Junior Golf Scotland: How to Get Your Kids Into Golf on a Budget

Scotland has more golf courses per head of population than anywhere in the world, and the infrastructure for getting young players into the game is genuinely good. Many municipal courses have free or near-free junior access. Most clubs have junior sections with subsidised lessons. Scottish Golf (the national governing body) runs development programmes that connect kids with qualified coaches.

The barriers to entry are lower than parents usually expect.

---

The cheapest way to start: municipal courses

Scotland's municipal golf courses — the ones run by local councils — are the best starting point for junior golfers. Green fees for juniors are typically £5–10 per round, and many courses have junior-specific twilight sessions where kids can play 9 holes for a nominal fee or sometimes free.

Edinburgh: Braid Hills, Silverknowes, Carrick Knowe, Portobello — all have junior rates under £10. The City of Edinburgh runs an active junior golf programme through its parks and recreation department.

Glasgow: Littlehill and Knightswood — the two courses Glasgow Life still runs — keep junior golf affordable. The R&A's Golf It! on the old Lethamhill site (range, adventure golf and a 9-hole course) is the best family-and-beginner facility in the city. (Glasgow's other council courses — Linn Park, Ruchill and Alexandra Park — closed in 2019–2020.)

Aberdeen: Hazlehead Golf Course has three 18-hole courses, a 9-hole, and a pitch and putt. Junior rates are excellent value.

Municipal courses are also the most relaxed environments for beginners — nobody cares about your child's swing at Braid Hills, and the pace of play expectation is gentler than a members' club.

---

Scottish Golf's junior programmes

ClubGolf is Scotland's primary junior golf introduction programme, run in partnership with Scottish Golf, sportscotland, and the PGA. It targets primary school age children (typically P4–P7, ages 8–11) and provides coached sessions through schools, clubs, and sports centres.

Sessions are typically free or low-cost (around £2–5 per session). The programme aims to introduce the basics in a non-competitive, inclusive environment and then channel interested kids toward clubs.

Find ClubGolf sessions via Scottish Golf's website — the programme is active across most local authority areas.

---

Junior memberships at golf clubs

Most private and semi-private Scottish clubs offer junior memberships at heavily subsidised rates. Adult subscriptions across Scotland run from under £100 at the cheapest clubs to well over £3,000 at the famous ones — our membership fee comparison ranks them from the clubs' own published rates. Junior memberships (under 18, or under 21 at some clubs) are often £30–80 per year, or occasionally free for the youngest age groups.

Junior membership usually includes:

• Unlimited green fees at the club's course
• Access to the club handicap system (essential for competitive play)
• Entrance to junior competitions and matchplay events
• A coach or section organiser who runs junior training

If your child is showing genuine interest in the game, a junior club membership at a local club is excellent value compared to pay-and-play green fees.

---

Getting a handicap

A World Handicap System (WHS) Handicap Index can be established for juniors through any Scottish Golf-affiliated club. The process requires submitting scorecards (a minimum of three rounds, though some clubs require more) through their club management system.

Why it matters: the handicap allows junior golfers to enter competitions, play in club matchplay events, and eventually access restricted courses that require handicap evidence.

The minimum age for a formal WHS handicap is 3 (theoretically) — in practice, clubs typically issue handicaps from around age 8–10 when scoring becomes consistent.

---

Equipment on a budget

Junior club sets for beginners don't need to be expensive. A starter set of 5–7 clubs appropriate for a child's age and height costs £40–80 new, or less second-hand.

Second-hand clubs: eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and local pro shops selling trade-ins are all good sources. For juniors who are growing and whose swing is still developing, second-hand equipment at every stage is sensible until the player has a settled game and is committed to the sport.

Sizing matters. Junior clubs come in age/height bands. Using clubs that are too long or too heavy is the most common equipment mistake with junior golfers. Most club professionals can fit a child correctly in five minutes at no charge.

---

Good courses to take kids on their first visit

Pitch and putt courses are the natural first step. Edinburgh has several good ones (Inverleith, East Princes Street Gardens). Aberdeen has the Hazlehead Pitch and Putt. These introduce the game without the complications of full-length par-4s.

Par-3 courses: Balgove Course at St Andrews (the 9-hole short course at the Links, specifically designed for beginners) is perhaps Scotland's best junior-friendly golf experience. Green fee: around £10 per person. Completely non-intimidating, with the context of the home of golf around it.

Short 9-hole courses: Elie Sports Club, Gullane No. 3, many Highland 9-holers. These are appropriate once a child can get around a full hole consistently.

---

Tournaments and competitive golf

Scottish Golf runs a junior tour with age-group competitions from under-10 to under-18. County unions (Lothians Golf Association, Ayrshire Golf Association, etc.) run junior championships. Club-level competitions are the usual first step.

The competitive pathway in Scotland from junior level through amateur to professional is well-developed — Scotland has produced a disproportionate number of successful professional golfers relative to its population, and the junior infrastructure is part of why.

---

For women starting golf in Scotland: Women's Golf Scotland — Where to Start, Best Courses and Welcoming Clubs. For the cheapest adult golf in Scotland: 20 Best Cheap Golf Courses in Scotland Under £30.