07 · For day one
Your First Tournament
Some of this is the rules. Some of it is etiquette. All of it will go a long way toward making you a great golf family — and toward making sure your junior gets invited back. Don't try to memorize everything before your first tournament. Read through once, then come back to the checklist the morning of.
01 · The lay of the land
What to expect
A first tournament is about as low-key as competitive golf gets. Your junior shows up, gets a tee time, plays 18 holes (or 9 for younger divisions) with two or three other kids, turns in a scorecard, and that's it. No team, no coach on the bag, no one telling them what to do. Just golf.
Fields are age-grouped. Nobody is going to embarrass your kid. Half the field is playing in their first or second tournament too.
Plan for 4–5 hours on the course. Spectator carts are usually available — expect to pay $25–50 depending on the course. They go fast, so ask about them when you arrive.
02 · The checklist
What to pack
Two short lists. Print the page or pull it up the morning of.
For your junior
- No more than 14 clubs — Count before you leave the house. This is a hard rule with stroke penalties.
- Golf balls — bring a lot — If your junior is just starting out, don't spend a lot on balls. Value balls are fine.
- A divot tool — And know how to use it — see the video below.
- Tees
- A ball marker — A coin works perfectly.
- A pencil — Always bring your own.
- Water bottle — Refill at every opportunity.
- Round snacks — Easy to eat while walking. No big sandwiches.
- Sunscreen — Applied before leaving the house.
- Rain jacket — If there's any chance of weather.
For you
- Spectator cart fee — Cash or card — confirm in advance.
- Snacks and a lot of water — You're outside for 4–5 hours.
- Sunscreen
- Something to do during the round — There is a lot of waiting.
- Dress club-appropriate — Think: you're also playing golf today. No cutoffs, no flip flops.
03 · The first 30 minutes
Before the round
- 1Arrive at least 30 minutes early.
- 2Your junior introduces themselves to their playing partners — name, where they're from, first tournament or not. You introduce yourself to the other parents. It sets the tone for the whole round.
- 3Count the clubs. Again. 14 maximum.
- 4Find the practice green and spend 10 minutes rolling putts.
- 5Locate the first tee before the tee time — don't be scrambling.
04 · For your junior
On the course — what your junior needs to know
These are the things that will come up in the first round that nobody thinks to explain beforehand.
The 14-club rule
Maximum 14 clubs. Penalty is two strokes per hole where the violation occurred, up to four strokes total. Count before you leave the house.
Who shoots first
The player with the best score on the previous hole has "honors" and tees off first. After that, the player farthest from the hole plays first — on the fairway and on the green. On the very first hole, settle it with a coin flip or check the scorecard.
Be quiet when anyone is swinging
Not just your group — anyone within earshot. Golf etiquette around swing silence is strict. Freeze, stay still, stay quiet.
Sound travels on a golf course
This surprises everyone. A whispered conversation can be heard three fairways over. Assume everyone can hear you at all times.
Don't walk through another player's line
On the green, every player has an invisible line between their ball and the cup. Never walk on it — it can affect how their putt rolls. Go around, always.
Watch: green etiquette & the lineMarking your ball
If your ball is on or near another player's putting line, they can ask you to mark it. Place a ball marker directly behind the ball, pick it up, and replace it exactly when it's your turn.
Watch: how to mark your ballRepairing your ball mark
When your ball lands on the green it leaves a small dent. You're required to repair it with a divot tool before you putt. Takes five seconds. Not doing it damages the green for everyone behind you.
Watch: how to repair a divotThe scorecard
Your junior keeps score for the player next to them — not themselves. At the end both players check each other's cards and sign. A signed incorrect scorecard is a disqualification, even if the mistake was innocent. Walk through this before the round.
Shake hands at the end
Every player, every time. This is non-negotiable golf etiquette. Introduce yourself at the start, shake hands at the finish.
05 · For you
On the course — what parents need to know
Your behavior on the course matters as much as your junior's. Here's what to know.
Dress club-appropriate
Think: you're also playing golf today. No cutoffs, no flip flops. Most clubs enforce a dress code for everyone on the property — not just players.
Be quiet during swings
This applies to you too. And remember — sound travels. A whispered phone call can be heard clearly across the course. If you need to take a call, step away and keep it short.
Help look for lost balls
Most tournaments want parents to help search for out-of-bounds or hard-to-find balls to keep pace of play moving. Ask your junior's group before jumping in — but almost always the answer is yes. Pace of play is everyone's responsibility.
Don't coach from the sideline
No swing tips, no club suggestions, no hand signals. Cheer, don't instruct. Save the debrief for the car ride home.
Golf cart etiquette
Most spectator carts are gas-powered — they're loud. Don't start the engine when someone nearby is teeing off or standing over a putt.
When you put the cart in reverse — usually a switch on the dash or turning the key to R — it will beep continuously while backing up. That's a safety feature you can't disable. Avoid reversing near players who are mid-swing or putting. Plan your positioning so you're not caught needing to back up at the wrong moment.
Most carts have a USB port (the old-school kind) on the dash. Your phone will charge slowly but it will charge — useful on a long day.
Drink a lot of water
You're outside for 4–5 hours. More than you think.
Be the calm face at the end
Whatever happened out there, be the person they want to see when they walk off 18.
Ready when you are
Ready to find your first tournament?
Start with a local one-day event — low pressure, age-grouped, and open to first-timers.
Browse tournaments →