Local Golf Courses Join Forces to Create Fun Golf Competition
The goal? To grow golf in our local area! The Junior Golf League of Huron Perth will begin its fourth season in 2020. Six Southwestern Ontario courses, including the St. Marys Golf & Country Club, Stratford Country Club, Stratford Municipal, Listowel Golf Club, Mitchell Golf & Country Club, and The Fox Golf Club have teamed up to create a fun golf competition where junior golfers compete in a team-vs-team format.
‘The Junior Golf League’ (JGL) of Huron Perth: a group of local golf courses that have come together to form junior golf teams that will compete in a fun golf league throughout the summer. The goal of the league is to foster the future golfers and leaders of tomorrow in Huron-Perth counties. The JGL brings together boys and girls, ages 16 and under, in a fun, competitive environment. Local golf advocates who will be responsible for creating a welcoming environment while developing skills and core values of the young golfers will captain the teams.
Foundation of the Junior Golf League (JGL)
Schedule – each golf course / team hosts a one-day golf event and the tournaments are hosted throughout the summer.
Number of Team Members / Golfers – each course has a team of anywhere from eight to 14 players, playing in age divisions, broken down as follows:
- Novice Division (Ages 9-10): Two (2) team members / golfers
- Peewee Division (Ages 11-12): Two (2) team members / golfers
- Bantam Division (Ages 13-14): Two (2) team members / golfers
- Midget Divison (Ages 15-16): Two (2) team members / golfers
Food – the host golf course is responsible for feeding the participants (golfers and captains) at each event
Captains / Coaches – each golf course team has a team coach / captain (adult) that coaches each course's team!
Format of the JGL
Team vs. Team – similar to the PGA Jr. League Golf (www.pgajlg.com/format), each team plays one another throughout the season in a team vs. team ‘scramble’ format, with the league championship determining 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place. For example:
- League Championship: 1st Place vs. 2nd Place and 3rd Place vs. 4th Place, 5th Place vs. 6th Place
Matches – each game is played in 9-holes, broken down into 3-hole matches.
Points – four points are awarded per game, one point per each 3-hole match, plus one additional point for the overall game, based on most number of holes won.
Prizes – each golf course contributes money towards prizes, which are given out at the League Championship
Trophy – each golf course has contributed funds to League trophies, which are awarded to the winning and runner-up teams at the League Championship
What Else Should You Know?
Team Uniforms – players dress in appropriate golf attire (golf shirt and pants or shorts) and each team wears a different coloured team golf shirt!
Future ‘Divisions’ – as the players grow / progress through the JGL system, we anticipate adding a 17-18 Age Divisions in future JGL seasons
Player Selection – courses have tryouts to pick their team members, based on a combination of:
- Skill – has participated in your course’s junior golf camp,
- Passion for the Game – loves the game of golf and is advocate for local golf in Huron-Perth,
- Etiquette – follows and respects the rules and ethics of the game of golf, and
- Participation – plays the game on a regular basis with the goal of making golf an principal part of his/her life (whether to support business, social or professional career)