Junior Golf at Roda: Getting Kids Started in Murcia

My youngest picked up a golf club for the first time last spring, on the short game area at Roda Golf. She was nine, completely uninterested in standing still, and within twenty minutes she was trying to chip over a bunker. Something clicked. If you're visiting the Mar Menor area with kids who've shown even a flicker of interest in golf, you're in a genuinely good position to nurture that. The question is where to start, and whether all the options around here are equally well suited to beginners.

They're not. After a bit of trial and error across a few courses in the area, here's what I'd tell any family coming out this spring.

The Main Options for Junior Golf Near Roda

The two names that come up most often when families ask me about junior golf near Los Alcázares are Roda Golf itself and La Manga Club, about twenty-five minutes down the road towards Cartagena. Both have proper golf academies with PGA professionals. Both take juniors seriously. But they're quite different experiences, and what works for one family won't necessarily suit another.

Mar Menor Golf Resort is also nearby and worth a mention, particularly for families already staying in that direction. I'll come back to that.

Roda Golf: The Low-Key Starting Point

Roda Golf is a relaxed, well-maintained resort course, and that atmosphere carries through to how it handles beginners. The driving range is big, there's a short game area that's genuinely useful for kids (chipping and putting without the pressure of a full round), and the PGA pros here have a knack for keeping younger golfers engaged without making it feel like a school lesson.

The 9-hole option is what really makes Roda stand out for families. Getting a child to walk eighteen holes in the Murcia heat, even in spring, is optimistic. Nine holes on a course this well presented, with a clubhouse stop in the middle for a cold drink, is a much more realistic introduction. The fairways are generous, the course isn't intimidating, and there are enough interesting holes to hold a child's attention.

If you're staying at one of the holiday rentals near Roda Golf, this is genuinely the most convenient starting point. You can walk to the facilities, book a morning lesson, and be back at the pool by lunchtime.

La Manga Club: More Structured, Higher Pressure

La Manga Club's junior academy is well regarded, and for kids who've already had a few lessons and want something more structured, it's excellent. The three courses (North, South, and West) give young players a chance to experience proper tournament-style tracks, and the coaches take a methodical approach to technique.

The drawback for very young beginners is that La Manga can feel like a lot. It's a large resort with serious golfers taking serious rounds, and a nervous eight-year-old who just wants to have a go can sometimes feel a bit out of place. If your child is fourteen, has some coordination, and actually wants to improve, La Manga makes a lot of sense. If they're seven and just curious, Roda is kinder.

The prices reflect the difference too. La Manga's academy packages are notably higher than what you'll pay for junior lessons at Roda or Mar Menor Golf.

Mar Menor Golf Resort: The Overlooked Option

Mar Menor Golf Resort sits between Los Alcázares and San Javier, and it's often overlooked by families who default to the bigger names. That's a mistake. The course has a junior programme that runs through spring and summer, the staff are genuinely friendly, and the whole place has a less corporate feel than La Manga.

What I particularly like for kids here is the practice ground layout. It's slightly more compact than Roda's, which actually works well for younger children who can get overwhelmed by a large range. There's less to distract them, and lessons tend to feel more focused.

The flip side is that Mar Menor Golf Resort's full course is a touch tighter than Roda's, which can be frustrating for beginners who haven't yet got the hang of keeping a ball reasonably straight. As an introduction to actual course play, I'd still point families towards Roda first.

My Honest Take on What Actually Works

After watching quite a few families navigate this, the approach that works best for kids aged eight to thirteen is almost always the same: one or two lessons at Roda Golf to build the basics, a session or two on the short game area, and then a relaxed nine holes with a parent or low-key group. No scorecards, no pressure, just getting comfortable with being on a course.

The weather in March and April is perfect for this. It's warm without being hot, the courses are in good condition after the quieter winter months, and you won't be competing with the peak summer crowds. If your family is planning a spring golf break, this is one of the better times to introduce kids to the game. You'll find more detail on what's available locally in our guide to golf courses near the Mar Menor.

For teenagers who've already played a handful of times and are ready for a proper challenge, La Manga Club's West Course is worth the upgrade. It's a more interesting test, the coaching is excellent, and it gives a young golfer a real sense of what the game can be at a higher level.

One practical note: book junior lessons in advance, particularly through March and April when the courses fill up with visiting families. Get in touch with us if you'd like specific recommendations based on your children's ages and experience, and we'll point you in the right direction.

Spring is when the Mar Menor area is at its best. Easy temperatures, green fairways, and enough going on around Los Alcázares and Santiago de la Ribera to keep non-golfing family members happy. Golf for the adults, a morning lesson for the kids, and then lunch at a chiringuito on the lagoon. There are far worse ways to spend a few days.