Juniors in Competitions

[sweatysock41]

Thank god we don't have a ban the juniors attitude at our place - in fact the Club Champion is a junior, and not the best of the ones we have (my opinion).

Juniors are the future and I feel should be encouraged to play in every comp they can. Playing under pressure against the adult membership can only do good both for them and the club. I love to watch them attack the ball without a care usually wishing I was 30 years younger and could swing a club with the athleticism of youth.

Let them play and if they win congratulate and encourage them.

 

[Oddsocks]

100% spot on sweaty... its the not welcome attitude that makes golf an old mans sport and creates the them and us devide.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

As a beneficiary of playing in them as a junior I've no problem with juniors taking part in competitions although in my day it was playing off 18 and below. I'd happily see them allowed in from 28. Its a great way for them to learn about themselves, meet other members and actually feel a wanted member of a club instead of viewed as an inconvenience.

The only potential issue I would have would be if there were too many entrants and senior members were unable to play. I think senior members need to be able to play at weekends as the main contributors tot he club in the terms of subs

 

[Oddsocks]

homer hit the nail on the head, our juniors section was big, so we had to have a HC limit on to keep limited entrants in. its amazing how much your learn about the game playing with older members, thats everything from rules, ettiquate, creativeness, and course management,.

My course is a muni, and if we are playing and there is room in the group... any junior is welcome in.

 

[Bash]

thats descrimination against age "

There are two sides to every coin. Us men aren't allowed to enter juniors comps (Also ageism?).
Also at our club they won't let us men play in any of the ladies' comps (sex discrimination?)
As a 48 year old, I'm not even allowed to enter any of the seniors competitions (Another example of discrimination agains age?)

Oh, and another thing.....When I was last down at Marks and Spencers, they wouldn't let me use the ladies changing rooms....... How far do we have to go with this?


In short, I believe the competitions are put into categories such as juniors, mens, ladies and seniors for a number of good reasons. Unless we do away with these categories and just have one captain and make competitions open to all, then surely it's better for everyone concerned that things remain as they are?

Right, I've had my say now. I'm getting off this soapbox and popping down my local for a few beers

(And before anyone asks, Yes. Juniors are welcome there but if under 12 are not allowed in the members bar after 9.30pm)

 

[Oddsocks]

if a junior player has a compitent enough game to compete with the adults it should be open, if the kids has a pair of balls he should be able to play with the men, if the juiour has the other organs, get her in the ladies comps.

seniors and age/sex specific groups to remain as they are but as they say... let your golf do the talking.

 

[Imurg]

The only downside I see is the possibility of a reduction in the number of adults entering comps knowing that a Spotty Yoof is likely to walk off with the spoils.
If Juniors win too often, the membership may get disgruntled.

 

[bluewolf]

If you're good enough, you're old enough... If I get beat by a Junior, it's because they were the better golfer... I have absolutely no issue with that....

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'm happy for juniors to enter but not at the detriment of a full member not getting a game. A lot of our comps in winter are drawn times only because of the light and so get filled up pretty quickly. If 20 juniors nipped up after school and nooked places and stopped some of the members getting in there would be riots. In the summer we have pre-booked for those that want them in the morning of a comp and for the medals and stablefords there is then a roll up after. No problem with them going in that

 

[Mike_j_golf]

Juniors are allowed to play in all comps at our club but not allowed to collect first prize, they have to play with a adult member seems to work well they can win a prize while there handicap is tumbling in the 50 odd comps they play during the summer. once they are into single figures they can win first prize.
Mike

 

[kmdmr1]

All those against juniors playing in adult comps should give it a try,you may learn something..junior golfers are always going to get better and improve almost week by week,they should be allowed to play in any comp they want providing their handicap meets the right critiera.

 

[DaveM]

Just something to ponder on. Due to the equal oppertunitys and sex discrimanation laws. A lot of the golf clubs in the Manchester area that I know of. Starting next year will be having a flat rate membership fee ( one price for all. men ,seniors, ladies,). When this comes into effect then anyone should be able to enter any comp. As it would be discrimination not to allow it. On the grounds of sex or age?

 

[Imurg]

I can just see a bunch of Men turning up to raid the Ladies Medal on a Tuesday morning

 

[Wayman]

to be honest ive just came out of being a junior and at the age of 14 or 15
and only getting a chance to get your handicap down around 8 or 9 times a year (thats how many junior comps are at my home club)

good job ive been off single figures for last part of 6 year meself i had a chance to play in mens comps even mens scratch team matches
but you have got to least to let the kids try even if its for handicap purposes
my home club has came become more junior club in last few years letting juniors play in medals but just for handicap reasons which i thinks good

 

[DaveM]

I can just see a bunch of Men turning up to raid the Ladies Medal on a Tuesday morning

It could make a fun day? A whole new meaning to loosing you balls in the rough????

 

[Swinger]

No, no and no. They have their own comps, they can play those.

Junior comps are won with scores like 54 points stable ford. That is beyond most adults, by miles. They get 3 months of the year when they can practice 17 hours a day, their handicaps cannot keep up. Not their fault, but no, they should not be playing in adult board comps.

This.

I'm a big fan of supporting junior golf and getting/keeping them interested but the speed in which they do improve can leave their H/C far behind.

They let it happen at our place and it doesn't effect me playing in cat 1 for all the scratch medals but the amount of moans about them winning big events does get pretty lound around August and September. If they spank me without shots then thats my problem!

The secretary at our place does run mini comps all t/out the summer if enough of them are around to keep them keen and try to keep their H/C's more level but they come on so quick over the summer months that it only takes the edge off it. Also one of the cocky b'stard was using them to go up .1 for the Club Champs (nett) which he won by a mile.

 

[CallawayKid]

Absolute epic answers chaps and I've had pretty much all of them from members I've asked. Think it will be good to allow them in but not for board comps excluding the club champion of course. That should be the best scratch golfer regardless of age or sex.

Knew you'd be the ones to ask, I doff my cap to one and all!!

CK

 

[palindromicbob]

Don't mind it but only if they would be willing to pay additional fee's to play at peak times on weekends or else forced to go out during the later slots. Would get on my nerves if I couldn't get a tee time on a Sat or Sunday morning because the time sheet was full of Juniors paying a fraction of the membership fee.

 

[Mungoscorner]

Narrow minded,ignorant,and sad,is how i'd describe some of the laughable comments concerning Juniors,and there eligibilty to play in "adult" competitions.
Heres an example i heard two weeks ago,from one of the seniors at my club.
"Them bloody kids shouldn't be allowed to play in our comps,they only pay a hundred quid,and they get there own bloody tee times on a sunday morning"
The facts are,the juniors (all 9 of them) get a half hour slot at 8 on a sunday morning.How ironic then,that the seniors also get a substantially reduced membership fee,and have the course booked untill 12.30 on a wednesday for there "own" competitions.

Let the kids play golf FFS !!!

 

[Smiffy]

Murph has got it "nearly right".
I think that Juniors should be allowed to play in mens competitions but not until their handicaps have come down to a more realistic level, say 18 or so.
If you look at the junior competition results at my club, most are won, as he says, with 54 points by a youngster playing off 36 or 30. Usually 51 or 52 points is good enough for runners up spot.
Look at the results of the 18 handicapped juniors and they are more inline with what you would "expect" to see as a winning score.
If you told a youngster on joining that once they got down to 18 handicap they would be allowed to play in "senior" competitions, surely this would only be a good thing as it would give them a realistic target to aspire to.
So don't ban them altogether, just be a little more "selective".