Your kids are interested in playing golf, but you aren’t sure where to start. Look no further. Here’s Atlanta Parent’s list of kid-friendly golf courses, academies and driving ranges.

by Hunter Leibler

Driving Ranges

Not quite ready for 9-hole and 18-hole courses? That’s fine, check out these driving ranges that allow kids to experience what it might be like on the big courses and allows you to gauge how interested they are in learning to play.

Northcrest Golf Driving Range
Atlanta, 770-723-0002; northcrestgolf.com/
This driving range offers kids the chance to be taught how to swing a club by family members that already know the game.
Baskets: Small with 45 balls $7, medium with 95 balls $12, large with 145 balls $14
Clubs: Rent an adult driver for $3, kids get a free club

Deer Valley Golf Range
Alpharetta, 770-993-2331; deervalleygolfrange.com
What was once at the bottom of a flooded river now sits a driving range. This range offers a putting green, artificial mat stations, Bermuda grass tee boxes and more.
Basket: Small with 45 balls $7, medium with 70 balls $10, large with 105 balls $13, jumbo with 180 balls $20.
Clubs: Free

Courses

Take your practice a step farther and try out your new skills on a course. These 9- and 18-hole courses offer just the right amount of challenge and ease for new golfers.

Candler Park Golf Course
Atlanta, 404-371-1260;
candlerpark.org/candler-park-golf-course/
This 9-hole walking golf course is located in historical Candler Park area next to Decatur and only minutes away from downtown Atlanta.
Playing the course: Mon.-Fri. $11.88, Sat.-Sun. $14.04
Lessons: free junior lessons are offered on Saturdays at 10 a.m.

Steel Canyon Golf Club
Sandy Springs, 770-390-0424; steelcanyongolfclub.com
This is an 18-hole golf course. The Play Learn Think Golf program offers age-appropriate lessons that promote key life skills such as responsibility and honesty.
Playing the course: 15 and younger play their age. For example, if they’re 9 then they play for $9. Adult prices start at $19.
Lessons: Ages 5-12 and 12-17, $180 per week.

Riverpines Golf Club
Johns Creek, 770-442-5960; riverpinesgolf.com
This golf club offers an 18-hole champion course and a 9-hole par 3 course. Take lessons with Paul Belongie, U.S. Kid’s Golf Top 50 junior teacher, or head on over to the 9-hole course and take it on yourself. Younger than age 6 is not allowed on champion course, and Fri.-Sun. kids are allowed on the courses after 2 p.m.
Playing the course: 17 and younger 18-hole $35, 9-hole $25; 18 and older $37 and up.
Lessons: Starting at $45/30 min.

Peachtree Golf Center
Duluth, 770-497-9265;
thehoochgolfclub.com/peachtree
This golf course is an 18-hole par 3 that runs right next to the Chattahoochee River in Duluth. The course is flat and is designed for golfers at all skill levels. If there’s unexpected rain, check out the covered driving range. For non-golfers, there’s even a mini-golf course.
Playing the course: Mon.-Fri., younger than 16, $10-$15; adults, $13-$20. Weekend rates slightly higher.

Instruction

Looking for a little bit more structure than a driving range? These junior golf academies offer memberships and lessons that are worth taking a look at.

First Tee Atlanta
404-756-1868; thefirstteeatlanta.org
The First Tee Atlanta program is specifically designed towards kids ages 8-17 interested in playing golf by teaching the 9 core values of golf through playing the game. This program is offered at Fox Creek Golf Course in Smyrna, John A. White Park in Atlanta, Brown Mill Golf Course in Atlanta, Sugar Creek Golf & Tennis Club in Atlanta, Collins Hill Golf Club in Lawrenceville, and Mystery Valley Golf Club in Lithonia. Registration for the Fall is now open.
Lessons: 8-17, $50 per 10-week session

GolfTEC
Four metro Atlanta locations; www.golftec.com
Learn how to play golf through
certified personal coaches and all the latest patented golf technology. Located in four metro Atlanta locations, they offer indoor golf simulation and help kids learn how to perfect their swing through motion cameras. Outdoor lessons are also available by GolfTEC at Steel Canyon Golf Club.
Lessons: 30 percent off packages, call for details, ages 6-18.

Aussie Kids Golf Academy
Atlanta, 404-812-6808; aussiekids.com
This golfing school is designed to combine fun, learning, confidence and performance all into the game of golf. Located in Buckhead and Johns Creek, you can sign your child up for semi-private, private or group lessons for a 12-week session. Performance Program offers classes twice a week for a 6 or 12 month period.
Lessons: Semi-private $480 for 12 weeks, group $369 for 12 weeks, and private $70-$100/hour. Ages 3-12.

Total Golf Experience
Atlanta, 678-929-6145; totalgolfexperience.org
Total Golf models their lessons after age-appropriate development for all skill and age levels. Lessons take place at the famous Bobby Jones Golf Club in downtown Atlanta and at Candler Park Golf Club.
Lessons: Ages 4-17, $70 per hour for private lessons.

Marietta Golf Center
Marietta, 770-977-1997; mariettagolfcenter.com
This driving range offers a variety of junior lessons this summer. Their 5 week Starting New At Golf (SNAG) program begins on July 16 and is every Saturday until Aug. 13.
Lessons: ages 8-17, $100 lessons start at 9:30 a.m. and end at 10:15 a.m.
Baskets: Small with 40 balls $6, medium with 85 balls $10, large with 130 balls $14.
Clubs: Free

Atlanta Junior Golf
Kids who might be more serious about golf and want to play in tournaments should consider a membership in Atlanta Junior Golf. They offer four different memberships and six different divisions based on skill. You must meet certain requirements for each division.
Memberships: Start at $70, includes tournaments and GSGA handicap index
Lessons: ages 7-18, start at $15, for members.