Words by Peter Handcock

While many of us are gearing up for the season ahead, thousands of junior golfers across the country are doing so on a much more serious level. Junior Opens are the backbone of many boys’ and girls’ summer holidays, offering competitive golf at incredible venues for unbeatable value.

Half Par—who, despite his appearance, aged out of these events a terrifying 10 years ago—reflects on why he now values them even more than national tournaments, before highlighting a range of standout Junior Opens taking place this year.

If you’ve got a son or daughter and want to introduce them to great golf courses without breaking the bank, this article is a great place to start.

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The Planning Stages

For many of us, the Masters marks the start of the golfing season—golf trips with friends, club championships, twilight rounds, and that familiar excitement is suddenly just around the corner. While April feels like the true beginning, the planning for many starts much earlier. That was certainly the case for my younger self.

Typically, I would start mapping out my golfing year in January, using Microsoft Excel to plan my chosen events: Junior Opens.

As a junior, I was never quite good enough to play in national events, but my obsession with golf fuelled a hunger for competitive environments. Fortunately, Junior Opens provided exactly that. Held at clubs across the British Isles and offering incredible value, they allowed me to ‘train’ on different courses and develop my game. But what I didn’t realise at the time was that the real benefit lay elsewhere—playing world-class courses and developing an appreciation for great golf architecture and variety.

Looking back, nearly all my experiences at top courses during my junior days came through these events. St Andrews, Porthcawl, and Hillside were the centrepieces of my season. While my friends competed in elite-level junior golf on generally uninspiring tracks, I was forming opinions (right or wrong) on some of the best courses in the country—places I’d never have played without the opportunities Junior Opens afforded me.

Travel

I had some success too, winning the Royal St David’s Junior Open in 2016 as part of a five-day tour with my dad. He’d taxi me around and watch me play at Porthcawl, Pyle & Kenfig, Royal St David’s, Royal Birkdale, and Hillside. Shoutout to Half Par Dad for what, in hindsight, were invaluable field trips.

These mini-tours were brilliant bonding experiences, and parents looking to do the same can take advantage of local green fees, twilight rates, and county card discounts to squeeze in some adult golf along the way. Practice rounds are also great value if you want to play a course twice—parents can often join in on these too.

Below is a list of recommended Junior Opens, plus a few suggested trips that combine incredible value with great golf. For any parents out there looking to introduce their sons or daughters to one of the greatest joys of the game—the golf courses themselves—this is a fantastic way to do it.

The Cheshire Swing

  • Sandiway – Monday 18th August (£20)
  • Delamere Forest – Thursday 21st August (£25)

Two fantastic Cheshire courses, with time in between for casual golf in Liverpool. Options include Formby Ladies, West Lancs, Wallasey, Southport & Ainsdale, Hillside, and Open venues nearby.

The Devon Swing

  • Royal North Devon Adult/Junior Open – Tuesday 12th August (£40)
  • Royal North Devon Junior Open – Wednesday 13th August (£20)
  • Saunton Junior Open – Sunday 17th August (£20)

A perfect summer trip with a great introduction to two different types of links golf, plus plenty of time for family days or extra rounds at top South West courses. The Adult/Junior event is a great reason for you to bring your clubs along, rather than just watch from the sidelines the whole time.

Scotland

  • Moray Junior Open – Saturday 9th August (£10)
  • Moray Adult/Junior Open – Sunday 10th August (£30)
  • Royal Aberdeen Junior Open – Friday 15th August (price TBD)

A great way to bookend a memorable father/son trip and see some of Scotland’s best courses in between.

  • St Andrews Boys – Tuesday 4th – Friday 7th August (£40)

A more elite event, but an incredible opportunity to soak in St Andrews and its surrounding courses. Other Junior Opens in the area:

  • Leven Links – Tuesday 4th August (£5)
  • Royal Burgess (£5) or North Berwick (£10) – Wednesday 5th August
  • Carnoustie – Friday 8th August (Free Entry)

A dream East Coast Scotland road trip, with world-class courses and countless opportunities for additional rounds.

  • Southerness – Saturday 2nd August (£10)
  • Turnberry – Monday 4th August (£40)

A great itinerary when heading north—Southerness is a fantastic warm-up before tackling Turnberry, with plenty of top-tier Scottish courses nearby.

Individual Events

  • Hollinwell – Monday 7th April (£30)
  • Ipswich Purdis Heath – Wednesday 9th April (£36)
  • Parkstone – Thursday 10th April (£40)
  • Royal Blackheath – Thursday 10th April (£40) (started in 1847, this event is older than The Open)
  • West Hill – Thursday 10th April (£40)
  • Royal Dornoch – Sunday 13th April (£20)

  • Beau Dessert – Tuesday 15th April (£17.50)
  • Perranporth – Wednesday 16th April (£15)
  • Liphook – Wednesday 16th April (£65)
  • St Enodoc – Sunday 27th April (£20)
  • Lundin – Monday 5th May (Free!!)
  • Silloth on Solway – Saturday 10th May (£15)
  • Seaton Carew – Monday 26th May (£6)

  • Hayling Island – Tuesday 27th May (£32.50)
  • Wallasey – Friday 13th June (£30)
  • Elie – Monday 7th July (£20)

  • Crail – Friday 18th July (£10)
  • Gullane – Friday 18th July (£10)
  • Burnham & Berrow – Sunday 20th July (£15)
  • Royal Troon- Sunday 27th July (price TBD)
  • Royal Ashdown Forest – Wednesday 30th July (£25)
  • Walton Heath – Wednesday 30th July (£65)
  • Nairn – Thursday 31st July (£20)
  • Royal Musselburgh – Thursday 31st July (£10)
  • Saunton Adult/Juniors competition – Thursday 31st July (£40)
  • Royal Birkdale – Friday 1st August (£45)

  • Stoneham – Monday 4th August (£40)
  • Cavendish – Tuesday 5th August (£15)
  • Broadstone – Monday 11th August (£35)
  • Formby – Monday 11th August (price TBD)
  • Sandy Lodge – Monday 11th August (£35)
  • Blackmoor – Monday 11th August (£40)
  • Princes – Tuesday 12th August (£35)

  • The Grove – Wednesday 13th August (£80)
  • Sherwood Forest – Friday 15th August (£24)
  • Bearwood Lakes – Monday 18th August (price TBD)
  • Hunstanton – Monday 18th August (£35)
  • Beaconsfield – Wednesday 20th August
  • Royal Cinque Ports – Thursday 21st August (£35)
  • Moortown – Friday 22nd August (price TBD)
  • Ferndown – Tuesday 26th August (£39.50)
  • Sunningdale Heath – Sunday 5th October (£30)
  • Royal Dornoch – Saturday 11th October (£25)
  • Royal Porthcawl – Tuesday 28th October (£25)

So there you have it. If you’re a junior looking to explore more golf courses, or a parent wanting to introduce your son or daughter to the variety of golf, without getting caught up in the idea that performance is everything, hopefully attending a few of these events this year will spark a love for the game and inspire them to play more courses.