Quick answer
Start with comfortable clothes your child can move in and athletic shoes with good grip. Check the course or lesson's dress code before you go; a collared shirt and non-denim shorts or pants are often useful choices. For an outdoor session, pack sun protection, water, and a layer for the weather.
Check the dress code before you go
A range, public course, private club, and junior tournament can have different clothing rules. Check the facility’s website or call before your first visit.
Comfortable athletic clothes may be fine at your local range. A collared shirt and non-denim shorts, pants, or a skort are useful options for places with a dress code. Choose clothes your child can bend, walk, and swing in.
For the rest of your first visit, read our driving range guide.
The full what-to-wear checklist
- Shirt: Choose something comfortable to swing in. Bring a collared shirt if the facility’s dress code calls for it.
- Shorts, pants, or a skort: Choose a comfortable fabric that lets your child move freely. Check the dress code before choosing denim or gym shorts.
- 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 doesn’t fit. A glove is for comfort and grip feel, not for swing results.
What you can skip
Start with comfortable clothes that meet the facility’s rules, then add sun protection and water. You don’t need a whole new wardrobe for a first outing.
Ready to head out?
Check the dress code, pack water and sun protection, and bring only the clubs the outing calls for. Our first-lesson checklist covers the rest of the bag. For a first course day, try the three-hole plan.
More help: how to choose a kids golf driver · how to play three holes with a beginner child
FAQ
What should kids wear to play golf?
Choose clothes your child can move in and athletic shoes with good grip, then check the facility’s dress code. For outdoor golf, bring sun protection, water, and a layer for the weather.
Can kids wear jeans to golf?
It depends on the facility. Some courses and tournaments don’t allow denim, while others are more relaxed. Check before you go; comfortable non-denim shorts or pants are a useful alternative.
Do kids need golf shoes?
No. Flat sneakers or athletic shoes with a grippy sole are fine for young beginners. Spiked golf shoes are optional and rarely worth buying for a child who will outgrow them quickly, and metal spikes are banned on most courses anyway. Comfort and grip matter more than the type of shoe.
What should a child wear to the driving range?
Comfortable athletic clothes and closed-toe shoes often work well, but check your range’s rules first. For an outdoor visit, bring sun protection, water, and a layer if needed.
Do kids need a golf glove?
A junior golf glove is optional, 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. Think of a glove as comfort and grip feel, not as something that improves a swing.
What should kids wear to golf in hot weather?
Light, breathable clothing, a wide-brim hat, sunglasses, and broad-spectrum sunscreen of at least SPF 15 reapplied about every two hours, as the American Academy of Pediatrics advises. Bring plenty of water and try to play outside the strongest sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. so a young child stays cool and protected.
