I have played a lot of sports in my life, but one of my favorites these days is golf. Not only is it a lifelong sport, but it gets you outside, provides a great social outlet, and gives you plenty of opportunities to practice patience (and who doesn’t need more of that?!). It’s also one of the only sports where your age and skill level don’t have to match your playing partners’ — making it a natural way for families to connect. And although golf has a reputation for being expensive and exclusive, there are programs and courses that allow kids to learn and play at lower rates and with borrowed equipment. Here are a few local options:
The First Tee Program is a great place to start. First Tee offers clinics and camps for kids ages 4 and up across multiple locations — the City Park and Green Valley Ranch locations are closest to Central Park — and kids can borrow clubs, so you don’t have to invest in equipment upfront. First Tee teaches not just the mechanics of a golf swing, but also the rules of the game, course etiquette, and life lessons such as honesty, humility, resilience, respect, and integrity. Registration for spring and summer classes is open and often fills fast ($175 for a 6-week course) — SIGN UP HERE
Play City Municipal Courses FREE – Denver Parks & Recreation maintains the local public courses that are less expensive than private courses. Green Valley Ranch and Common Ground have kid-friendly driving ranges, and offer par-3 courses free for kids. he following city courses have 3 and 4-hole junior courses kids can play for free:
- City Park
- Willis Case (called Katie’s Junior Course)
- Overland
- Wellshire (called Hogan’s Alley Junior Course)
The Youth on Course Program is also worth checking out — members can play at courses around the country for just $5, with 44 locations in Colorado. Kids under 19 are eligible for a $50 membership; see the website for more details. There are also additional Youth on Course programs: DRIVE Club, Careers on Course, Leadership Council and College Scholarships, plus an Alumni Network for ages 19-and-up, with the goal of connecting players and even helping them find jobs.
Junior Leagues – Most golf instructors will tell you not to keep score in the beginning — just get kids comfortable on the course and focus on having fun while learning. If your kid really takes to it and wants to pursue competition, PGA Junior League offers a low-stress introduction to competitive play for all skill levels.
Personally, I’d love to see more kids on the course — especially girls. Making sure I learned how to play golf when I was young was one of the most quietly valuable things my parents did for me. I may not be a scratch golfer, but I’m comfortable on the course, and that confidence alone has opened more doors than I expected: client rounds, colleague outings, charity tournaments, and a ladies’ league that has become one of my favorite social anchors over the years.
Golf Fundraiser – I hope you’ll join us for the 8th Annual Nighthawk Community Golf Tournament on May 2nd, 2026 — a fun, community event with great prizes, and proceeds benefiting Northfield’s Arts, Athletic, and Academic programs through the Northfield Nighthawk Foundation. Please consider donating, and/or sign up and come play!
