Golf teaches what textbooks can’t.

At a tournament, children spend several hours on the course in the same group as players they have never met. As they move up from regional events to national and overseas tournaments, they make friends across Japan and around the world.

ResearchChildren who play sport tend to feel more connected to their peers and to have stronger social skills. Researchers see friendships and support from the people around them as a central reason sport is good for children’s mental health [1].

Try sayingAfter a tournament, ask: “What did you talk about with the kids in your group?”

The very first rule of golf asks every player to play with integrity (follow the rules, apply penalties to yourself and be honest), to be considerate of others and to take care of the course [4]. Greeting the group at the start and finish, repairing your marks and calling your own penalties are all part of the game itself.

ResearchIn a study of The First Tee, a US program that teaches life skills through golf, participants were rated higher than children in other activities on life skills such as greeting people and getting along with others. Over three years, they kept using those skills outside golf, including at school [6].

Try sayingWhen your child greets their group before and after the round, praise them for it.

Even professionals hit only a few shots per round exactly as planned. After a mistake, the next shot comes right away. Golf lets children practise putting frustration aside and looking ahead dozens of times in a single day.

ResearchChildren who play sport tend to be more resilient. Experiments that compared two groups of children also suggest that sport can build resilience and the ability to manage emotions [1].

Try sayingAfter a miss, ask a forward-looking question: “What will you do with the next shot?”

The first tee shot is hit in front of the other players, parents and tournament officials. Your name is called, you greet the group and step up when it is your turn. Even in elementary school, children gain experience performing in front of others.

ResearchA UK analysis of 14 experiments (2020) found that practising under pressure helped people perform better when it really counted, for beginners and experienced athletes alike [7].

Try sayingBefore talking about the result, recognise that they stepped up: “You were nervous, but you hit it well.”

Before each shot, players pick a target and focus. After hitting, they relax and walk. Golfers repeat this switch dozens of times a day, outdoors on the grass.

ResearchPhysical activity that makes children think as they move improved self-control and working memory (a review of 23 experiments with about 2,900 children, 2024) [8]. Time in nature has also been linked to better attention in children (a review of 12 studies, mostly from Europe, 2022) [9]. Golf offers both.

Try sayingWork out a pre-shot routine together. It becomes a signal to switch on their focus.

In golf, progress shows up as a number: the score. Children can set goals like breaking 100 or 90 and enjoy seeing their practice pay off.

ResearchChildren who play sport tend to have higher self-esteem. Researchers see the feeling of “I can do this” as one of the ways sport builds it [1].

Try sayingFind one thing that improved since last time, together. It can be the number of putts or out-of-bounds shots.

No two situations are ever the same. Children read the wind, slope and distance, then choose their club and shot. Some tournaments do not allow parents who are not caddies to give advice during play [10], so once on the course, children play on their own judgement.

ResearchA review of 29 studies from the US, Europe and elsewhere (2024) found that when parents let children make choices and respect their feelings, children are more likely to take up sport on their own initiative [11].

Try sayingAsk why they chose that club in that situation. The trick is to listen without correcting the answer.