Juniors

Thornhill Golf Club has a thriving and active Junior Section with activities for all ages, 5-18.

The golf “season” for the juniors starts with an Easter Club during the school holidays – lessons with our Roving Pro, Ross Murdoch (Tower Wood Driving Range), on our grass practice area, and putting and chipping area – and some time playing off our black tees (100-150 yards from our greens) for the younger/less experienced and off the red tees/yellow tees for the older/more experienced.

From April to September, there are Wednesday and/or Fridays competitions for Juniors – 9 holes off the black or red tees, and 18 holes off the red or yellow/white tees – the junior competitions are an opportunity to play on the course, and see how you are progressing from week to week, have fun and meet other juniors. 

Then, the golf club offers the local primary schools starter/refresher sessions, through Nithsdale Active Schools, at school during school time.  These culminate in a Golf Festival at the golf club, normally in early June.

At the same time, and until the summer holidays, Friday Club will be operating from 1600 hours (subject to availability) on the practice areas, and black course – an opportunity to practice, and play some golf, get a handicap, meet other juniors.

The club registers annually with Scottish Junior Golf for the Junior Skills Challenge; the Junior Flag Championships; and the Junior GolfSixes, as well as the Roving Pro Scheme.  The GolfSixes is a fun format of 6 holes in a 2-person Texas Scramble over the black course.  The Flag Competition is when the juniors play the course, and have a certain number of shots, and they place their flag when they have used up their shots.  The Skills Challenge involved chipping; putting and driving challenges.  During Friday Club and Summer Club there will be lots of practices and competitions for these 3 events.

Friday Club will also be used as a follow-on from the Golf Festival, with a further block of lessons with Ross Murdoch.  (There will be a small charge for these group lessons for members and non-members, and non-members will also contribute towards their membership).  After the lessons, everyone will then be in a position to take part in Summer Club.

Throughout the season there are Junior Medals and Competitions on Wednesdays and Fridays.  Juniors start off playing on the black course – flag competitions and 6-hole and 9-hole competitions.  They, then, progress to the red course (ladies; tees) and they will get a 9-hole handicap to start with, and will progress to a 18-hole handicap.  With a handicap of 28, the boys will then progress to playing off the men’s tees.

The Juniors at Thornhill participate in the Dumfriesshire Junior League and for the younger ones, the Dumfriesshire GolfSixes League, as well as the Dumfriesshire Qualifier for the Flag Competition.  These give our juniors the opportunity to compete against and socialise with Juniors from other clubs.

The Junior Section is a club where the youngsters can have fun in a friendly atmosphere, while developing their golf, and enjoying each other’s company.  The parents/carers of juniors will be kept up-to-date regularly, throughout the season, and they are an integral part of the Junior Section. 

I can be contacted at:

Mobile:  07801304442
E-mail:  juniors@thornhillgolfclub.co.uk

 and you can register interest on behalf of any U18, by completing the Thornhill Golf Club Junior Contact Form, and emailing it to me.

Gladys McClymont
Junior Convener