Youth Inc. Recommends: Five Resources to Help You Motivate Your Young Golfer

Sometimes it feels like your kid loves golf… until it’s time to practice. Or maybe they’re talented but just don’t seem interested. Whether you’re a coach, parent, or both, figuring out how to motivate a young golfer can be tricky — especially when pressure backfires and bribery falls flat. 

These five resources offer smart, sensitive ways to tap into intrinsic motivation — the kind that lasts. From fun-first philosophies to performance psychology tips, they’ll help you spark your child’s love for the game (and keep it burning through the ups and downs). 

Six Ways to Motivate Your Child (In Golf and Beyond)

What it is: A practical, parent-friendly guide from First Tee Central Florida offering six motivation tips rooted in values like patience, support, and letting kids lead the way. 

Why we like it: This isn’t just about golf — it’s about parenting with perspective. These tips prioritize long-term love for the game over short-term results, which is exactly the mindset junior golfers need.

A Parent’s Guide to Encouraging a Junior Golfer

What it is: A resource from Operation 36 with five key coaching behaviors parents can adopt — from playing with your child to celebrating effort instead of just scores. 

Why we like it: It puts parents in the passenger seat, not the driver’s seat. These suggestions help create a positive golf environment that makes kids want to show up and try — without fear of failure.

10 Tips to Help Your Child Get Into Golf

What it is: A UK-based blog post for parents of new junior golfers, covering everything from gear and lessons to choosing the right coach and making golf feel social.

Why we like it: It’s a great one-stop intro for parents who are new to the world of junior golf. The tone is approachable and the suggestions are highly practical for both motivating and easing your child into the sport.

How to Motivate Children to Practice Golf

What it is: An episode from the Raising Golfers podcast, featuring coaching insights on how to inspire consistency in practice without overloading or pressuring kids. 

Why we like it: It’s all about sustainability. The focus here is on helping kids want to practice by making it fun, varied, and rewarding — not something they dread.

Motivating Kids in Sports: Mindset Tools for Parents

What it is: A breakdown of motivation styles and mindset techniques from a performance coach focused on youth sports psychology. 

Why we like it: It goes deeper than most parenting articles by explaining why certain tactics backfire — and how to adjust your approach based on your child’s temperament. A great mindset primer for parents who want to get it right.