GolfMark Award

In order for Skipton Golf Club to receive this award we had to identify our positive elements in the three areas:

Coaching and Playing
All juniors have full access to professional coaching and there is unlimited 'on-course' time for them. The English Golf Union were very impressed that we have no selected 'junior tee times'. At Skipton Golf Club, all juniors with official CONGU handicaps have access to the course whenever they want. Girls with a handicap of 36 or less can take part in any Ladies section competitions. Boys with a handicap of 28 or less can take part in all weekend Men's competitions and enter almost all the club matchplay competitions. And yes, if they win they receive the pro-shop vouchers and the trophies!

Club Environment
We actively encourage our juniors to come into the clubhouse and have a drink and something to eat after their round of golf. By encouraging this they get to meet lots of different people, socialise and make friends with other members of the club. Through this some juniors have played friendly matches for the Rabbits section and take part in other inter-club competitions. Junior girls also represent Skipton Ladies regularly in inter-club matches.

We continuously organise events that both juniors and adults take part in, such as the 'Adult Junior Foursomes competition, as we feel this encourages interaction and mutual respect.

Child Protection and Duty of Care
Behind the scenes there has been a lot of time and effort put into producing our Child Protection policy. Adult members that are involved with the juniors have all been on a Child Protection and Safeguarding Children course, with the majority also being on other courses such as 'Club for All'. As a result of introducing the Child Protection Policy we instigated a male and female Child Welfare Officer, who is available for the juniors to talk to at any time.

As you can see, we have great respect for our junior golfers and we want them to feel part of the club rather than isolating them to their own tee times and their own junior days. This way we feel both the adult and junior members benefit.