Introduction
Our aim in the County is to encourage and develop girls from different clubs to get together, forging friendships whilst developing their love for the game. There can sometimes be a limited number of active girls in their own club, so the County tries to bridge this gap.
We welcome ALL girls aged eight and above both handicap and pre-handicap, who are members of or associated with the 24 Renfrewshire Golf Clubs affiliated to Scottish Golf. They are by virtue of this membership/association automatically members of the Renfrewshire Ladies' County Golf Association and no subscription fees are charged.
We run several competitions and coaching sessions over the season and through the winter months. Juniors are additionally encouraged to participate in the main senior medals throughout the season on attaining a handicap index of 20.0 or below.
Membership Categories
'Junior' members are divided into three categories for administrative and competition purposes:
- UNDER 16 JUNIORS - 8 to 15 yrs*
- UNDER 18 JUNIORS - 16 - 17 yrs*
- INTERMEDIATES - 18 - 22 yrs*
* The Junior members age on 1st January of the golf season determines what category they are registered in.
For more information and access to Application/Consent Forms, see the Membership sub-menu.
Junior Secretary
Safeguarding Officer
Safeguarding Policy, Procedures and Guidelines
RLCGA has adopted abridged versions of Scottish Golf's safeguarding policy, procedures and guideline templates, that they have developed in partnership with Children 1st, sportscotland and the SafeGolf Partnership, to ensure the safety and welfare of our under 18 Junior Girls. Similar to Scottish Golf, we recognise that it is the responsibility of everyone involved in the game to ensure a
'fun, safe and positive experience for all playing the game'.
The following documents clearly outline our practices and procedures and our actions should concerns arise;
1. RLCGA Junior Good Practice Guidelines
2. RLCGA Safeguarding Policy
3. RLCGA Responding to Concerns Procedure
The use and publication of our Junior Girls personal data and photographs is covered in the Privacy Notice in our RLCGA GDPR Policy
All these documents are linked to and require acknowledgement in the Under 16 and Under 18 Consent Forms, which are available on the Membership Page.
The Junior Secretary and Safeguarding Officer undertake Scottish Golf approved Safeguarding Training and development courses and are vetted under the Protection of Vulnerable Groups Scheme (PVGS), as are the other County members who assist at Junior events and coaching.
The County has also been awarded 'SafeGolf' accreditation by Scottish Golf, with a copy of the certificate reproduced below.
Junior Coaching
The winter months normally sees 4 - 5 coaching sessions commencing October through to March. These range from being on course and/or driving range activities and are weather dependent. We are appreciative to local clubs for their continued courtesy which make these sessions possible. The following selection of photographs are from previous coaching sessions over the years at Cathcart Castle and Erskine Golf Clubs, for additional photographs from these and other coaching sessions please visit our Gallery page;
2023 COMPETITIONS
2023 Junior County Champion
The Junior Championship is for Juniors aged under 18 and is run in conjunction with The Campbell Clock over Whitecraigs Golf Course. 2023 saw a new Junior County Champion; Ava Graham (Elderslie GC).
Junior Champion Ava Graham (Elderslie GC) - Photo courtesy of Clair Barclay
The Campbell Clock 2023
In 1998 Renfrewshire Junior Secretary, Leslie Campbell presented the Campbell Clock to be played for by Junior Girls in a Stableford Competition at Whitecraigs Golf Club.
After Leslie died in 2002 the competition has been played annually in August or September.
There are 2 Levels of Competition which is open to all girls aged 8 plus. Girls under 18 with a WHI handicap play 18 Holes Stableford for Campbell Clock Trophy, while the girls without a handicap play either the 9 hole Par 3 course or 8 holes on the main course. The winner of the Campbell Clock was Sienna Lee (Mearns Castle GC), who is pictured below with the Junior Champion Ava Graham.
(l to r) Junior Champion Ava Graham and Sienna Lee (Mearns Castle GC), winner of The Campbell Clock Trophy - Photo courtesy of Clair Barclay
Photograph above of all the participants. For more information go to the associated news article.
