Golf gets a family makeover: Resorts where tweens tee off and dive in

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A record 3.7 million juniors stepped onto the greens in 2024, the most since 2006, according to the National Golf Foundation. Participation among 11- to 17-year-olds surged by 48% since 2019, the most significant growth of any age group in the sport.

The architecture of the family golf vacation evolves, with a focus less on scorecards and more on letting tweens chase birdies at breakfast and boogie boards by noon. Resorts now cater to young players who compete fiercely on the course and even harder off it.

This rising popularity is evident on local fairways and properties across North America and beyond. Golf draws younger, faster and more inclusive players, inspiring resorts to craft itineraries that keep pace with this dynamic audience. These premier destinations let pre-teens swing a club in the morning and go full adventure mode by afternoon.

Fairways with a side of fun

Elevation defines every shot at Sun Peaks Golf Course. Drives soar farther in the thin mountain air, and cooler temperatures, often 10 degrees below nearby Kamloops, create refreshing mid-summer tee times.

The front nine demands finesse through narrow fairways and elevation shifts, while the back nine, with its open and forgiving layout, lets junior golfers play with freedom. From the 16th tee, the highest in British Columbia, the green lies far below, framed by the alpine village rooftops and Mount Morrisey's forested rise. The hole feels both playful and powerful.

At Grande Lakes Orlando, the pace slows in the late afternoon, as juniors 15 and under play free with a paying adult. The Greg Norman-designed layout, an Audubon-certified sanctuary surrounded by wetlands, combines technical challenge with sensory calm. Year-round clinics help youth sharpen their short game and build confidence on the tee box.

In Turks and Caicos, The Reserve at Grace Bay, a Virtuoso property, blends sport and scenery with ease. Set along a private stretch of white sand on Grace Bay Beach, the villas open to turquoise water and sun-bleached sky. It's the kind of palette that makes even a morning chip session feel cinematic.

A 4,500-square-foot putting green and junior-friendly tee boxes, ranging from 25-60 yards, let kids warm up at their own pace. When families want a full round, the Royal Turks and Caicos Golf Club is just minutes away. Back at the villa, the afternoon unfolds across beach volleyball courts, shaded tennis pavilions, paddleboards on the water and post-sunset movie marathons.

From tee time to play time

For those traveling with budding golfers, what happens after the final putt often matters more than the front nine. At these resorts, golf draws families in, but the post-round options keep the energy high and the itinerary full.

"We look for amenities that are geared towards multiple kids with age gaps," says Kimberly Stroh of Savvy Mama Lifestyle, who often travels with her children. "If our oldest is on the golf course in the mornings with Dad, then we meet up as a family in the afternoons to utilize pools, pickleball courts or on-site dining experiences."

At Big Cedar Lodge, afternoons flow from the course to Fun Mountain, a 50,000-square-foot activity center where kids navigate ropes courses, test their aim at underwater-themed laser tag and tackle Lucky Putt, a gamified mini-golf experience with a leaderboard and light show to match.

Outside, pontoon boats launch from Table Rock Lake, fishing poles hit the water and electric carts wind through the Lost Canyon Nature Trail, passing waterfalls and entering a cathedral-like cave carved straight from the Ozarks.

In Oregon's high desert, kids trade clubs for cowboy boots at Brasada Ranch. Horseback rides trace sun-drenched trails, and the property's wranglers lead trail rides and pony introductions. Their A Day in the Life of a Wrangler activity lets guests shadow staff as they brush, groom and saddle before returning to the poolside slide or the outdoor movie screen that lights up at dusk.

At Domes Lake Algarve in Portugal, families paddle to hidden beaches or embark on dolphin-watching tours. In the forested acreage of Grande Lakes Orlando, afternoons shift between eco-tours on Shingle Creek, archery sessions, falconry flights and a teen lounge filled with retro arcade games and ping pong.

Even in the cooler mountain air of Sun Peaks, families leave the course behind to explore alpine meadows or coast downhill on bikes along chairlift-accessed routes above the village. Evenings bring ice cream in the square, s'mores on the patio or a soak in the outdoor hot tub beneath a soft pink sky.

Swing smarter, play bolder

Resort-based instruction helps junior golfers learn without pressure, ask questions freely and take ownership of their swing, club choice and rhythm of play.

Megan Johnston, named one of Golf Digest's Best Young Teachers in America, trains players ranging from preschool beginners to Division I athletes at Big Cedar Lodge. On grounds designed by Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus, her sessions focus on fundamentals and build confidence through personal, adaptive coaching.

The Son Antem Golf Academy in Mallorca emphasizes a family-first approach with private lessons, junior clinics and family formats where parents and tweens learn together. Instruction, offered in Spanish and English, unfolds in a Mediterranean setting surrounded by citrus groves and rolling hills.

At Domes Lake Algarve, the Junior Golf Fundamentals program provides free one-on-one instruction for children aged six and older. The program prioritizes sparking interest over scoring, fostering a genuine love for the game. A golf concierge and access to Europe's top coastal courses make the transition from green to growth seamless.

Golf for every family

For many families, a golf vacation starts with an invitation or a new destination that makes the game feel accessible. In Myrtle Beach, the Kids Play Free program introduces families to golf with free junior rounds for players 16 and under when accompanied by a paying adult. For families testing the waters, the program eliminates guesswork and pressure, transforming South Carolina's greens into outdoor classrooms with ocean breezes.

In Puerto Vallarta, the shoreline sets the stage. A short walk from the Marriott Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa, the Marina Vallarta Golf Course invites families to enjoy a full round under the sun. At dusk, the resort's sea turtle release program becomes the highlight, as conservationists guide young guests in helping hatchlings reach the surf.

On Cape Cod, Ocean Edge Resort & Golf Club stretches across 429 acres of coastal pine and sand. Families gather around beach bonfires after twilight, ride bikes along the Rail Trail by day, and try their luck at low-tide mini golf near the Bay Pines shoreline. The 18-hole Nicklaus-designed course is private and polished, but the vibe remains relaxed, especially during the four-hour family golf school that pairs technique with time outdoors.

Further down the coast, at Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach, mornings often start with a round on the blufftop course and end with tide pool treks and marine life pop-ups led by the nearby Ocean Institute. Evenings bring dive-in movies, s'mores by the fire, stargazing or boogie boarding at the resort's private beach club. Here, golf is just one chapter in a West Coast story that stretches from fairway to foam.

Out in Las Vegas' western desert, Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa offers a quieter kind of vibe for families seeking city access with room to unwind. On-site, kids dive into arcade games at Kids Quest, catch a movie at the theater or cool off in the multi-pool complex before heading down the road to Angel Park Golf Club. The club's two Arnold Palmer-designed courses cater to a range of skill levels, while its lighted short course and natural grass putting green stay open after dark, ideal for a relaxed family round as the sun sets behind the canyon.

At these resorts, golf opens the door to endless possibilities. The swing matters, but the adventures it sparks matter more.

Casandra Karpiak is a Vancouver-based travel journalist specializing in luxury travel, small ship cruising, sports tourism and wine destinations. Her work appears in Ultimate Experiences Magazine, the Associated Press Wire, Global Traveler Magazine, The Seattle Times and more. Her recent assignments have taken her on safari in South Africa, wild swimming in Scotland and exploring Costa Rica's coastal towns with her children.