JUNIOR SECTION
 
Code of Practice Statement
 
Golf - referring to the collective authority of the Golf Ireland, PGA Ireland and Ashbourne Golf Club are fully committed to safeguarding the well-being of junior members.  Every individual in the Club should, at all times, show respect and understanding of member’s rights, safety and welfare and conduct themselves in a way that reflects the principles of the organisations and the guidelines contained in the “Code of Ethics and Good Practice for Children in Sport” and Golf’s Safeguarding Policy. In working with young people in golf our first priority is the welfare of young people and we are committed to providing an environment that will allow participants to perform to the best of their ability, free from bullying and intimidation.
 
Categories.

• Cadet members are children aged 7 years upwards
• Junior members are young persons aged between 8 and 17 years.

 
 
Rules governing Junior and Cadet Members
 
All junior members and their parent or guardian must sign the Ashbourne Golf Club Code of Conduct
 
 
 Before going out on course:

• At all times Juniors must sign in with the Pro Shop when they arrive in the Golf club. They are not permitted to go out on the course or practice area without first having signed in and may be asked to leave the course in this event.
• Membership identification badge must be displayed on golf bags.
• Junior Members are prohibited from driving a ride-on buggy.

 
Playing Times and rules:

1. All Junior Members are encouraged to participate in their weekly Junior Club competitions and Matchplays.
2. All rules governing the Junior Club are displayed on the Club website.
3. Juniors intending to play outside competition times must at all times check the Time Sheet for observations pertinent to Junior Members.
4. Juniors who are not playing in the daily competition, are not permitted to use the course, practice area or putting green until 30 minutes after the last tee-off time of all adult GOY competitions.

Competitions:

1. Junior Competitions are usually on Tuesdays except where otherwise notified.
2. Entry to competition is by time sheet or through Pro-Shop only.
3. Only one round of golf may be played on Junior Competition Days.
4. Juniors must leave the Clubhouse and its environs no more than one hour after completing their round, except on Junior Competition days.
5. In order to win the Junior Captain’s Prize a member must have played in at least four qualifying junior competitions.

Prizes:

1. Junior boys who play in Men’s Single Competitions will be awarded a separate prize if they bring in a score better than the Prize Winning Score of an Adult in their particular class.
2. Junior Girls who play in Ladies Singles Competitions may compete for all prizes.
3. Juniors who play in adult team events may compete for all prizes.
4. Juniors who enter adult competitions are bound by the rules of that competition.

 
In the event of a Junior winning a prize which includes alcohol, an appropriate alternative prize will be provided.
 
Casual Golf:

1. Juniors without official handicaps, must be accompanied by an adult member or Junior Member who has an official handicap.
2. Juniors aged 12 and over may not tee off after 3.00 pm Monday to Friday without an adult unless they have a playing handicap of 24 or less for boys and 30 or less for girls. Golf Ireland are currently reviewing  the junior handicaps for Juniors playing in adult competitions.
3. Juniors may book their golf through the Office, Pro Shop or On-Line no more than one day in advance, however once their name is on the timesheet, they are entitled to play at that time.
4. Juniors may not play during Inter-Club Competitions, a Society or Classic booking or during Adult Competition times unless they are eligible to play or have been invited to play.
5. In casual golf, Boys must play off the white/yellow tees and Girls off the red/yellow tees.
6. Juniors should commence their golf from the 1st Tee.  The practice of  ‘cutting in’ on any other tee box including the 10th is strictly forbidden, unless instructed to do otherwise by the Pro Shop.

 
Playing Privileges (Sat, Sun, Public & Bank Holidays)

1. Junior Boys with a handicap of 24 or less may compete in all adult competitions (including Medal Competitions subject to the guidelines as set out at 7. Below).  In singles competitions, only Two Junior Boys per line is permitted and he must play with at least one Adult Member. Always check Men’s notice board for details.
2. Junior Girls with a handicap of 30 or less may compete in all adult competitions except GOY competitions or otherwise notified and must play with at least one Adult Member. Always check Ladies notice boards for details.
3. Junior boys with a handicap greater than 24 and Junior Girls with a handicap greater than 30 must play with at least one Adult Member of Ashbourne Golf club.
4. Outside weekend competition times, Junior Boys with a handicap of 24 or less and Junior Girls with a handicap of 30 or less may play unaccompanied by an Adult Member.
5. Juniors may only reserve a Saturday tee time slot after 8pm on the Friday of the weekend they intend to play.
6. Juniors may only reserve a Sunday tee time slot after 8.00 pm on the Saturday of the weekend they intend to play.
7. Guidelines for Juniors entering Medal Competitions:
   1. Junior Boys with a handicap of 24 or less may compete in Men’s Medal Competitions.
   2. They may only reserve a teetime slot after 8.00pm on the evening before the competition is due to take place.
   3. Only Two Junior Boys per line is permitted.
   4. In the event of a junior boy returning a prizewinning score in any category of the Medal Competition, he will be awarded a separate prize.
   5. Junior members who are not competing in the medal, may not use the course, practice area or the practice putting green until at least 30 minutes after the last teetime in the competition.

 
 
Category of Junior Members and Playing Rights:​

* ADVANCE BOOKING TIME FOR CASUAL GOLF IS ALWAYS ONE DAY
 
Opens and Invitational Competitions:
 
Singles Competitions

1. In Men’s Wednesday Invitational Competitions Junior Boys with a handicap of 24 or less, may tee off before 1.00 pm, are limited to Two per line and must be accompanied by an Adult Member of Ashbourne Golf Club.
2. Juniors may only reserve a Wednesday tee time slot after 8.00 pm on the Monday before they intend to play. 
3. In all other Invitational Singles Competitions, Junior Boys with a CONGU handicap of 28 or less may play, subject to a limit of Two per line, provided they are accompanied by an Adult Member of Ashbourne Golf Club.
4. In Open Singles Competitions, Junior Boys with a CONGU handicap of 28 or less may play, subject to a limit of Two per line, provided they are accompanied by an Adult Playing.
5. Junior Girls with a CONGU handicap of 36 or less may play in Ladies Open and Invitational Competitions provided they are accompanied by an Adult Playing. No restrictions on playing times.

  
Team Competitions

1. In Invitation Four Person Team, Three Person Scramble or Rumble, at least one member of the team must be an Adult Member of Ashbourne Golf Club.
2. In Invitation Fourballs, Junior members must be invited by and play with an Adult Member of Ashbourne Golf Club.
3. In Open Team Events, Scrambles, Rumbles or Fourballs, at least one member of the team must be either an Adult Member of Ashbourne Golf Club or an Adult Playing.

Junior Green Fees

• Junior Green Fee  €15 (Monday – Friday)
• No Junior Guests allowed at weekends or on Bank/Public Holidays except during Club organised Open Events.
• Junior Guests must be a member of another Golf Club and have an official handicap from that Club.
• Junior Guests must be 12 years or older.

 
Cadet Members
Cadet members must be accompanied at all times by a Parent or Grandparent.