Off-Season Training Ideas for Junior Golfers

Golf doesn't have a true off-season in most of Australia, but competition calendars do quieten down - here's how to use that time well.

Australia's mild climate means golf rarely has a true off-season the way it does in colder countries, but junior competition calendars do have quieter stretches. That downtime is a genuinely good opportunity to work on things that are hard to prioritise during a busy competition run.

Fundamentals Over Competition Prep

Quieter periods are a good time to go back to basics with a coach - grip, stance, and setup fundamentals that are easy to neglect when the focus shifts to scoring well in upcoming events. Small technical adjustments are often easier to make without the pressure of an imminent competition.

Short Game and Putting Focus

Since short game and putting improvements tend to show up in scores faster than full-swing changes, a quieter period is a good time to shift practice ratio heavily toward chipping, pitching and putting rather than the driving range.

Cross-Training and General Athleticism

Other sports and general physical activity - swimming, athletics, cycling - build coordination, strength and conditioning that carry over into golf, and a bit of variety helps prevent overuse and burnout from a single repetitive movement pattern.

Our guide on balancing golf with other sports looks at this in more depth.

Course Strategy Over Mechanics

With less pressure to perform, quieter periods are also a good time to play casual rounds focused purely on course management and decision-making - club selection, course strategy, and mental game - rather than swing mechanics.

Should my child take a complete break from golf during quiet periods?

A short, deliberate break can be genuinely valuable for motivation and avoiding burnout, especially after a long competition stretch - it doesn't need to be constant, structured training all year round to keep progressing.