The Dandara Junior Order of Merit will return next month, giving the Isle of Man’s young golfers opportunities to develop and hone their skills.
Award-winning developer Dandara has confirmed its sponsorship of the five-round competition will continue in 2017, alongside title sponsorship of the Dandara Junior Championships which take place in July.
The Junior Order of Merit was launched with assistance from England Golf in 2014 with the aim of encouraging youngsters to get involved in the sport and to develop a pathway to becoming better players and continuing with golf as a sport for life.
Contested by boys and girls together, it is split into sections to cater for all levels of ability, including full rounds for Under 18s and Under 14s, 9-hole and 6-hole competitions for younger and less experienced players, and a flag competition for beginners.
In 2016 more than 200 rounds of golf were played over the five rounds of the Junior Order of Merit, with 36 young players claiming more than 50 prizes during the season. Lea Dawson was named Under 14 overall winner and Jack Gilbert overall winner in the Under 18 category.
This year’s competition will begin at King Edward Bay, Onchan, on 23rd April and visit Peel, Rowany and Douglas before the final round at Mount Murray on 17th September.
The 2017 Dandara Junior Championships will be held at Mount Murray on 9th July. The new-look competition, bringing together the former Boys’ and Girls’ championships into a single event, was launched last year, when Breeshey Jansen and Alex McAuley took the honours. This was part of the ongoing modernisation of the sport in the Island led by Isle of Man Golf, itself formed by the merger of the Isle of Man Men’s Golf Union and Isle of Man Ladies’ Golf Association.
Isle of Man Golf President Dee Lewis said: ‘We are delighted by Dandara’s ongoing commitment to supporting the development of golf among the Island’s youngsters. The aim is to encourage new players to discover the sport and then develop skills, progressing through the levels to become the best golfers they can be.
‘The Dandara Junior Order of Merit is an opportunity to try out the sport competitively for the first time, grow as a player and develop a life-long passion for the sport, while the Dandara Junior Championships provide a platform for outstanding young players to showcase their abilities as the next generation of top Manx golfers.
‘We have been extremely pleased to see the amazing progress made by junior players – some of whom are leading the way in the adult sections – and it is always very exciting to see the sheer glee and enthusiasm displayed by the competitors at all levels.’
Dandara Managing Director Seamus Nugent added: ‘Dandara fully recognises the value sport has in our Island community and is keen to support development and greater inclusion across a wide range of sports. We want to help create opportunities for people, especially youngsters, to learn new skills and experience the social, exercise and discipline benefits sport can deliver.
‘The Junior Order of Merit and Junior Championships last year proved great successes, both in terms of engaging youngsters in golf and also delivering some first class competition. We are pleased to be working alongside Isle of Man Golf once again as the sport’s development in the Island continues.’
Entries to the Dandara Junior Order of Merit can be made through club junior organisers and information will be displayed at all clubs. For more information visit www.isleofmangolf.im or the Golf Isle of Man page on Facebook.
Photo -Prize winners and some of the competitors from the 2016 Dandara Junior Championships.
