Junior Playing Policy 2025
I would ask that all parents and juniors study the Policy thoroughly.
We want to encourage our juniors to play and enjoy their golf. We also want them to improve as they are the future of the Club and representing us with pride. In order to do so we want them to play often. We have a very strong junior section and a lot of members. The reason we have attracted so many new members is because of the quality of service we offer and the accessibility to the timesheet. Junior members receive much more access to the course than they do in many other courses and for a very modest fee. In order to maintain this access, it is important that certain rules are followed. We need to balance the needs and wants of our Juniors with those of our other members who pay a much larger fee. This necessitates boundaries and guidelines for our junior members who, naturally, have little experience around rules and ethics of golf. Failure to adhere to these rules and ethics will lead to reputational damage for this section of our club leading to restrictions to supervised junior competitions only. This is not in the interest of our club or our juniors.
Junior Access to the course.
All bookings must be made on Clubnet. There is to be no casual play without prior booking. If you are playing with a guest it is your responsibility to ensure they have paid the relevant green fee. Failure to do this may result in termination of your membership.
On days where there is a Junior Competition. Juniors are expected to play in the Junior competition slots only.
Junior members will have JM beside their name on Clubnet so they can be easily identified. We propose to have another category of junior member, namely Qualified Junior Member (QJM). This will appear beside their name on Clubnet. A QJM has achieved the necessary handicap index of 24 for boys and 40 for girls to be eligible to play in all adult competitions. They may play and win these competitions. This will give junior members a target to work towards to become a QJM. To become a QJM they must pass a test on the rules of golf. They must take a screen shot of this and email to the office or junior convenor with their handicap index who will update their status to QJM.
While Junior members may play on any day, this is strictly limited to off peak times only. Particular care must be taken not to book during the busy periods of adult competitions- which take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and the first Thursday of each month and weekends.
‘Off peak’ is defined as 50% occupancy or less during any 1-hour range, 24 hours in advance. Juniors should ensure that there is at least 1 empty slot between them and the next group. They must keep up their pace of play. If they are not able to do this they should pick up their ball and move to the next hole, stand in a safe place and call the next group through or leave the course.
Weekend Competitions.
Morning slots are reserved for Adult members only. However, if a slot or line is free at 8pm the night before a QJM may book this slot- they must also play in the competition of the day.
Junior members’ may play at the weekend but only at ‘off peak’ times and outside the competition- see above.
Course Supervision and Juniors playing alone.
It is not the responsibility of Courtown Golf Club to provide supervision for juniors. It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure that their child has the requisite skill and golf knowledge to play in manner that is safe for them and those around them. Otherwise, the golf course can be a very dangerous place.
Juniors are not permitted to play alone without a basic level of skill and necessary golf awareness.
At all times Juniors under the age of 12 must be supervised by an adult, a QJM or a junior member aged 15 with golf experience. Juniors over the age of 12 may play together without adult supervision only when the following criteria are met:
Dress Code.
All junior members playing the on the course must abide by the club dress code both on the course and in the clubhouse. For younger cadets typically aged 12 and below a more relaxed dress code is acceptable. While golf attire will be encouraged it will not be enforced with the younger cohort.
I would ask that all parents and juniors study the Policy thoroughly.
We want to encourage our juniors to play and enjoy their golf. We also want them to improve as they are the future of the Club and representing us with pride. In order to do so we want them to play often. We have a very strong junior section and a lot of members. The reason we have attracted so many new members is because of the quality of service we offer and the accessibility to the timesheet. Junior members receive much more access to the course than they do in many other courses and for a very modest fee. In order to maintain this access, it is important that certain rules are followed. We need to balance the needs and wants of our Juniors with those of our other members who pay a much larger fee. This necessitates boundaries and guidelines for our junior members who, naturally, have little experience around rules and ethics of golf. Failure to adhere to these rules and ethics will lead to reputational damage for this section of our club leading to restrictions to supervised junior competitions only. This is not in the interest of our club or our juniors.
Junior Access to the course.
All bookings must be made on Clubnet. There is to be no casual play without prior booking. If you are playing with a guest it is your responsibility to ensure they have paid the relevant green fee. Failure to do this may result in termination of your membership.
On days where there is a Junior Competition. Juniors are expected to play in the Junior competition slots only.
Junior members will have JM beside their name on Clubnet so they can be easily identified. We propose to have another category of junior member, namely Qualified Junior Member (QJM). This will appear beside their name on Clubnet. A QJM has achieved the necessary handicap index of 24 for boys and 40 for girls to be eligible to play in all adult competitions. They may play and win these competitions. This will give junior members a target to work towards to become a QJM. To become a QJM they must pass a test on the rules of golf. They must take a screen shot of this and email to the office or junior convenor with their handicap index who will update their status to QJM.
While Junior members may play on any day, this is strictly limited to off peak times only. Particular care must be taken not to book during the busy periods of adult competitions- which take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and the first Thursday of each month and weekends.
‘Off peak’ is defined as 50% occupancy or less during any 1-hour range, 24 hours in advance. Juniors should ensure that there is at least 1 empty slot between them and the next group. They must keep up their pace of play. If they are not able to do this they should pick up their ball and move to the next hole, stand in a safe place and call the next group through or leave the course.
Weekend Competitions.
Morning slots are reserved for Adult members only. However, if a slot or line is free at 8pm the night before a QJM may book this slot- they must also play in the competition of the day.
Junior members’ may play at the weekend but only at ‘off peak’ times and outside the competition- see above.
Course Supervision and Juniors playing alone.
It is not the responsibility of Courtown Golf Club to provide supervision for juniors. It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure that their child has the requisite skill and golf knowledge to play in manner that is safe for them and those around them. Otherwise, the golf course can be a very dangerous place.
Juniors are not permitted to play alone without a basic level of skill and necessary golf awareness.
At all times Juniors under the age of 12 must be supervised by an adult, a QJM or a junior member aged 15 with golf experience. Juniors over the age of 12 may play together without adult supervision only when the following criteria are met:
- They must have played in 4 Junior competitions and attended at least 2 lessons.
- They are playing with a QJM or another junior member who has played more than 10 junior competitions.
- Have specific permission from the junior committee
Dress Code.
All junior members playing the on the course must abide by the club dress code both on the course and in the clubhouse. For younger cadets typically aged 12 and below a more relaxed dress code is acceptable. While golf attire will be encouraged it will not be enforced with the younger cohort.