section 7 - junior golf 7.pdf · handicaps can be awarded after playing 6 or 9 holes. accompanied...

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?


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.


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:


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


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.


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. .

“

”


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

section 7 - junior golf 7.pdf · handicaps can be awarded after playing 6 or 9 holes. accompanied...

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