section 7 - junior golf 7.pdf · handicaps can be awarded after playing 6 or 9 holes. accompanied...
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SECTION 7
RECOMMENDED CONGU JUNIOR HANDICAPPING SCHEMEBANK
COMPETITIONS
COUNTY & NATIONAL COMPETITIONS
CASE STUDY
SUMMARY
HANDICAPPING & COMPETITIONS
Junior Golf Guide | SECTION 7
INTRODUCTION A handicap provides a way of monitoring how a junior is improving and provides real motivation for young players to continue their participation and practice. Obtaining a first handicap is a memorable experience for many junior golfers and the process to do so should therefore be simple and not too lengthy. Golf clubs can assign handicaps to their junior members through the recommended CONGU scheme.
Junior golfers should be encouraged to practice, to help
them develop, to progress onto the course and reduce
their handicap and it is important that opportunities are
provided in a safe and interactive environment.
Access to a range of regular and diverse competitions
within the golf club will also assist a junior’s development
and will provide a means by which to reduce their
handicap and there are a variety of different competitive
formats which golf clubs can use.
Provides juniors with a handicap of between 29 & 54
Juniors only have to play a minimum of 6 or 9 holes to
obtain
Initiates a common policy for all across Wales
Links with the CONGU scheme
Makes it easier for juniors toobtain their first handicap
Caters for juniors of varying abilities
Allows juniors to compete against each other
WHY USE THE CONGU JUNIOR HANDICAPPING
SCHEME
Golf Development Wales encourages golf clubs to use the recommended CONGU scheme for new junior golfers by
providing them with a handicap between 29 and 54, which can be achieved over 6 or 9 holes of golf. The handicap
awarded is not an official handicap, but is a form of club handicap which can be modified to suit its own needs.
For details of the recommended CONGU Junior Handicapping scheme visit www.congu.com
RECOMMENDED CONGU JUNIOR HANDICAPPING SCHEME
Helps golf clubs to maintain junior handicaps
Question: DOES YOUR GOLF CLUB HOLD REGULAR JUNIOR COMPETITIONS FOR ALL AGES AND ABILITIES?
Junior Golf Guide | SECTION 7
COMPETITIONS It is recommended that ability (not age) should be the only factor for juniors playing in golf club events providing that the handicap limit for juniors is no different to adults. If golf clubs are unable to change these rules, juniors should at the very least be provided with their own junior medal competition, preferably on the same day.
Golf clubs should review competition restrictions for juniors in
possession of a CONGU (official golf club) handicap and ensure
they are equitable. Juniors may be restricted from play within
certain events if it is endorsed or sponsored by enterprises seen
as inappropriate for under age persons.
Some golf clubs now use a tiered entry system for juniors
wishing to play in club competitions whereby the type and
amount of competitions a junior is allowed to play in is
dependent on their handicap.
A junior medal competition should ideally be run in conjunction
with the adult medal to offer a playing opportunity to obtain a
handicap for those juniors yet to achieve the required standard.
Juniors should have access to competitions as soon as they
are ready, however they should be supported and taught the
required skills to make playing competitive golf an enjoyable
experience.
Golf clubs should look to offer a variety of junior competitions
for all abilities with a structured route for progression, with
scores recorded at all stages to measure improvement.
Introducing juniors to competition
Introduce beginners to the concept of a golf hole on a short
course, pitch & putt or make some short holes on the practice
ground.
Once more competent, introduce juniors to a few holes
on the course when it is quiet.
Junior golfers can be accompanied by an adult/buddy to
play 9 holes on the course. Advice should be given on rules
and etiquette and course management.
Handicaps can be awarded after playing 6 or 9 holes.
Accompanied by an adult/buddy, juniors can progress to
playing 18 holes. Once players are knowledgeable on rules,
etiquette and course management, they should be able to play
unaccompanied.
Those players with junior handicaps between 29 and 54 are
still classed as beginners and therefore should have access to
just play in junior competitions until they obtain their CONGU
handicap.
Once a junior has a CONGU handicap, they should have
access to play in club competitions providing they meet
the handicap criteria and any other specific competition
conditions. Age should not be a barrier which prevents juniors
playing in club competitions.
Golf clubs are encouraged to have a Junior Championship
for their junior members, having a gross and nett score winner
for boys and girls. Mixed competition between boys and girls
encourages the development of their games and allows girls in
particular to participate in competitive activity with players of
similar ages and abilities.
Internal matches can also be arranged between the junior
section and other sections of the golf club, such as the men’s,
ladies’ or seniors’ sections.
Entering the local junior league (if there is one) can also
provide players in the junior section with further competitive
opportunities.
