JUNIOR GOLF IN HONG KONG - HOW TO MAKE THE JUNIOR TEAM?

Several times per year I have parents approach me looking to improve their young child's golf, often with the early goal of getting into the Hong Kong Junior Golf Team. I feel this is a great goal but how good do you need to be to get in the squad and what does it mean?

Golf Development Teams: Differences, Requirements, and Benefits

Development Squad (Currently 23 Members)

Purpose: This squad acts as a stepping stone to the Junior Squad, providing young talents with the training they need to compete at higher levels.

Eligibility: Must be a HKID holder, have a valid GAHKC handicap card, and be under 13 years old.

Criteria for Continuing: Participate in at least 4 rounds of the HSBC Junior Golf Series and achieve 8 points annually. Players not promoted by age 13 may be removed.

Benefits: Focused skill development to help young golfers progress and compete more effectively.

Junior Squad (Currently 34 Members)

Purpose: Provides comprehensive training and more tournament opportunities for golfers under 13.

Eligibility: Must be a HKID holder, have a valid GAHKC handicap card, and be under 13 years old.

Criteria for Continuing: Participate in at least 8 tournament rounds each year.

Benefits: Enhanced training and exposure to competitions, helping top performers advance to the next level.

Elite Squad (Currently 55 Members)

Purpose: Offers advanced training and competitive tournament opportunities for golfers aged 13 and above. Eligibility: Must be a HKID holder, have a valid HKGA handicap card, and be 13 years or older. Criteria for Continuing: Participate in at least 10 tournament rounds annually and maintain a performance standard. Benefits: Provides high-level training and prepares older juniors for elite competitions.

Junior National Team (Currently 14 Members)

Purpose: Comprises the top junior golfers in Hong Kong, who receive priority for specialized training and competitive tournaments.

Eligibility: Must be a HKID holder, have a valid GAHKC handicap card, be under 18 years old, and be based in Hong Kong. Criteria for Continuing: Be in the top 3 of the HSBC Junior Order of Merit, maintain a WAGR ranking, and participate in at least 10 tournament rounds annually.

Benefits: Access to top-tier coaches, high-level training, and numerous competitive opportunities.

Deepwater Bay - HSBC Junior Golf Series - The First Step

To answer the question of what it takes to start or what it takes to win I analysed the data from 2013 to the current day, comparing the 6 main tournaments per year when held at Deepwater Bay, ignoring scores at 9 Eagles and Clearwater Bay Academy Course. I also looked at the journey of several of the best performers and well known golfers in Hong Kong and the data surprised me, here it is.

In the top two grids you see the best and worst scores that won by gender and age, and in the lower box you see the average winning score by year and gender.

Here are several assumptions and conclusions based on the provided data:

Assumptions:

1. The average scores for boys generally improve as they grow older, indicating skill development.

2. The worst scores for boys show less variation compared to girls, suggesting more consistent performance among boys.

3. Girls' scores are more spread out than boys', indicating a wider range of skill levels within the same age groups.

4. The data for 6 to 8-year-old girls shows a significant range between the best and worst scores, which may indicate variability in skill levels or experience.

5. The average scores for boys in each age group have improved or remained stable over the years.

6. The average scores for girls aged 13 to 14 have been gradually increasing, indicating potential challenges in this age group.

7. The performance gap between boys and girls in the younger age groups is smaller compared to the older age groups.

8. Boys' average scores have generally been better than girls' scores in the corresponding age groups.

9. The average scores in 2021 and 2022 for the boys aged 11 to 12 and 13 to 14 show improvement compared to previous years, indicating potential improvements in training or skill levels.

10. The overall average scores for both boys and girls have shown some fluctuations over the years, but there is a trend towards slight improvement or stabilisation in recent years.

Conclusions:

1. Boys tend to show consistent improvement in their golf scores as they grow older, likely due to increased practice and experience.

2. Girls show a greater range of scores, suggesting that coaching and practice variability may be higher among girls.

3. The data indicates that younger age groups (6 to 8) for both boys and girls have the widest range of scores, reflecting the early learning stages in golf.

4. The consistent improvement in boys' scores over the years suggests effective training programs and skill development.

5. The increase in average scores for older girls (13 to 14) in 2023 indicates challenges faced by this age group however some of the lower handicap golfers have shifted to overseas events or reluctant to enter the Deepwater bay event.

6. The data suggests that boys are generally performing better in golf than girls in the same age groups.
   

7. Improvements seen in boys' average scores in recent years highlight the success of recent training methods or increased practice.

Overall, the data indicates a positive trend in performance improvements among players, with an average improvement of around 2-4 strokes per season for those with complete data. Season 1 is typically not an indicator of future performance as the biggest score drop is typically in year one.

Hope this answers some questions!

Mike Bygrave

Shots Factory Wanchai