The best tees for juniors in golf are usually the forward tees, or a shortened setup that starts closer to the green, and for most beginners that is the right place to begin. [1] Pick them by how far your child actually hits the ball, not by age. The USGA’s “Best Tees” system is built on a golfer’s 7-iron distance. [2]
Why does it matter? A kid who faces a long hole takes a lot of shots, and the round stops being fun. Shorter setups keep the game moving and keep kids wanting to come back. [1]
Below, you’ll see how to match tees to your child’s distance, what setup fits different skill levels, and the mistakes that trip up parents.
Key takeaways
Start with forward tees or a shortened setup.
Choose by distance, not age.
Fun and a good pace keep kids playing.
Why does tee choice matter for kids?
Tee choice matters because the wrong tee turns a nine-year-old’s round into a long, frustrating walk. A hole that plays 400 yards from the back asks for far more shots than a small player can hit comfortably, and the fun drains out fast.
Think about a kid who hits a 7-iron a short distance. On a long hole, that child may need many swings just to reach the green, which means more time hunting for the ball, more lost holes and more “are we done yet?” By the back nine, the game feels like work.
The USGA’s Best Tees idea
The USGA’s “Best Tees” system is based on a golfer’s 7-iron distance and is fully customizable to every golf course. [2] In plain terms, how far your child hits a 7-iron tells you more about the right tee than age or height does. That’s a handy rule for parents, because two kids the same age can hit the ball very different distances.
Don’t rely on color alone
Tee colors vary by course, so a red tee at one club may not play like a red tee at another. Treat color as a label, not an answer. Look at the yardage on the scorecard instead and compare it with what your child can actually hit. Related reading: What Does It Mean to Play From the Tips in Golf?
Look for family or junior tees
Many courses offer family or junior tees, along with forward tees and fairway starts, which are all setups meant to keep kids’ golf fun. [1] These tees are often placed well up the hole, so a young player gets a real chance at reaching the green in a sensible number of shots. Ask at the pro shop whether your course has them before you head to the first tee.
How do you choose the right tees for your child?
Choosing tees for your child comes down to five steps, and the first is measuring distance rather than guessing from age.
Find your child’s 7-iron distance. The USGA’s “Best Tees” system is built on a golfer’s 7-iron distance, so use it as your guide [2]. Take your child to the range, hit several shots, and note the typical carry-plus-roll, not the one great strike.
Check the course yardages and ask the pro shop. Look at the scorecard for each tee’s length, then ask whether the course offers junior or family tees [1]. Names and colors differ from course to course, so ask rather than assume.
Pick tees where greens are reachable in a reasonable number of shots. A par 4 should feel like roughly four fun swings, not eight tired ones. If your child is hacking away on every hole, the tees are too long.
Start very young beginners from fairway spots. For first-timers, a fairway start can work better than any tee box, and it keeps holes short and the game fun [1]. Try dropping a ball 100 yards or so from the green and let them play it in.
Move up or back as distance grows. Kids gain distance fast. When your child reaches greens comfortably and the round still moves along, try the next tee back for a few holes, then re-measure that 7-iron every so often.
A quick example: if your child hits a 7-iron about 60 yards, the full-length course will feel endless. A junior or family tee, or a fairway start, gives them short approach shots they can actually finish.
What setup suits different ages and skill levels?
Match the setup to what your child can actually do with a club, and let it change as they improve. Here is how that usually plays out across three stages.
First-timers: fairway starts and short holes
Very young or brand-new players often do best when they skip the tee box altogether. A fairway start, where they hit from a spot well up the hole, keeps the number of shots low and the pace brisk. [1]
For example, a six-year-old can play a short par 4 by starting a couple of hundred yards out, then finishing with a few chips and putts. They get a full hole and a real finish, not a slog.
Developing players: forward or junior tees
Once your child can get the ball airborne with some consistency, move them to the forward tees or a junior or family tee, if the course offers one. [1] These setups are meant to keep kids engaged while they learn how a hole works. [1]
A good sign you are in the right spot: they can reach the green in a reasonable number of shots and still have energy for the next hole.
