Tuesday 13 December 2011

Demise of the Junior Open?

During my countrywide travels around golf clubs this summer, it came to my attention that many golf clubs were struggling to fill a field for their respective Junior Opens. I was amazed at this news and the more clubs I asked the more disappointed I became.

Not only were clubs experiencing reduced entries, some even had to cancel scheduled events due to lack of numbers. Clubs were also battling to field enough players to make up a team for league matches.

The junior organizers at most clubs were at a loss as to explain why juniors had apparently given up playing competitive golf. A number of suggestions came up as possible reasons, such as cost, difficulties with transport, concerns about safety, parents too busy and so on.

All of these issues were around when I began playing as a junior in the mid 1970’s.The stark difference then was that I faced being balloted out of some events that had been over subscribed, because my handicap was too high.

Sports clubs today have to have a child welfare officer or volunteers who have sat Child Safety and Good Practice courses before they can even help out with junior programmes. Add to this being Checked by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) to see if you are a fit and proper person to supervise children in your care makes it even more galling that all this effort is being made for and on behalf of junior golfers and then they don’t play.

The cost of a junior membership for twelve months golf, entertainment, fresh air and exercise would probably be less than £100 at most golf clubs. This, I believe, represents fantastic value and is demonstrated by the numbers of junior members in golf clubs throughout the country. But why do they not want to compete?

I know this sounds like a bit of a rant but I am astonished at this situation. Do we need to educate parents about the benefits of their children playing golf and competing? Do we need to take a look at the atmosphere created at some clubs with rules and traditions that may deter youngsters competing? Is there an over emphasis on getting the “right technique” before they enter competitions? Is this just happening in golf? My 13-year-old son plays cricket and football. Both those sports appear to be healthy with junior competitors so how do we turn around this worrying trend in junior golf?

2 comments:

  1. Sad times....especially when you think of the future implications.
    Something for study during the MSc?

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  2. HI Paul, I have worked at West Derby GC and they do a great job with Dave Duncalf at the helm. However, other clubs seem to have two issus in my minds eye. Firstly, the recession is stopping people travelling and even £100 a year is a lot to middle income families, children play golf in summer at public courses, never holding a handicap, or simply smash a ball at a driving range. Secondly, golf is simply not as popular as it was , say ten years ago. CHildren these days often lack the tenacity to work at golf to develop success. As the modern child wants immediate success, they find golf frustrating as it does take a while to become a skilled player (for the majority). It is sad to see that competitive golf is on a decline in the Uk, when the worlds top three are all BRitish.

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