What Should Kids Wear to Play Golf?

First question: where are you going?

What your child should wear depends almost entirely on the place. A public driving range is the easy case. Comfortable athletic clothes and closed-toe shoes are usually all anyone expects, so you can treat a first range trip like an afternoon at the park. For everything else about that first visit, see how to take a kid to the driving range.

A golf course or a junior tournament is stricter. U.S. Kids Golf, which runs youth tournaments, asks players to wear a collared shirt tucked in and a hat with the brim forward, and it does not allow denim, t-shirts, tank tops, cut-off or gym shorts, or shoes with metal spikes. Private clubs can be stricter still, while public courses are often more relaxed. The safest move before a first round is a quick phone call to ask what that course expects.

The full what-to-wear checklist

• Shirt: a collared polo is the safe choice anywhere. At a relaxed range a clean athletic shirt is fine, but leave t-shirts and tank tops at home if you are heading to a course.
• Bottoms: non-denim shorts, pants, or a skort in a stretchy, breathable fabric so your child can make a full turn. Skip jeans, gym shorts, and cut-offs on course days.
• Shoes: flat sneakers or athletic shoes with a grippy sole are perfect for young kids. Spiked golf shoes are optional and rarely worth it for a beginner who will outgrow them in a season, and metal spikes are not allowed on most courses anyway.
• Hat and sunscreen: the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a hat with a wide brim to shade the face, ears, and neck, plus broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 15 applied before you go and reapplied about every two hours.
• Sunglasses: kid sunglasses with at least 99 percent UV protection, which the AAP recommends for time outdoors.
• Water and weather: bring water, and try to keep longer sessions outside the strongest sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Add a light layer or rain jacket if the forecast calls for it.
• A glove (optional): a junior golf glove is not required. It mainly helps a child hold the club comfortably and can prevent a sore spot on a longer session. U.S. Kids Golf sizes junior gloves by finger length, so try a couple if the first one does not fit. A glove is for comfort and grip feel, not for swing results.

What you can skip

It is easy to overbuy for a first outing. You do not need a full golf wardrobe, spiked shoes, or matching gear to start. Youth golf groups like First Tee and the PGA both stress that the first goal for a young child is fun and easy participation, not looking the part. Dress your child the way you would for any active afternoon outdoors, add sun protection, and save your budget for the one thing that actually changes how the day goes. For the gear, water, and snacks to pack rather than wear, see what kids should bring to a first golf lesson.

The gear that matters more than the outfit

Here is the honest part. Comfortable clothes keep a child from getting distracted by heat, a sunburn, or a sore hand, and that is worth getting right. But the fastest way to lose a young beginner is not the wrong shirt. It is a club they cannot swing. A heavy adult club cut down to size, or a junior driver bought too long so the child can grow into it, turns every swing into a struggle, and the fun drains out fast.

That is the problem we built the Little Links Big Swing Kids Golf Driver to solve. It is an oversized kids driver that comes in three ranges by age and height, so you can size it to the child in front of you: ages 2 to 6 up to 45 inches, ages 6 to 9 from 45 to 54 inches, and ages 10 and up from 55 inches, in right or left handed versions. The red driver is on pre-order now, pink clubs are not part of this pre-order, and each one comes with two oversized foam golf balls, two oversized plastic golf balls, and four Play Anywhere Tees, expected to ship June 15, 2026. For how to pick the right size step by step, see how to choose a kids golf driver. When your child is dressed, holding a club that fits, and ready for a real round, here is how to play three holes with a beginner child. More first-swing guides live in The Clubhouse.