Onneley GC has long been associated with junior golf: no less a figure than David Gilford – later to be a Walker Cup then European Tour player and a member of two victorious Ryder Cup teams – learned his game here. His achievements will not easily be equalled but among recent graduates from our Junior Academy system one has gone on to become an Assistant Professional at a local club and another is about to complete a University degree course in golf-related sports management. Today’s youth is the game’s future and we are keen to promote the health and social benefits that golf offers to all young people.

Although we do not generally admit boys and girls under eight to junior membership, the club is happy to open the practice ground and putting green for use by children from the age of five upwards. All children who are not yet junior members must be accompanied at all times by a parent or guardian (or other responsible adult appointed by a parent/guardian) who, if not a club member, has contacted the club to be made aware of the safety rules that apply. These particularly concern the dangers of flying golf-balls and the safe routes and practices for getting to and from the practice-ground. The responsible adult is then solely responsible for safety and wellbeing of the child while using the golf club facilities. The club professional will provide appropriate lesson sessions for children from the age of five, subject to the presence of a responsible adult as above. We do not recommend taking very young children out on the course itself and do not permit non-members to do so.

The club's formal programmes begin at the age of eight via our Junior Academy. Its aim is to advance each child as soon as possible to playing over the course, and we run regular junior competitions each year to encourage friendly participation. These run on most summer Sundays, with a more flexible pattern of games over the winter period. In addition there are dedicated junior sections of the Captain’s and President’s Day competitions. Younger and less experienced children take part in supervised play over six or nine shortened holes, and the more advanced pupils play the full 18 hole course once they are sanctioned to play unsupervised. We award trophies and medals to winners in each skill category to recognise their achievement and progress, and once the pandemic is over, plan to resume the presentation evening in late September each year.

The academy is to be run by the club professional (when appointed), with the help of a group of volunteers. It offers group coaching on summer Saturdays, and parents interested in seeing the work of the team should contact the clubhouse for more information. For all of our juniors, coaching and tuition is to be provided by the Club Professional to aid their development to the point where they can be awarded a club handicap and ultimately a WHS handicap, which entitle the holder to play in adult competitions.