To support progression into competitive golf, juniors should
also be involved in a structured coaching programme.
Junior Golf Guide | SECTION 7
COMPETITION FORMATS
STROKE PLAY (Medal)This is where only the gross and/or nett scores are
counted (the number of strokes taken by a player at each
hole is entered on the card). The winner is the person
with the lowest score for each round. The gross or scratch
score is the total before the handicap is deducted and the
nett score is the score after the handicap is deducted.
MATCH PLAYIn match play each hole is a separate competition and the
winner is determined by the number
of holes won rather than the total score. If the number of
holes runs out the match finishes (if a player is 3 up with
2 holes left to play the player has won 3 & 2).
STABLEFORDThe game is based on a points system where points are
determined by the score on each hole.
EAGLE (2 UNDER PAR) 4 POINTSBIRDIE (1 UNDER PAR) 3 POINTS
PAR 2 POINTSBOGEY (1 OVER PAR) 1 POINTDOUBLE BOGEY OR WORSE 0 POINTS (2 OR MORE OVER PAR)
PAR (Bogey)A competition format where a player plays against the par
of the course. For a nett birdie or better a player records
a win as a ‘+’ sign, a par is recorded as a half and a ‘0’ sign
and for a bogey or worse a player records a loss as
a ‘–‘sign.
To make competitions fun and enjoyable for all participants there are a variety of formats which can be used:
Junior Golf Guide | SECTION 7
COMPETITION FORMATS
FOURSOMESA format in which teams are comprised of two players each and
the players alternate hitting the same ball. The first player tees
off, the second player hits the second shot, the first player hits
the third shot and so on until the ball is holed. Players alternate
hitting tee shots so that the same player doesn’t hit every drive.
A fun and sociable format.
GREENSOMESThis is a variation of foursomes (two teams of two, each playing
one ball). In greensomes both players in a team tee off, the
better of the two shots is selected and that ball is then played
alternately until holed.
TEXAS SCRAMBLEThis involves a team of four playing four balls, but with each
shot coming from the same spot (the best of the four drives is
chosen and all four team members then hit from that spot, and
so on).
*The variation in a Texas Scramble is that at least four drives
of each member of the team must be used during the course of
the round: at least four drives hit by Player A, four by Player B,
and so on. The team with the least number of strokes is usually
the winner.
COUNTY COMPETITIONSIndividual counties will have competitive and coaching
opportunities available for junior golfers. For details contact
your County Union or Association details can be found on the
GUW or GDW website.
JUNIOR GOLF TOURNew for 2016, a GUW national competition that will cater for all
juniors and all abilities including those new to the game.
WELSH MINI MASTERSA national par 3, 9 hole competition for beginners and open
non-members designed to be a fun introduction to competition.
Visit www.welshminimasters.org.uk
NATIONAL COMPETITIONSThe Golf Union of Wales run a variety of national junior
championships and results achieved in some of these events
and other specific tournaments can influence selection onto
national squads, although other factors are considered.
The Golf Union of Wales Junior Championships include The
Welsh Boys Under 13/Under 15 Championship, Welsh Boys
Championship, Welsh Girls Championship, Welsh Boys and
Girls Inter Counties and Welsh Junior Inter Club.
For details of Golf Union of Wales Championships visit
www.golfunionwales.org
There are also other competitions such as The Principality
Junior Wales Open run by the Celtic Manor Resort.
For details of these and more opportunities
visit www.golfdevelopmentwales.org
The R&A and LGU also run British boys and girls championships (see www.randa.org and www.lgu.org).
COUNTY & NATIONAL COMPETITIONS
Junior Golf Guide | SECTION 7
ALTERNATIVE FORMATS
CROSS COUNTRY GOLF Set up the course so you play from different tees to
different greens, feel like you are playing a different golf
course.
ECLECTIC Scores from a series of competitions where the aim at the
end is to have the best score on individual holes and the
lowest combined wins.
FLAG COMPETITIONSPlayers given specific number of strokes they can play
and they play the course until they run out. When they run
out you place your flag wherever they finish.
ALTERNATIVE STABLEFORD FORMATMax 10 shots per hole. 10 shots = 1 point, 9 shots= 2
points etc. Players are guaranteed a score on the hole and
can remain competitive throughout the event.
Below are some of the alternative formats shared by CGI
(Confederation Golf Ireland)
GRUESOMESAs per greensomes, but after both players have driven,
your opponents choose which ball you should play.
SHAMBLESAs per greensomes, but after both players have driven,
you choose the best tee shot and then both players play
from that spot with their own ball and complete the hole.
