Junior Golf Scotland
A national coaching programme, not a single club

The JGS Academy.
One pathway, delivered locally.

A structured, licensed coaching programme for juniors aged 5 to 15 — the same progression pathway, the same standards, delivered through Academy venues licensed to run it in their own community.

What is the JGS Academy

One programme. Licensed to venues across Scotland.

Junior Golf Scotland doesn't run one club — it licenses the Academy programme to clubs and coaches who meet our standards. Every licensed Academy centre delivers the same progression pathway, the same five development pillars, and reports into the same JGS Player Passport, wherever your junior actually swings a club.

Junior golfers at a JGS Academy coaching session

The five-stage pathway

STAGE 1
Academy

Introduction, confidence, enjoyment.

STAGE 2
Development

Independence, on-course confidence, basic playing ability.

STAGE 3
Golfer

Regular play, club membership, golfing identity.

STAGE 4
Leader

Responsibility, mentoring, community contribution.

STAGE 5
Ambassador

Long-term involvement and representation of JGS values.

Every junior moves through these stages at their own pace — there's no fixed timeline, and it isn't just about golfing ability. It's tracked through the JGS Player Passport as part of a junior's wider record, not just a scorecard.

Progress is measured across five pillars, not just golf swings

🏌️
Technical Skills

Putting, chipping, pitching, bunker play, full swing.

⛳
Playing Ability

Scoring, pace of play, course awareness, independence.

📖
Knowledge

Rules, etiquette, safety, equipment, scoring formats.

📅
Participation

Attendance, practice, events, activity outside coaching.

🤝
Character

Respect, honesty, effort, sportsmanship, leadership.

What's included

Every licensed venue delivers the same standard.

Wherever your junior joins the Academy, this is what's included as part of the licensed programme.

✓
Regular coach-led sessions
Small groups, structured and purposeful
✓
PGA-qualified or JGS-approved coaching
Every licensed centre meets our coaching standard
✓
On-course learning
Not just the range — real holes, real situations
✓
A tracked JGS Player Passport
Progress across all five pillars, not just scores
✓
A genuine progression pathway
Clear stages from complete beginner to Ambassador
✓
A route into JGS events
Academy members can enter JGS events and the Order of Merit as they're ready

Find your local Academy venue.

The Academy pathway is the same everywhere — pick the licensed venue nearest you and get started.

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FAQs

Common questions about the Academy programme.

Is the JGS Academy a single club?▾
No — the Academy is a programme that Junior Golf Scotland licenses out to clubs and coaches who meet our coaching and safeguarding standards. Each licensed venue runs the same pathway locally. Today Playsport Golf in East Kilbride is our first live Academy venue, with more joining the network as they're licensed.
How do I know which venue is right for us?▾
Visit our Academy Host Venue directory to see every licensed venue, where it is, and how to sign up. Since the pathway is standardised, the main thing to weigh up is which venue is easiest for your family to get to regularly.
Does the pathway stay the same if we move venues?▾
Yes. The five-stage pathway and JGS Player Passport belong to your junior, not to a venue — if your family relocates or you switch to a different licensed Academy centre, their progress carries across with them.
What if my child has never played golf before?▾
Absolute beginners are very welcome at every licensed Academy venue — Stage 1 of the pathway is specifically built around introduction, confidence and enjoyment, with no prior experience assumed.
Will my child be able to enter JGS events?▾
Yes — as Academy members progress through the pathway and feel ready, they can enter JGS events and the Order of Merit, regardless of which licensed venue they trained at.
I already know I want Playsport Golf — can I skip the directory?▾
Of course — head straight to Academy sign up to enrol directly with Playsport Golf in East Kilbride, our first live Academy venue.