The Orr Quaich 2023
The Orr Quaich was donated in 2021 by County Honorary President Pearl Orr for the winner of the Box League competition. This league style matchplay competition was introduced in 2021 during the Pandemic to allow girls to continue to play and meet when larger group coaching and competitions were less possible. Since it proved so popular it is now an annual competition.
This years final was played over a neutral venue; Cochrane Castle GC on 5th March 2023 with Jayla Kepler (Greenock GC) being the eventual winner 4 & 3 over Melissa Keay (Ralston GC). Jayla was presented with the Orr Quaich by Hon President Pearl Orr.
Winner Jayla Kepler top left holding the Orr Quaich
CLICK HERE for additional photographs courtesy of Clair Barclay.
The Kennedy Salver 2023
The Kennedy Salver is a Junior Inter County Team Tournament which provides girls from the four West of Scotland Counties with experience of match play.
This years competition was played at Airdrie GC on 19th June 2023, but sadly the Renfrewshire girls could not repeat last year's win with D & A being the winners. The 2023 Team is pictured below.
The 2023 Renfrewshire Junior Team who competed for the Kennedy Salver
Other Notable Performances
Throughout the season quite a number of our Junior Girls played in Open Junior events with competitors from across the UK and abroad. A great experience and as you will see from the following summations they performed very well and should be justly proud of their achievements as well as significant handicap reductions.
Two Juniors also competed in and won RLCGA County Medals and are included in this list of performances (Juniors with handicaps 20 and under are allowed to play in RLCGA County Medals);
2023 World Junior Golf Championships
This prestigious event was held in Portugal in February and saw Rosie Maguire (Pollok) winning the Girls 15 -16 Age group in an international field of competitors. Rosie is pictured below with her trophy.
2023 Junior Golf Scotland (JGS) Matchplay Championships
This matchplay event was played on the Gleneagles Queens Course on 19th March and saw Renfrewshire Junior Jayla Kepler (Greenock), pictured below winning the final 4 and 3 to lift the cup. CLICK HERE to read the JGS related post.
Jayla Kepler (Greenock) - photo courtesy of JGS
2023 Junior Tour (JT) Scotland Events
JT Scotland events are open to boys in a variety of age groups and girls under-21. Competitions take place across Scotalnd and are usually organised over 36 or 54 holes, with gross and net prizes available. An Order of Merit is run throughout the season, with an end-of-season Grand final taking place for the leading boys and girls.
It is worth mentioning two Renfrewshire Juniors; Rosie Maguire (Pollok) and Jayla Kepler (Greenock) performance and selection in two 2023 JT events;
At the Order of Merit (OOM) Strokeplay Competition on 6 April 2023 at Royal Dornoch Rosie came 4th overall at the OOM points earning event in what was a very strong field. Whilst in October Jayla was selected to play in the JT team match in Santander, which was a great opportunity and experience.
Stephen Gallagher Foundation (SGF)
This is another fantastic charitable foundation aimed at developing all levels of Junior golfers with competitions and coaching geared accordingly. Two notable performances from RLCGA Juniors; Rosie Maguire (Pollok) was runner-up in the SGF Invitational at Dundonald Links in May 2023 beaten by only two strokes after being the joint leader going into the final round. Sabrina Wong (Cathkin Brae), who you will read much more about in the following notable achievements, is sitting at no. 1 in the SGF under 18 Girls Scratch Order of Merit table, which is some achievement considering she is only 11 years of age.
Melissa Keay (Ralston) and Lucie Barclay (Kilmacolm) have also been selected by SGF to participate in five forthcoming training sessions at Kingsfield.
2023 County Medal Winners
It was a clean sweep for Renfrewshire Junior Melissa Keay (Ralston) at Old Course Ranfurly GC in at the June Medal on 21st June. Playing off a 10 handicap, she had a fantastic round of gross 73, which included an eagle at one of the Par 4's which saw her win the Scratch and Division 1 Handicap (nett 63) and also the Medal Final.
