Junior golf early season update 2024

Attendance

We are maintaining our membership level across the Junior Section. Although we have lost a couple of members, we have also picked up a few too. We currently have  41 juniors registered on our coaching programme and 21  juniors as non-coaching members.

Uniforms

All the children who have ordered uniforms have received them. Feedback has been excellent and they look great.

Monthly Stableford Competitions

We have had between 3 and 8 entries each month, which is a little disappointing. The competition we had most recently (with 3 entries) was an outlier though, we couldn't avoid clashing with a couple of other things going on in the Devon golfing schedule.

Results

March: Boys - Harry Cann; Girls - Freya Goddard.

April: Abandoned due to poor weather.

May: Boys - Harry Cann; Girls - Emily Goddard.

June: Boys - Jack Watts.

Basil Steer Trophy

Caelan Colwill, Freddy Wilson and Henry Cousins lost their first round match against Honiton, which was played at Tiverton,  2 - 1. 

BCCS Cup

We enter two teams in this competition. 

Caelan Colwill and Charlie Hedden, and Harry Cann and George Cann lost in the first round to Stover.

Jack Watts and Emily Goddard, and Freddy Wilson and Freya Goddard had a bye in the first round, then won their second round match against Saltford Golf Club. Their third round match will be played in July against Wells Golf Club.

Other Competitions

Henry Cousins, Emily Goddard and Freya Goddard have been playing in away competitions. Caelan Colwill has been posting some great scores across adult stableford, medal and team competitions. He has also represented the men's North Devon League team.

Highlights include: 

Canny Ryall Medal: Caelan Colwill - Winner division two.

East Devon Junior Open: Emily Goddard (Justin Rose Medal and Club Stableford) - Winner; Freya Goddard - Nearest the pin in two on the 18th.

Woodbury Junior Open: Emily Goddard - Winner; Freya Goddard - Third place.

Devon Golf Girls Championship (36-hole medal): Emily Goddard - Thirteenth gross; Fifth nett; Second in her age group.

Saunton Club Championship: Freya Goddard - Winner gross; Winner nett.

Help Needed

I would like to put together a group of volunteers to help run the Junior Open this year. We'd like people to help out with introductions as players arrive at the golf club, ball spotters on key holes (to help with pace of play), referees (to ensure player/parent code of contact is followed), welfare (hydration etc.), post match scoring and other things which might crop up. East Devon had the roles above covered off by volunteers and it made their event really stand out. Michael Blight has already offered to be the starter.

I'd also like to have a group of people walk with some of the less experienced players to help them get their handicaps throughout the summer holidays. We have tried this a number of times but didn't get uptake from players. I think we need to give it another try as we don't have enough players coming through with handicaps to maintain current squad levels in 1 - 3 years time.

Julian Goddard - Junior Organiser