Scoring can be done any number of ways, such as using
the lowest score per hole or the combined score per hole
as the team score.
YELLOW BALL In teams of three or four, each player plays their own ball
and one plays the yellow or alternative colour ball. The
yellow ball score plus the best of the other three counted
for each hole. The lowest aggregate score and the lowest
pink score win. Mind you if you lose the yellow ball, you’re
out!
NO ALIBISExtreme mulligan golf where your handicap converts into
the number of mulligans you receive. So if you have a 6
handicap you get 6 mulligans during the round to replay
any shot. However you must use your opening tee shot
and you cannot replay a shot twice. Everyone then plays
off scratch and the lowest score on each hole wins.
METOOA metoo is where you are allowed to swap your shot for
someone else’s in your group at any hole, be it a drive,
iron shot or putt. Move your ball to where the other shot
finished and you both play the next shot from there. You
may use your metoo to join someone in holing out. Agree
the number of metoo among you depending on your
handicap.
Junior Golf Guide | SECTION 7
The club had the great fortune in 2014 of winning both the Welsh and Glamorgan Championships, and represented Wales at the HomeNations Championships in Spain. In addition the various clubs in Bridgend play a one day event for the Rhys Davies Trophy which takes place at a different club within the borough each year. This has now been played for the last four years.
Ceri-Ann Morgan JUNIOR ORGANISER
CASE STUDYMAESTEG GOLF CLUB
Competition and handicap opportunities
At Maesteg Golf Club their competition and handicap structure is based on the age and ability of a junior member. They have a wide range of abilities, from 4 handicap to 54 handicap. They also offer numerious playing and coaching opportunties for all.
Their Junior Section meets every Saturday morning from the first Saturday in April to the last Saturday in September at
7.45. The club allows the section exclusive use of the first tee until 10.00 a.m. The older juniors and those with lower
handicaps would normally play 18 holes, the middle range 9 hole, and some of the youngest, who are often aged 7 or
8 years old play anywhere between four and nine holes, often depending on the weather. The junior section is run by
a team of 4 adults. The sessions are open to boys and girls and there is no segregation. Both boys and girls play golf
together, both in competition and informal sessions.
They run informal competitions every Saturday for all standards and uses these as one of the methods of revising
handicaps, until the player qualifies for a CONGU handicap. The Junior Club Championship is a match play event,
the final of which is over 36 holes. The club also run a net junior handicap match play trophy. There are three other
singles trophy competitions, one of which is a Stableford and all these are played off handicap. They run a pairs trophy
competition as well as an order of merit, which rewards the most consistent player of the season. As there are plenty
of playing opportunities for juniors on a Saturday. Juniors with a handicap of 17 or below are eligible to play in adult
competitions. Girls with a CONGU handicap can also play in the ladies club competitions.
Coaching is run by the Club Professional on an ad-hoc basis, both in group and individual format. The Junior section
obtained a grant from the Community Chest to purchase specialist coaching equipment, which is used by the
Professional in his sessions. The Professional offers free beginner classes for young children and also links in with
local schools to provide coaching as an introduction to golf.
Boys and girls are both eligible to represent the junior team, a total of 15 players. Many of the juniors also represent
the club’s adult first and second teams. Selection for the team is not based on ability alone. The players have to show
a commitment to the Junior Section.
The club plays in the Glamorgan County West Division, where matches are based on three foursome’s ties along with
a reserve match. Points are scored for all individual matches won over the season and if there were to be a tie, the
reserve matches would then count. .
“
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Junior Golf Guide | SECTION 7
SUMMARY
A handicap helps to monitor a junior’s progression and provides real motivation for young players to continue their participation
and practice their skills.
The recommended CONGU Junior Handicapping Scheme (29 to 54) makes it easier for juniors to obtain their first handicap and enables
players to compete against each other from an earlier stage.
Juniors should be given a structured route to progress through the various stages to competitive golf, which is linked to a coaching programme.
By having the correct level of support it will provide them with the necessary skills and confidence to make playing competitive golf more enjoyable.
Golf clubs are encouraged to offer a range of competitive opportunities for all ages and abilities, utilising different formats and ensuring juniors
are not restricted access to club competitions purely based on age.
Golf clubs should ensure they are aware of the opportunities at county and national level and promote accordingly to their junior players.
Golf clubs can promote their open competitions on www.golfdevelopmentwales.org
GOLF DEVELOPMENT WALES
GUW Offices, Catsash Road, Newport, NP18 1JQ. Wales, UK
Tel No : +44 (0) 1633 436040
E-mail : [email protected]
WWW.GOLFDEVELOPMENTWALES.ORG