The Bermuda 19th Hole Golf Society successfully launched a junior division as part of its annual Members Club Championship at Port Royal Golf Course last weekend.

A total of 18 junior golfers showcased their skills as they competed for honours in two age groups for the first time in the tournament’s history, with Damien Moniz and Bradford Laing being crowned over-13 and under-13 champions respectively.

Tracy Burgess, president of the Bermuda 19th Hole Golf Society, is excited to see the new junior division up and running.

“This past weekend we saw an encouraging sign of what could be ahead, with 18 junior golfers participating in our Members Club Championship,” she told The Royal Gazette.

“For us, having 18 juniors competing was bigger than the tournament itself. It demonstrated that there are young golfers in Bermuda who want opportunities to play, compete and be part of a golfing community. The Bermuda 19th Hole Golf Society wants to help provide those opportunities.”

Burgess said the organisation’s vision for the junior division goes beyond simply putting juniors on a golf course.

“We want to develop young golfers who understand the entire game — competition, rules, etiquette, sportsmanship, integrity, course care and respect for fellow competitors,” she said.

“We plan to provide regular competitive opportunities alongside rules and etiquette clinics, development sessions and educational opportunities for parents. We also want to bring in people who have successfully navigated the junior golf pathway to speak with families about overseas tournaments, golf camps, recruitment and what parents and juniors need to consider if college golf is their long-term ambition.”

Burgess believes there is room within Bermuda golf for organisations to work together and create more opportunities for young people.

She emphasised the more juniors her organisation can encourage to pick up a golf club, remain involved in the sport and experience meaningful competition, the stronger the future of Bermuda golf will be.

She said last weekend’s club championship was a great example of that philosophy, with juniors competing as part of the same championship environment as the men’s, women’s and senior divisions.

“While we are extremely proud of all of our champions, seeing 18 juniors participating was perhaps the biggest success of the weekend,” Burgess said.

“As president of the Bermuda 19th Hole Golf Society, I believe we have a responsibility to give young golfers opportunities not only to compete, but also to learn what the game of golf can teach them.

“Golf teaches honesty, discipline, patience, respect and personal responsibility. A junior learns very quickly that they are responsible for their own actions, their score and how they conduct themselves on the course. Those lessons extend well beyond golf.

“We don’t simply want to produce better junior golfers. We want to use golf to help develop confident, respectful and responsible young people.

“The launch of our junior division is only the beginning. We hope to continue growing participation, introducing more juniors to competitive golf and creating pathways that allow those who want to take their game further to understand the opportunities available to them.

“Most importantly, we want young golfers to know that there is a place for them within the Bermuda 19th Hole Golf Society.”

Michael Daniel and Burgess walked away with men’s and women’s honours, while Dave Morgan topped the senior division.