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A part
from its monitoring function, the JGA’s role at the national level is to
arrange golfing activities in which all junior programmes
can compete. In this context the JGA
organizes tournaments
and junior golf clinics. Drive
Chip and Putt competitions and Skills Testing events will be
put in place for participation by all junior programs.
Each
junior golf program is being encouraged to take the activities of their programmes
beyond golf. One of the objectives of the National Junior Golf Programme
is to produce well rounded and well adjusted
junior golfers who have had their characters
shaped by the discipline that the rules of golf
imposes on anyone who plays the game.
The National Junior Golf Program therefore is planned to impact
on the lives of its participants at the level of their
education, health, social and psychological development.
Over
the next three years, the National Junior Golf Committee (NJGC)
plans to help those
member clubs without programmes to put one in place. When this has been achieved there will be
approximately 500 juniors in programmes across the island.
The ultimate
goal is to have the island’s junior players competing with distinction in
regional and international tournaments.
Junior Golf
Recruiting
The
approach to recruiting new
golfers differs according to the
individual programmes. Juniors between the ages of 7 and 16 who wish to
enter the Constant Spring programme can do so by a number of routes-
(a) Be the child of a member of the Constant Spring Golf
Club
(b) Be the child of a member of the JGA
(c) Be a student at a Corporate area school participating in the
JGA
Recruitment Programme
The programmes at
SuperClubs Runaway Bay and Ironshore host annual golf camps during the summer
for the children of their members and
children drawn from communities near the
golf courses. Each year, these programmes select new juniors
for further training from participants
in the summer camps.
Dress Code
All participants are expected to comply with the dress code of the programme. A
golf shirt with collar, golf shorts or pants and golf shoes or sneakers are
mandatory. A cap to ward off the sun is recommended.
For more information,
please contact:
Junior Golf Chairman – Mark Newnham
m.newnham
Programme Financing
In order to implement its plans for Junior Golf, the JGA will
be seeking out companies and individuals
who are willing to contribute to the programme.
To this end, the
National Junior Golf Committee will be approaching major sponsors for financial
assistance.
The
NJGC's first effort at raising funds for Junior
Golf will be a Scramble to be held at the Constant Spring Golf Club on 31st
May. Billed “Families and Friends Scramble for Junior Golf”, this
tournament, through sponsorship and entry fees, will seek to raise $1 Million
dollars.
Program Activities to Date
Since the re-structuring of the National Junior Programme, a number of activities
have taken place.
In August 2002, a Golf
Clinic was held at the SuperClubs golf course Runaway Bay. Later that month,
the “JGA NORTH COAST 18” for junior golfers was held at the same venue and
attracted 75 participants. The Club also held its Summer Camp graduation during
the month.
In September 2002, SuperClubs
Golf Club at Ironshore held its Summer Camp graduation.
October saw the “JGA WESTERN 18” teeing off at Ironshore where 85 junior golfers
participated. In that same month, the National Junior Golf Committee held the
first of its golf clinics at the Constant Spring Golf Club to recruit juniors
from Corporate Area Schools. Students from Kingston Technical High School
attended this clinic and a number of the students were selected for the
programme.
In November, students from
Immaculate Conception High School attended the recruiting clinic and 10 girls
from that school were selected and are now undergoing training. Another event
teed off in Runaway Bay and was again well supported.
The premier junior
tournament, the All Jamaica Junior Golf Championship is
held over two days every year in December.
Each year a number of sponsors are recruited for the event.
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