Fun and Engaging Games for Developing Junior Golfers’ Short-Game Skills

Written by Brendon Elliot

Making practice fun and engaging is crucial when developing the short-game skills of junior golfers. Kids don’t often respond to the traditional methods of repetitive drills; instead, they thrive on games that challenge their skills while keeping their interest piqued. Through my nearly three decades in the golf business, first as a course operator and now as a coach, I’ve honed in on some of the best games to help juniors practice their putting and chipping.

Putting Games

1. Putt Putt Ladder

The Putt Putt Ladder is a fantastic game for juniors. Set up five markers in a straight line on the green, each progressively further from the hole. The aim is to sink a putt from each marker in sequence. Start with the closest marker and work your way back. If your junior golfer misses a putt, they must start over from the first marker.

Why it works: This game promotes consistency and persistence, two essential traits in golf. The repeated effort also helps juniors develop and refine their putting stroke.

2. Around the World

For this game, place six to eight tees in a circle around a hole, each about three feet away. The goal is to sink a putt from each tee, moving around the “world” in sequence. If a putt is missed, your junior has to start the circle again from the beginning.

Why it’s effective: Around the World encourages the practice of putts from multiple angles, which is crucial as it simulates different putts kids might face on the green. It also helps build a pressure tolerance as your junior works through the sequence.

3. Team Putting Challenge

This involves pairing up juniors and having them compete against each other in teams. Each team gets a different hole on the practice green and a specific sequence of spots to putt from. The team that finishes their sequence with the fewest total strokes wins.

Why it’s beneficial: This game introduces a competitive element that can drive juniors to focus more on their technique. The camaraderie of being on a team also makes practice more enjoyable and sociable.

Chipping Games

1. Chipping Tic-Tac-Toe

Using tape or markers, create a large tic-tac-toe board on the green. Juniors then take turns chipping golf balls into the squares, trying to form a line of three to win, just like in the classic tic-tac-toe game.

Why it’s effective: Chipping Tic-Tac-Toe fosters a sense of precision and control. It also encourages strategic thinking as players aim for specific squares on the board.

2. Target Practice

Set up different targets on the practice green, such as hula hoops or towels, at varying distances. The juniors aim to chip the ball into these targets, earning points based on the difficulty of the target they successfully hit.

Why it works: This game helps juniors learn to gauge distance and apply the right amount of force to their chips. The point system also adds a competitive edge that keeps things interesting.

3. Up-and-Down Challenge

Choose a spot off the green where your juniors will chip from, and select a hole for them to go for. The aim is for them to get the golf ball into the hole in two shots — one chip and one putt. Keep track of the number of successful “up-and-downs” each junior completes.

Why it’s useful: The Up-and-Down Challenge simulates real game scenarios, teaching juniors the importance of recovering from missed greens and helping them understand the interplay between chipping and putting.

Summing it All Up

Incorporating these games into practice sessions can significantly enhance the effectiveness of junior golf training. They blend the necessary repetition with the fun and engagement that keeps young golfers coming back. By focusing on games like Putt Putt Ladder, Around the World, Team Putting Challenge, Chipping Tic-Tac-Toe, Target Practice, and the Up-and-Down Challenge, we can help juniors improve their golf skills while fostering a lifelong love for the game.