Juniors Section

Our aim is to introduce juniors to the wonderful game of golf in a stimulating and enjoyable way. During the year we hold regular improvement clinics and competitions for juniors of all ages and abilities. Most clinics are held on a Saturday during term time, with Junior Days on Tuesday and Thursday, during holiday periods.

By using the Golf Foundation’s Passport to Golf programme we cover all the principle areas of golf from basic golfer’s code to putting, short game, long game and final playing on the course.

CHARTER FOR JUNIOR GOLF - we have a responsibility to the Juniors to promote
- Junior golf within the club
- a recognised Section
- representation on the management committee
- a welcoming environment
- basic teaching
- adopting EGU and ELGA Children in Golf Child Protection guidelines
- a junior coaching system to monitor/measure the junior's progress
- a junior membership with minimum restrictions
- regular competitions

MISSION STATEMENT
- talent is nothing without opportunity
- enjoyable and safe golf for you and others
- develop better golfers and better people

To develop better golfers is easy to understand but to develop better people, is that not an ambition far beyond achievement? We think not, for while golf appears to be a totally physical game there are those of us who know that it is a mental game and the mental disciplines of golf can be transferred to life. There is the pleasure of success and the survival of committed errors, very necessary for life.

THE WAY FORWARD
We want children to take up golf for many reasons. We know that some will start with us and then move on, not least of all to University. Golf is a life long game, open to everyone and almost everywhere. Golf is excellent exercise with friends in the open air, no matter what, there is always the three F's, Fun, Fresh air, Friends.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR GOLF
During school holidays Juniors play competitions on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12.30 for 1.00pm. This would be the time when Juniors who need to gain a handicap do so under guidance from the Junior organiser. The requirement is to play three nine holes in the company of a member who has a handicap. There are of course concessions made for very young players and these are explained when the need arises.

Juniors can play golf at other times by communicating with the Pro Shop. The Club Pro runs coaching sessions every other Saturday at midday and further details of these sessions can be found by contacting the Pro Shop.

A further development of Junior golf is the provision of coaching by Mark Amey who plans to hold his sessions at the club on the range Tuesdays between 5pm and 6pm. Mark willingly teaches children from 5 years upwards. To find out more contact Mark on 07771593081.

PARTNERSHIP WITH PARENTS
We work in partnership with both the children and their parents. Everybody at the Club who works with the children have been vetted by the CRO. We gain the consent of parents and provide written documentation so that we can go forward together.

It is a delicate matter as to how much independence the Juniors have but this is determined in consultation with the parents. Obviously very young children must always have an adult in attendance but the older Juniors suddenly spring the wings of independence. If there are medical problems then we will share them with confidence.

JUNIOR COMMITMENT
- attendance at basic training
- adherence to the Club rules, both on and off the course
- participation in a set number of competitions per annum
- read and follow the guidance in the EGU etiquette booklet

Our attached professional Kevin Caplehorn is one of the most experienced teaching professionals in the county and he and our junior organiser, David Hart, are committed to the development of junior golf.

Please call the Secretary for up to date information.

New Forest Golf Club Junior golf sensation Bayley Lewendon is beginning to cause a stir on the local golfing scene.

The Christchurch Junior School pupil was recently voted Most Improved Player for 2007 at the New Forest Golf Club after lowering his handicap from 36 to 21 in just a year at the tender age of eight.

Bayley also won the 2006 Wee Wonders Tournament in Dorset and this year 2007 he finished second at the same event.

Bayley was five years old when he asked his parents if he could start playing golf and once they had agreed and took him for his first lessons it was obvious he had a special talent. His dad Jeff said “Bayley lives and breathes golf, he plays five days a week and his enthusiasm has rubbed off on the rest of the family and we have all taken up the sport”.

Article and photo by courtesy of New Milton Advertiser - 29th December 2007