COMPETITIONS

GIRLS will be able to compete alongside boys in 2019, as part of a series of changes that have been made to championship golf in Wales, writes Tony Poole.

The main aim of the change is to increase both competition and participation in the junior ranks.

As it now stands named boys competitions at both U16 and U14 levels will change name in order to reflect the extension that will allow girls to tee it up.

As from next year they will be called the Welsh U16s and 14s tournaments.

However, while the champion golfer could be either male or female there will be separate gender categories and trophies will be awarded in both sections.

Handicap limits will be adjusted accordingly to 20 (U16s) and 28 (U14s).

The Director of Performance for Wales Golf, Gillian O’Leary, has welcomed the wind of change blowing through the junior ranks.

She said: “Following the success that the Ping Welsh Junior Tour has achieved, this change now offers national competitive golf in Wales to all junior golfers – and at all stages of their development.’’

Changes will be made to the nine-hole competition that offers Welsh youngsters the chance of making it through to the Grand Final.

This year the tournament final will be staged a few days ahead of the 147th Open that’s being hosted by the Carnoustie club in Scotland.

Changes from last season will now allow clubs with a nine-hole rated Standard Scratch Score to run a nine-hole event within their ranks.

It will lead into a national league table with the two top teams once more qualifying to play at The Open venue.

Further details will soon appear on the Wales Golf website along with information on 2018 entries. Southerndown and St Marys have all only experienced limited action.

It has left club golfers on such winter days as these leaning on the hope that summer golf isn’t too far away.

But last weekend it was a case of “California Dreaming” and superb television pictures of the Farmers Championship on the PGA Tour from Torrey Pines in California.

However, a few competitions managed to beat the weather and they are listed below.