Stronger players: step back as they gain distance
As your child hits the ball farther, the same tees start to feel too easy. That is the cue to move back a set, since the USGA’s Best Tees system is built on a golfer’s 7-iron distance, not on who they are. [2]
If your 11-year-old now flies short par 4s with a wedge in hand for the second shot, a step back adds challenge without making the hole a marathon.
Skill, not birthday, drives the move
Two kids the same age can need different tees. One may have played for years and hit it a long way, while the other picked up a club last month. Use what each child can do, not the number of candles on the cake. [2]
The move also works in both directions. If a step back leads to lost balls, slow rounds and long faces, going forward again is a sensible fix, not a setback.
What mistakes should parents avoid?
The biggest mistake is treating tee choice as a status symbol instead of a fit question. Most of the other errors come from the same place: picking a tee box for reasons that have nothing to do with how your child actually hits the ball.
Moving back too soon
It feels like a milestone when your child plays the same tees as an older cousin or a friend. But if the yardage is too long, every hole turns into a string of long shots with few chances to get near a green. Let distance earn the move back, not pride or comparison.
Choosing by color or age only
A “junior” label or a birthday is a rough guide at best. Tee colors vary from course to course, so the same color can mean very different yardages from one place to the next. The USGA’s Best Tees approach is built on a golfer’s 7-iron distance and is customizable to each course, which is a better yardstick than age or color. [2]
Two 9-year-olds can hit the ball very different distances, so they may belong on different tees.
Ignoring pace and frustration
When the setup is too hard, kids lose the thread. They search for balls, pick up, get bored and start asking when the round ends. Courses offer junior tees, family tees, forward tees and fairway starts to keep kids’ golf fun, so use them. [1]
If your child is dragging, hitting five or six shots before reaching the green, or losing interest by the fourth hole, the setup is the likely problem, not the child.
Never reassessing
Kids grow fast, and a tee that was right last spring can become too easy. Playing a setup that no longer challenges them is a quiet way to lose engagement, just as a setup that is too hard does. Recheck their 7-iron distance now and then, and step back when they are consistently reaching greens comfortably. [2]
Do you mean golf tees too? What about the little pegs?
Yes, plenty of parents search this phrase meaning the little pegs, not the tee boxes. Here are quick answers to the questions that come up most.
Do kids’ golf tees come in different sizes?
They do. Retailers list kids’ golf tees in multiple sizes, so you are not stuck with one length for every club. [3]
Are there fun designs for kids?
Yes. Listings include colorful designs, and durable materials are offered for both practice and play. [3] Bright colors also make a tee easier to spot in the grass, which matters when a young player keeps losing them.
How do I pick the right tee height for my child?
Match the height to the club and to your child’s swing. A shorter peg usually suits a small swing or a shorter club, while a taller one gives a driver more room. Let your child try a couple of sizes on the range and keep whichever gets the ball airborne with the most solid contact.
Sizes, designs and prices change, so look at the current product details on the retailer page before you order. Dick’s Sporting Goods and Amazon both carry dedicated kids’ tee listings. [3][4]
Do I need to buy special tees at all?
Not necessarily. Regular tees work for many kids, but junior-sized options can make teeing the ball up easier for small hands. Buying a small, inexpensive pack to experiment with is a sensible way to start.
Will you use affiliate links?
If this article ever includes affiliate links to a retailer, they will be clearly disclosed, so you know when a purchase might earn the site a commission. Any product mention is only there where it genuinely helps, and it never changes the advice above.
What is the takeaway for your junior’s next round?
Pick your junior’s tees by how far they hit the ball, not by how old they are. The USGA’s “Best Tees” system is built on 7-iron distance, so that’s the number to anchor on. [2]
From there, keep the round fun and moving. A setup that suits your child, such as forward tees, junior tees or a fairway start, keeps the day enjoyable. [1] Next time you head out, find their 7-iron distance, choose the tees that match, and look again every few months as they grow. Related reading: What Tees Should I Play From?