So your little one's been watching you head off to the course or maybe seen you in the early hours watching the masters, and now they want in. That's exactly how this whole thing starts.
The good news is Perth's actually got a lot going on for junior golf, you don't need to figure it out alone, and you don't need to buy a full set of clubs before you know if it'll stick. Here's where to start.
How young is too young?
Shorter answer than you'd think: some Perth programs start from age 3. Lakelands Country Club runs a seven-level junior pathway that begins that early, and Collier Park Golf's "Active" phase is built for 4 to 6 year olds, thirty-minute sessions, all age-appropriate gear, more about movement and fun than technique.
If your little one's a bit older, most clubs pick up from 7 years.
Where to go
A few good starting points around Perth:
Collier Park Golf — one of the most established junior academies in town, with programs at Collier Park itself and a second location at Maylands Peninsula, so there's likely something close to you either way.
Perth Golf Centre — a nice low-commitment entry point. They run come-and-try sessions every Sunday morning, no term sign-up required, so you can test the water before committing to eight weeks of school-term lessons. They're also a U.S. Kids Golf stockist, which matters more than you'd think (more on that below).
Lakelands Country Club — the earliest start age around, plus a genuine pathway all the way through to elite junior development if your kid turns out to be a natural.
The Vines Resort — runs a structured junior program through their golf academy, a good option if you're out that way.
Golf WA's My Golf program — the statewide introductory pathway, worth knowing about because most WA clubs run some version of it, and it feeds into the Crunch&Sip Junior Tour once your junior's ready for a bit of friendly competition (open to under-12s).
A word on gear
Don't rush out and buy adult clubs cut down to size, it's a common mistake, and it makes the swing harder to learn, not easier. Junior-specific clubs (U.S. Kids Golf is the main brand you'll see in Perth pro shops) are built lighter and sized to height rather than age, which makes a bigger difference than it sounds like it should.
Most programs will let your kid borrow gear for the first term anyway. No need to spend a cent until you know they're keen.
Our two cents
Whichever program you land on, here's the thing worth remembering: the lessons teach the swing, but the bit your kid will actually remember is the walk beside you afterwards, the debrief on the way home, the "did you see that one" replay. That's the part no coach can teach.
If that sounds like the kind of morning you're after, it's exactly what we wrote our book about. More on that soon.
Little Birdie Club is a picture book about golf, gum trees, and the quiet mornings a dad and his kid will never forget. Join the waitlist to hear when it lands.