Mini Golf Tips With Young Children

Entertainment Blog

Mini-golf can be a great family activity that provides a few hours of enjoyment. You can even play the game successfully with younger, school-age kids, although they likely won't have the skills or competitive spirit of older children. The following tips can help you enjoy a better mini-golf outing with your younger children.

Tip #1: Eat first

Even slight hunger can lead to grumpiness and outbursts, especially with the younger age set. A game of mini-golf is best enjoyed in the early afternoon, following lunch, or late afternoon after a filling snack. You can choose a mini golf course with an attached snack bar or restaurant, or you can eat before you go. Some courses provide picnic tables on the grounds, which means you can pack your own lunch and make a day of it. If you eat beforehand, keep a non-messy snack in your bag, too. This way you are prepared if hunger strikes while you are in the middle of a game.

Tip #2: Be wise with your time

Timing your first visit is everything. The clubs and game itself will likely be a bit unfamiliar to your kids at first, so they will need time to practice and get the hang of it. This isn't possible if you are on a crowded course. Call ahead and ask the course when their slowest times are, and plan your game accordingly. Generally, you want to avoid school holidays and weekends. If there are other players on the course, get in the habit of stepping aside and allowing them to play through, since they will likely be moving faster than your crew.

Tip #3: Loosen expectations

Younger kids may not be willing or able to follow all the expectations of a competitive mini golf game. For example, many courses color code their clubs by size. If your child is very upset that they can't have their favorite color because it isn't the right size, then fudge the rules a bit and let them use a slightly too big or too small club. This is a small concern and not one worth ruining the day over. They may also be unable to master the starting swing to get the ball further down the course. Giving them a "handicap," where they start further down each green, may help them feel a part of the competitive game.

Tip #4: It's okay to quit

Depending on how young your child is, they may not be able to play all 18 holes. Instead of chancing a melt down on the course, accept beforehand that it is okay to quit. A good course of action is to quit one hole after the child wants to stop. For example, if they want to stop playing at hole 10, tell them that you will play through hole 11. Sometimes it is a specific hole that is frustrating for your child, so moving on to the next hole may pique their interest again. By the same token, if you notice a specific hole is frustrating your child, quit that hole and move on before they have the urge to quit the game completely.

Contact a mini golf course like Bonanza Golf and Gifts to plan your next family fun day.

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