Articles
Plain-English explainers on the gear, the rules, the formats and the scoring - everything the game assumes you already know.
Are Cheap Junior Golf Clubs Any Good?
Price is rarely the problem with junior clubs; fit almost always is. A budget set in the right size beats a premium set in the wrong one, every time.
What Is a GolfLink Number, and Does My Child Need One?
A GolfLink number identifies a golfer within the Australian handicap system. Here is what it does, when a junior needs one, and what to confirm with the club.
How Long Does 9 Holes Take With a Child?
Long enough that you should plan the afternoon around it. Here is a realistic guide to timing nine holes with a junior, and how to make it quicker.
Junior Golf Day One: What to Take and What to Leave at Home
A short packing list for a first lesson or first round, and an equally useful list of everything you can safely not buy yet.
When Can My Child Use Adult Golf Clubs?
Height is the first gate, swing speed is the second, and moving up early costs more than it saves. Here is how to judge when a junior is ready for adult clubs.
Birdie, Bogey, Eagle: Golf Score Names Explained
Golf names its scores rather than numbering them. Here is the full ladder, from albatross to double bogey, and what each is worth.
Golf Bag Types Explained: Carry, Stand, Cart and Buggy
Stand bag, cart bag, pencil bag, buggy. Which type suits a junior, and why bag weight matters more than any feature on the list.
Parts of a Golf Club Explained: Head, Hosel, Shaft and Grip
Toe, heel, hosel, ferrule, crown, sole. A plain-English tour of every part of a golf club and why each one matters for a junior.
Lie Angle Explained: The Fitting Detail Most Junior Sets Ignore
Length gets all the attention, but lie angle decides whether a club sits flat at impact - and cut-down adult clubs get it badly wrong.
Match Play Explained: How Hole-by-Hole Golf Works
In match play the total score is irrelevant - each hole is its own contest. Here is how the scoring, the shorthand and the concessions work.
Preferred Lies and 'Winter Rules' Explained
When a club allows preferred lies, you may lift, clean and place your ball - but only in the specified area, and only when it has been announced.
What Is a Provisional Ball, and When Should You Play One?
A provisional ball saves the long walk back when a shot might be lost or out of bounds - but only if you announce it properly first.
Rangefinders and GPS Watches: What the Rules Allow
Distance devices are permitted under the Rules of Golf - but only for distance, and only when the committee has not banned them.
Types of Golf Course Explained: Links, Parkland, Sandbelt and Par-3
Not every golf course plays the same way. Here is what the common Australian course descriptions actually mean, and which types suit a junior best.
Wedges Explained: Pitching, Gap, Sand and Lob
Four wedges, four jobs, and most juniors only need one or two. Here is what each does and which one to add first.
Who Writes the Rules of Golf? The R&A, USGA and Golf Australia
Golf's rules come from two bodies working jointly, but the handicap system, championships and pathways a junior meets in Australia are run locally.
What Is an Ambrose Event? The Australian Team Format Explained
Ambrose is the team scramble format used at Australian club and charity days - and it's often a junior's easiest introduction to playing a full course.
Golf Ball Types Explained: Which Ball Suits a Junior Golfer
Two-piece, three-piece, soft, tour - what the categories mean, and why an expensive ball is usually the wrong choice for a child.
Golf Club Loft Explained: Why Juniors Need More of It
Loft is the angle on the clubface, and it's the single biggest reason a junior set looks different from an adult one.
Parts of a Golf Course Explained: Fairway, Rough, Apron and More
Tee, fairway, rough, bunker, apron, fringe, green - the vocabulary of a golf hole, explained for families new to the game.
Golf Grips Explained: Size, Material and When to Replace Them
The grip is the only part of the club a player touches, and on junior clubs it's the component most often wrong.
What Is a Hybrid Golf Club, and Does a Junior Need One?
Hybrids replaced long irons for most amateurs - and for juniors they're often the easiest club in the bag to hit well.
Penalty Areas and Out of Bounds Explained Simply
Red stakes, yellow stakes, white stakes - what each one means, and what a junior should actually do when their ball finds one.
Putter Types Explained: Blade, Mallet and What Suits a Junior
Putters vary more than any other club in the bag. Here's what the shapes actually do, and what matters when buying for a child.
Golf Shaft Flex Explained: What 'Junior Flex' Actually Means
Shaft flex is how much the shaft bends during the swing. Get it wrong for a child and even a well-fitted club will underperform.
Stableford Scoring Explained for Junior Golfers
Most Australian club competitions are played as Stableford, not stroke play. Here's how the points work and why it's kinder to a beginner.
Golf Handicap Explained Simply for Junior Golfers
A simple explanation of what a golf handicap is, why it matters for junior golfers, and how a young player generally goes about getting one.
How to Clean and Maintain Junior Golf Clubs
Simple, regular habits for keeping junior golf clubs clean, rust-free and performing well, without needing any specialist equipment.
Left-Handed Junior Golfers: Finding the Right Gear
Practical guidance for parents of left-handed junior golfers, from confirming dominant side to sourcing properly fitted left-handed junior clubs.
How to Regrip a Junior Golf Club (and When It's Needed)
How to tell when a junior club needs a new grip, plus a straightforward overview of the regripping process for parents considering doing it themselves.
Understanding Golf Ball Compression for Junior Players
What golf ball compression means in plain terms, and why low-compression balls are generally recommended for junior and beginner golfers.
Do Kids Need Golf Shoes? Sneakers, Spikeless and Spiked Compared
When sneakers are genuinely fine, when they stop being fine, and what to buy when you do move to golf shoes.
How to Choose the Right Junior Golf Glove Size
How junior golf gloves are sized, how to measure your child's hand at home, and why a properly fitted glove makes a real difference to grip.
Graphite vs Steel Shafts: Which Is Better for Junior Golfers?
A straightforward comparison of graphite and steel shafts for junior clubs, and why graphite is generally the better starting point for young golfers.
Junior Golf Glossary: Key Terms Every Golf Parent Should Know
The golf terms a parent will hear at a junior event, in a pro shop or from a coach - defined in plain English.
Australia's State Junior Golf Pathways, Explained
How Australian junior golf is organised from first swing to representative golf, and what each step actually involves.
TeeMates and Youth on Course: Affordable Ways for Kids to Play Golf in Australia
Two Golf Australia-backed programs aimed squarely at the cost barrier - what each one is, and where to check the current details.
MyGolf: Australia's National Junior Golf Program Explained
What MyGolf is, who runs it, who it is for, and what to ask before signing a child up for Australia's national junior introductory program.