‘It takes a village to raise a child’ – African proverb.
Southport Golf Club recognises that the future of any family, organisation, sporting club or country rests in the hands its youngest members. However, securing that future for our youngest is the responsibility of parents, carers, teachers, coaches, and the community at large.
The 50+ young members enrolled in the Southport Golf Club Juniors Squad, with support from their family, friends and club members are, without doubt, the future of the Southport Golf Club.
Although our juniors’ program is not designed to create elite golfers, this is very often a gratifying and enriching by-product for both the Club and the individual. Many of our juniors, both boys and girls, have grown to become professional golfers.
However, the fundamental role of our Juniors program is to introduce young men and women to the game of golf, to have them and their families share in the social aspects of the game and to reinforce the values of respect for social etiquette upon which the great sport of golf is built.
The cornerstone of the Southport Golf Club Juniors Program is the teaching professionals and staff who each deliver ‘above and beyond’ throughout the year to nurture the future of our club – our Juniors.
Together with the team in the Golf Shop and several member volunteers some wonderful outcomes are achieved each year and, as we move beyond our Centenary year (2024), we plan to continue to build on that success to set new benchmarks in Junior Golf Programs in Queensland and Australia.
As the leading member-owned Club on the Gold Coast, Southport Golf Club is a leader in junior development. The 5-level program encourages juniors to work through the levels as their golf and athletic skills develop. It is at the sole discretion of the Professionals to assess each junior to determine if they are ready to progress to the next level.
The junior golfers will be guided by Head PGA Professional Ben Campbell, who has over 15-years of experience, Assistant PGA Professional Mitch Wilson and PGA Associate Margarita Zakareyshvili. The team encourages juniors to come down and have a go in our fun and relaxed environment.
The levels are designed to ensure that kids with similar skills learn together. We do not impose timeframes for moving between levels, as everyone learns at their own pace. We evaluate each situation individually. SGC has our three PGA members running the program, and each will be happy to advise you when your child is ready to move to another class.
Beginners: Designed for the youngest golfers aged 4 to 7 who are learning the basics of the golf swing and golf etiquette. If your child is in this age group or has never held a golf club, the Beginners class is appropriate.
Level A: For golfers aged 4 to 7 who have been attending our classes for some time and are familiar with the group lesson structure and basics of the golf swing.
Level B: For kids aged 7 to 11 who have more experience with their golf swing and are being introduced to more complex games and skills.
Cadets: An intermediate stage for juniors aged 7 to 14. During these sessions, juniors continue developing their skills and frequently play on the golf course. This level is ideal for children who are confident with their golf swing and want to improve their skills while playing with peers. It is a transition between the Junior Clinics and Junior Membership. Cadets start by playing 9 holes and competing among themselves, and as they gain confidence, they progress to 18 holes, allowing them to get a handicap and join the club as junior members, participating in the members’ competitions.
Junior Pennant Team: For juniors who have achieved their Golf Australia Handicap and can participate in both Junior Competitions and Members Comp, representing the Club in the Gold Coast District Matchplay Series.
FOR PARENTS
Junior Program
Frequently Asked Questions
SUNDAY SESSIONS
Beginner
4-7yo – Never played golf before
Level A
4-7yo – Intermediate
Level B
8-11yo
Cadets
11yo+ – Intermediate
Pennant Team
11yo+ – Advanced
Like to join the Southport Golf Club Juniors Squad?
If you have any questions regarding Junior’s membership, including the relevant joining fees, the process of becoming a junior member or to obtain an application form, please contact our office:
Tel: (07) 5571 1444