Melissa Keay - winner of the June Medal Scratch and Div 1 plus the Medal Final (photo courtesy of Fiona Armour)
The July medal was held at East Renfrewshire GC on 19th July and was won by one of our newest Junior; 11 year old Sabrina Wong (Cathkin Braes), who joined Renfrewshire this year after moving here from Hong Kong. Sabrina has already built up a very impressive list of Junior titles in Asia and plays off a single figure handicap. With a phenominal gross score of 72, which was even more remarkable since this was the first time Sabrina had played the course, she won the Scratch prize by a significant margin.
Sabrina Wong - winner of the July County Medal scratch prize
2023 Under 18 Scottish Girls Amateur Championship
At this year's Championship at Cardrona GC from 21st - 23rd July that attracted competitors from across the UK, Renfrewshire Junior Jayla Kepler (Greenock) reached the semi-finals of the Net Matchplay Championship, that Lucie Barclay (Kilmacolm) also qualified for, before getting knocked out. Other Renfrewshire Junior's Rosie Maguire (Pollok), Melissa Keay (Ralston) qualified for the Championship Play-offs but did not progress beyond the 1st round.
2023 English Girls Open Stroke Play Championship
This competition took place straight after the Scottish Championship on 25th - 27th July at The Caversham Course in Reading. After day one Renfrewshire's Rosie Macguire was lying tied third with a magnificent 3 under par in what was an international fiield. CLICK HERE to read about Rosie in the related English Golf news article. Rosie found it difficult to maintain this level of golf and slipped down the leaderboard the following day but still qualified in 25th position to make the top 40 player cut to play in the final 36 holes.
Rosie in action in the 2023 County Jamboree (photo courtesy of Fiona Armour)
On 21st Sept it was announced by Scottish Golf (SG) that Rosie was to continue on as a member of their 2023 -2024 Squad of Girls' Performance Players selection. CLICK HERE to read the SG article. A wonderful opportunity and undoubtedly a result of her consistently good performance in high level competitions.
2023 Champion of Champions International Competition
Sabrina Wong, on 29th July at her first International Competition in Europe at the Lough Erne Golf Resort, won the Girls under 12 Age Group finishing and amazing 15 under after 3 rounds, 12 shots better than her nearest competitor. The picture below is of her receiving her trophy.
2023 ST. ANDREWS JUNIOR LADIES OPEN
Intermediate RLCGA member Orla Rooney - a past Junior RLCGA Champion - competed in the Handicap Matchplay final narrowly being beaten 2 and 1 by England's Carly McDonough. Excellent result getting to the final.
Orla Rooney in action during the final (Photo courtesy of St Andrews Links)
2023 Scottish Girls Under 16/Under 14 Open Girls Competition
This compeition was played at Cardross on the 13th and 14th August, with a host of domestic and international Junior Girls taking part. Two Renfrewshire Juniors excelled with Sabrina Wong winning the under 12 category (even par after 2 rounds) and Melissa Keay finishing in the Top 10 of the Under 16 Category (6 over after 2 rounds). Great results and scoring on a tough course .
L to R Sabrina Wong and Melissa Keay
2023 West of Scotland Girls Championship Finals
This years championship finals were held at Portland Troon with Renfrewshire's Melissa Keay (Ralston) and Lucie Barclay (Kilmacolm) qualifying to play in the morning Championship Semi-finals and Renfrewshire's Ella McGrath (Troon Ladies) qualifying for the Handicap Final. Melissa won her semi to play in the final that afternoon which she won 2 up against Katie Ronnie and Ella McGrath won the Handicap Final beating Carla Burns (Douglas Park).
L to R Melissa Keay West Girls' Champion and Ella McGrath Handicap Champion being presented by Portland Troon's Captain Ros Prior
2023 Race to Kingsbarns
The format of this annual competition, that took place on 5th November this year at Kingsbarns, was changed to include only specially selected Juniors. To that end Renfrewshire Junior Champion Ava Graham and West Girls Champion Melissa Keay were invited to the event and were delighted to win their matches. The two girls are pictured below;
L to R Melissa Keay and Ava Graham