Golfing with a 3 year old!

[nelson84]

Is it allowed to go golfing with just my 3 year old on a golf course with no one else in my group? The boy just wants to cruise around in the cart and do a little putting? Or do golf courses frown upon this? Am I taking up a tee time for other golfers? Will they make me pay a penalty?

[RocketSauce]

i dunno. i personally cant stand it when someone brings their kids to the course and they are running around holding up the group (us) behind them. this just happened recently and after 3 holes we finally had to ask if we could play thru, and he agreed. not sure if he would've ever even asked us though. it was a grandfather and 2 little kids holding up our foursome. if you dont hold anybody up though, i wouldnt think it would be a problem? but i dunno for sure.

[microcrayfish]

It's probably best to go when the course is quiet. I know the pro at my course doesn't like letting little kids on the course when it's full because there's so many people around and it can be a bit dangerous if a kid is not paying attention to other people playing.

[TN94z]

It depends on how they behave I guess. I take a 7yr old, but he plays golf with me and doesn't just run around. My cousin brings his little boy who is like 1.5 and he screams and runs around like crazy. My golf course doesn't frown upon it though.

[iacas]

There may be some liability issues (or, at least that's the excuse some courses have used). Check with the course.

I take my six-year-old out. We make sure to not hold up anyone and she'll just play from about 100 yards and in.

[zeg]

I wouldn't take my (almost) 3-year-old on the course. He's just not to the point where you can explain to him how important it is to be quiet, what to do for safety when someone calls "fore" (though given the recent discussion, I guess no one does that any more), etc. If it's really quiet, then maybe, but still, I can't imagine a 3-y-o behaving for that long in a stretch.

[Parker0065]

As long as your not affecting anyone elses play then having a 3 year old ride along and take a couple swing here and there should be no problem!

With my son I let him hit plastic balls around our yard until he was 4. At 4 he started participating in junior clinics and at 6 he was playing 9 holes on select courses that were geared for juniors and seniors. He has been playing regulation courses since age 7.

Just take it slow and get him in a clinic or junior program as soon as possible if he shows interest!


Most impotant thing is Have Fun!!!!!!!!

[Mr3Putt]

I'm thinking 3 is a little young. Maybe you should start him out a pitch and putt type course to see how he handles things. If he's to small to make his way around the course without walking, he's too small to be on a full size course.

[shades9323]

I am sure it is fine. In a couple of weeks, I will be golfing with my brother. He is bringing his 2 year old. He won't swing, he will just drive the cart.

[RCF]

I know of one course that will not allow children under the age of 9 because of insurance regulations.

[David in FL]

We started my Godson and my daughter out at about 4 I guess. Like you said, just riding in the cart and maybe a putt or two. Great time to teach them some etiquette and they love to hold the flag!

They lose interest pretty quickly so something to play with in the cart is a good idea, and certainly no more than 9 holes. As others have said, try to go when the course is quiet and keep moving.

Have fun, but don't expect too much.

[TN94z]

I just read in a book last night that if you are wanting your kids to get into golf, it is better to ease them in. For instance, if you take them to the course, let them hit out of the sand if they want to, let the play in the creek if they want to, let them drive the cart some, etc...and as soon as they get tired, take them home. Don't force them to stay out there just so you can finish 18. This way they get the mental picture of golf being fun and they will want to keep coming back.

[Leftygolfer]

I have a boy who is almost 3. I will not take him this year because of the fact I can not always reason with him. He is a very stubborn boy and doesn't like not getting his way. I know some girls his age would be fine.

Next year I will take him. I will only take him for 9 when the course is slow. If he blows up, we will just go in.

A sidenote: When he was 6-9 months old I took him to play 9 before pushing him in the stroller. I was very careful of others and had to be very aware of others because I didn't want him to get hit with a ball. It was fun till he woke up and was hot. Then we went in.

[TheNatural]

I have 3 kids and wouldnt chance it until they are 5 at the least, and I advise playing a course at off times. Im sure most here would let groups through, but thats not the issue. If a well hit ball can kill an adult on impact of the skull, why would anyone bring children to a course that is crowded?

When I bring the kids, I watch every hole within reach of me to be sure the yahoo's arent hitting errant balls, and god help the SOB that drives into my group on the same hole.

[Slim 11]

I have two sons (7 and 13 now) and i took them once or twice each year to the course with me at an early age. I think they were probably 4 or 5. Usually, I would take them to the range and let them hit to their hearts content but, of course, they wanted to play on a real course with dad.

I've never had a problem, although some courses will charge you full price with them. Most courses will cut you a break. Usually, even now with the 7 year old and sometimes with the 13 year old, I let them hit a tee shot and then they pick up and hit a shot from wherever my ball is. We continue this and I let them putt out.

Be very aware of groups behind you and always let them play through. I have not yet run into an a**hole that gave me grief about having the kids out. Most people are very encouraging and nice about it. But I would get teed off, myself, if I was stuck behind a group with kids.

Expect a very long day playing with the kids. Alot of letting people through and very little concentration on your own game. I never tried to teach them swing fundamentals or anything like that when they were that young. Just tried to explain the rules and the way to behave on teh golf course.

[rjfan91]

I take my two year old daughter when the course is dead. This is usually on Friday/Saturday evenings after 5 p.m. Only one time have I had people approach me and I waited and let them through.

I'm hoping this will be something I can continue. One of my friends can remember going golfing with his dad and friends while riding in the basket or on the back. It's what got him into golf.

Is it allowed to go golfing with just my 3 year old on a golf course with no one else in my group? The boy just wants to cruise around in the cart and do a little putting? Or do golf courses frown upon this? Am I taking up a tee time for other golfers? Will they make me pay a penalty?

[shades9323]

If a well hit ball can kill an adult on impact of the skull, why would anyone bring children to a course that is crowded?

Why not just leave the kids at home in bed all day with helmets on? More kids die in car wrecks than on golf courses. Are you not going to drive your kids anywhere?

[inthecup]

That'd what twilight is made for. I took my young boys out on the "real course" at late twilight many times they loved it. If someone comes up behind you let them through, everyone that ever passed me looked Jealous that I was out with my boys and had no problem with us playing.