Welcome to the Juniors’ Section!
I have been Junior Convenor at Gifford for many years and from 2024 I am pleased to say David Fraser will be joining me.
Our Junior section covers all ages up to the age of 18. Currently, we have around 50 Members with all different levels of experience. We offer a full calendar of events including fun events, medals and other competitions.
Our season starts with an Information Evening. Juniors come along with their families and hear all about the Club and what we do for the Juniors. This includes how to get a handicap, coaching, what’s available once they obtain their handicaps not only at Gifford but in the County, how to enter competitions, rules and etiquette.
In early April, we have Junior Coaching with pro Derek Small who has been giving lessons to our juniors at Gifford for many years. The coaching is in the form of group coaching and having my PGA-level certificate I can assist Derek with the sessions.
As a club we will enter a team into the East Lothian Junior Golf League , this gives juniors plenty opportunities to play different courses in East Lothian.
We also take part in the Scottish Golf Sixes which is suited for Juniors 12 and under with no handicap or a handicap of 37+.
Anyone with any queries please do not hesitate to contact me.
Shona Paton, Juniors Convenor
Check upcoming Juniors’ Events: here
Juniors’ Club Competitions
Watt/Woodhead Trophy – juniors compete for this trophy from May to September
Juniors’ Gordon Brotherstone Trophy – played in June
Blyth Trophy – juniors compete for this trophy from June to August
Juniors’ Open – played in July
Invitation Meeting – played in August
The Main Spoon – junior girls own competition, played in August.
The Watt Summer Cup is an 18-hole competition played off the medal tees and is open to any junior with a WHS Handicap and for juniors eligible to play for a WHS Handicap (If in doubt regarding eligibility, please check with Shona) – best 2 cards out of 5.
The Woodhead Shield – is a 7 or 9-hole competition played on the same days as the Watt Summer Cup and follows on from 4.00 pm after all the players in that competition have teed off. This competition is played off the junior tees for 7 holes and the yellow tees for 9 holes. The 7-hole competition is aimed at the younger and less experienced juniors and the 9-hole for the older players who have gained a little more experience. Both are in the form of a Stableford ie you are only permitted to play to a maximum of 5 shots over the par for each hole. If you reach that number of shots, you pick up your ball and continue to the next hole once the other players with you have finished playing the hole.
Any junior who is less than 9 years old will require an adult to walk around with them. It would be greatly appreciated if parents would be prepared, at some point over the season, to walk around the 7 holes even if their child is 9 or over.
Entry forms for the club competitions will be posted on the notice boards.
Knockout competitions running over several months will be posted to this website, but the clubhouse sheets should always be regarded as the definitive record for each competition.
Juniors’ Invitation
The competition is an 18-hole Stableford and Juniors can invite an adult to partner with them. The junior member drives first and all subsequent odd holes and the adult/guest all even holes. After each drive, players play alternate shots. All adults and juniors with WHS Handicaps play off the medal tees, and juniors without a handicap play off the yellow tees.
Each team’s handicap is half the combined total. Strokes to be taken against the men’s stroke index. The number of strokes and Stableford points should be noted on each hole.
Current Status of Juniors’ Club Competitions
| Competition | Status/Winner(s) |
| Jack Peat Trophy – Junior Champion | |
| Watt Summer Cup | |
| Blyth Trophy | |
| Gordon Brotherstone Trophy | |
| Junior invitation Greensomes | |
| Centenary Quaich – Junior Open |