Some nerves, some breakthroughs, and a reminder that short game is humbling for everyone. Coaching beginner girls in golf isn’t about being perfect — it’s about being present. And sometimes, that’s more than enough.
Showing Up Nervous, Staying Anyway
I showed up for my first First Tee coaching session not totally sure what I was walking into. I’d never done anything like this before. The other coaches all seemed to know each other, and I definitely didn’t feel like the expert in the room — not even close. But as soon as I was assigned to work with a group of middle school girls, I realized: this is what I’m here for.
Not the Expert. Still the Right Person.
I leaned in. Introduced myself. Asked them about their golf experience. Tried to be more of a friend than a figure. The first girl who checked in — her name was Rylee — was brand new to golf. I showed her where she could sit while we waited for the others to arrive and told her, “Hey, I have a 13-year-old niece named Riley too.” She smiled.
When the next girl arrived, I introduced myself and sent her over to meet Rylee, told her she was new too, and said she’d found a good spot. It wasn’t complicated, but it mattered.
The guys were great — welcoming, knowledgeable, clearly comfortable running these sessions. But I realized pretty quickly that what I could offer wasn’t more technical expertise. It was something else entirely. I understand kids. I understand nerves. I understand what it’s like to try something new and feel kind of alone and weird at an awkward age. That’s where I could be useful. I was thinking about this reflection from another First Tee coach — that being “just a coach” is more than enough.
Grip First, Then Contact
Rylee stuck close as we got started. At one point, she looked down at her phone and realized she didn’t have pockets — and didn’t know what to do with it. Without even thinking, I handed her my First Tee coaches bag — the one I’d just been given that day — and told her to tuck it in there. She nodded. That little moment felt like something.
Later, I made my way over to the full swing station. I’d been helping with check-in, so the girls had already gotten the basic overview by the time I joined. They were standing around, a little unsure — clubs in hand, but no one rushing to tee one up.
And then I saw Rylee spot me. She came right over and asked how to hold the club.
So I grabbed one from the bag, stood next to her, and walked her through it — calm and simple. No pressure. Just a starting point. (If you’re working with young players, this guide on how to teach kids golf has some great practical tips for grip, feel, and early swing cues.)
That trust — it wasn’t loud. But it was there. And it felt good.
Small Wins While Coaching Beginner Girls in Golf
Another girl in our group was already making pretty solid contact, but I noticed she had a driver in her hands and the ball way in the back of her stance. So I showed her a little setup trick I use: start with the ball centered between your feet, then take a tiny step forward with your lead foot and a bigger step back with your trail foot. That sets you up to hit up on the ball, not down and into the ground. She tried it. After her next swing, I asked, “Did that feel different?” She gave me a nod and a grin that said yeah — it really did.
Short Game Is Hard for Everyone
Some of the girls lit up at the full swing station, loving the feeling of a solid hit. Others leaned toward putting, where distance control and feel gave them a different kind of challenge. But almost all of them, like every golfer I know, got a little discouraged by how hard chipping is. Which, honestly, fair. I told them the truth: short game is brutal. For everyone. Still is for me.
I explained how I’ll sometimes get scared of sending it too far — so instead I flinch and barely tap it, and then the ball doesn’t even make it halfway. One of them asked how to fix that, so I flipped the question: what happens when the ball goes up higher? Does it roll further or shorter? She got it right away: it actually stops faster. And you could see her shift a little. Still nervous, still figuring it out, but now with a little curiosity.
We talked through wristy versus shoulder-based putting. Tried different clubs. I helped one girl swap out a wedge that was too short — she’d been struggling to make solid contact, and it turned out the club just wasn’t the right height for her. Once she had one that actually fit, she started connecting clean. Sometimes it’s not confidence. It’s not even technique. It’s just physics.
Ending on a Good One
By the end of the chipping station, I could tell the mood was fading. A couple of the girls looked discouraged or bored. So I asked, “Okay, who’s gotten one in the hoop so far?” Most hands went up.
One girl didn’t raise hers.
So I stayed with her. She’d been close a few times but couldn’t quite get the ball to pop up. I had her straighten her arms a bit and practice brushing the grass without a ball — just to get the feel of making contact without trying so hard. Then I gave her a clean lie and had her take another swing.
Two shots later, she bounced one in front of the hoop and rolled it right into the center.
Her face lit up. She was still quiet, still a little hesitant when our lead coach asked who was coming back next week — golf might not end up being her thing. But at least she ended on a good one. And sometimes, that’s enough.
What Coaching Beginner Girls in Golf Taught Me
I also had a few small moments with one girl who really seemed to want the feedback. After each swing, she’d glance over at me — not showy, just a quick look, like was that better? Am I getting it? It felt good to be someone she trusted to answer that.
Progress Isn’t the Point. But It’s Nice When It Shows Up.
I don’t know if any of them left that day thinking wow, I love golf now. Maybe one or two. Maybe none. That’s fine.
But I got to help a girl who was too nervous to hold a club make her first swing. I got to watch another figure out how to control a putt with her shoulders instead of her wrists. I saw five kids try something hard, adjust, and try again — even when it didn’t go great.
If you’ve got a young golfer who’s just getting started — or if you’re heading into your own first session — this First Tee guide is a great resource for setting expectations and easing nerves.
And somewhere between the grip tips, mis-hits, and quiet little wins, I remembered that this is why I came back to golf in the first place. Not because it’s easy. But because every once in a while, you get a swing that feels like progress. And sometimes, you get to be the person who helps someone else find it.