Apart 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@jamaicagolfassociation.com

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 31^st 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.