf; however, both groups agree that practicing golf is different than playing golf. When we play golf, we do so with the understanding that we’re there to shoot the best score we’re capable of that day, not to work on our swing or game, in general—easier said than done for most golfers, including myself.

Although it goes against the standard blueprint for improving at golf the quickest, junior golfers need to play golf more than they practice. When I think back to my junior golf days, I remember how much I enjoyed being on the golf course, and even though I liked hitting range balls, nothing beat the process of attempting the course and shooting a good score.

Playing golf vs. practicing golf goes back to having fun with the game. Not all, but most junior golfers have more fun playing golf, which is why it is pivotal for parents and coaches to encourage them to spend plenty of time on the golf course. However, this is not to say that practicing should be ignored entirely—practicing leads to improvement much faster than playing alone—only that playing golf should take precedence over practicing for most junior golfers.

Junior Golf Practice Schedule

Now to the meat and potatoes of this article: a junior golfer practice schedule. Notice that I included having fun and the importance of playing golf in the routine. The plan is designed with one day of practice in mind, as it will be easier to incorporate into your and your junior’s life than a weekly golf practice schedule. However, here is some friendly advice: air on the side of encouraging your junior to take the necessary time away from golf, as nothing keeps the gears turning and the passion going more than time away to miss the game.

Please keep in mind that this is just an outline and suggestion. Perhaps you will find that your junior golfer’s schedule does not allow for the time needed for this routine or that they enjoy practicing more than playing golf (it certainly happens); however, let it be your guide to leading them to better golf.

Driving Range 

Wedge shots – 10 minutes (Make a game out of hitting targets)

Driver – 10 to 15 minutes (Pick two objects in the distance and create a fairway)

Different clubs and shots – 5 to 10 minutes (Take turns hitting various shots with your junior)

Short Game 

Pitch / Chip shots – 15 minutes (Hit different targets and keep score for fun)

Bunker shots – 10 minutes (Same game as pitch/chip shots)

Shots from bad lies – 5 to 10 minutes (Same game as above)

Putting 

*Use the practice green like a golf course and hit putts from different distances playing 9 or 18 holes.

Inside 7 feet – 10 minutes

Long / Lag putts – 10 minutes

Random distance – 5 minutes

Play nine holes if there is time; if not, then make sure the next time you and your junior return to the course, you only warm up and play golf. Keep it fun.

Progressing in the Game

As s young golfer goes forward, it’s crucial for them to get involved in a good junior golf program and play in a tournament or two if they’re interested. When any player, especially a junior player, takes up the game, outside of having fun and enjoying the improvement process, they should get involved in the social side of golf to meet other like-minded people and further develop their golf game.

Golf Instruction

Besides playing in junior golf tournaments and participating in a good junior golf program, receiving instruction from a knowledgeable teaching professional is vital for learning the golf swing and developing as a golfer. Remember, a practice session is only beneficial to a player if they are practicing the correct movement of the swing and working on other key aspects correctly, such as short game and course management, regardless of age. Remember that although receiving a golf lesson is essential, a good instructor will limit their coaching, allowing students enough time to practice what they have learned before moving forward.

Fitted Golf Clubs

Lastly, purchasing clubs that fit, especially for junior golfers, is essential. The good news is that purchasing good clubs is relatively inexpensive for young junior golfers, generally under 12 or 13. Only later, once a junior grows, and their swing speed increases, is it important to get clubs that are more tailored to them. As their golf skill increases, club fitting becomes even more critical as they age.

Keep in mind, even if going to the golf course or driving range is not always an option, it is perfectly acceptable to practice golf from home. In fact, some of my best practice sessions and breakthrough moments while building my golf swing came when I was working on my game at home.

For more information on practicing golf at home and the best way to get started, check out my article for the nine best tips and strategies for practicing your golf game from the comfort of home.