Parent's Guide to Golf Canada Junior Golf Ages 6-18 2026

It depends on age:

• Under 12: must play with a paying adult.
• 12 and older: can play alone or with a friend, but must be "course ready" and know basic golf etiquette.

Participating courses offer blocks of tee times during the week, often early mornings, after school or twilight. Rates and availability can change at any time, so check the course map in the app and the course before booking.

Source: https://www.golfcanada.ca/youth-on-course/

Under the World Handicap System as described by Golf Canada, a golfer needs scores for 54 holes from any combination of 18-hole and 9-hole rounds to establish a Handicap Index. The maximum Handicap Index is 54.0, regardless of gender. Golf Canada accepts both competitive and recreational rounds.

A Youth on Course membership (a Golf Canada membership for ages 6 to 18) can be used to establish a handicap under the World Handicap System.

A Handicap Index matters for championships: the Canadian Junior Boys, Junior Girls and U15 Championships each set a maximum Handicap Index that applies on the application date and at the registration deadline.

Sources: https://www.golfcanada.ca/world-handicap-system/ and https://www.golfcanada.ca/youth-on-course/

Entry is by application, and the Handicap Index limit must be met both on the date of the application and at the registration deadline. Keeping the index up to date before the deadline is the player's responsibility. Based on the 2026 championship pages:

The Junior and Juvenile divisions run together over all 72 holes, and an inter-provincial team competition runs over the first 36 holes. The 2026 events were held in August: Junior Boys at Wascana Country Club (Regina), Junior Girls at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (Caledon) and U15 at Loyalist Country Club (Bath).

Sources: https://www.golfcanada.ca/competition/2026-canadian-junior-girls-championship/ , https://www.golfcanada.ca/competition/2026-canadian-junior-boys-championship/ , https://www.golfcanada.ca/competition/2026-canadian-u15-championship/

Golf Canada ran six NextGen Championships in 2026 (including Western, Prairie, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic events). Their results feed the national junior championships through exemptions. For the 2026 NextGen Ontario Championship (a 54-hole stroke play event at Tangle Creek, with a cut after 36 holes):

• the top eight Junior Boys (including ties) earned exemptions into the Canadian Junior Boys Championship
• the top eight Junior Girls (including ties) earned exemptions into the Canadian Junior Girls Championship
• the top three players per division (including ties) earned exemptions into the Canadian U15 Championship, if age eligible

In addition, the Canadian U15 Championship lists exemptions for its champion into the Canadian Junior Girls and Junior Boys Championships, and its top five finishers in each division earn exemptions into two NextGen Championships.

Sources: https://www.golfcanada.ca/articles/2026-nextgen-ontario-championship-set-for-tangle-creek/ and https://www.golfcanada.ca/competition/2026-canadian-u15-championship/

Golf Canada's Financial Assistance Program supports golfers, mainly juniors, with the travel and competition costs of National Championships and regional competitions. For 2026 it covered:

• all six NextGen Championships
• the Canadian All Abilities Championship
• the Canadian Junior Boys Championship
• the Canadian Junior Girls Championship
• the Canadian U15 Championship

How it works:

• Apply online through the "Apply now" link on the program page. Applications are generally reviewed and accepted at least 2 to 4 weeks before each championship.
• An accepted applicant must compete in their championship.
• Accepted applicants receive an approval letter with next steps before the championship begins.
• Funds are paid after the championship ends and deposited within 30 days of its conclusion.

Source: https://www.golfcanada.ca/financial-assistance-program/

No. Caddies are prohibited at all Golf Canada junior competitions, so parents must not carry or handle their child's clubs, golf bag or cart. You may carry other items for competitors, such as a rain suit, umbrella, food and drink.

Motorized push or pull carts are also prohibited from Golf Canada junior competitions (and from the Canadian University/College Championship), and using one is a code of conduct violation. A player with a serious, permanent physical disability can request motorized transportation by submitting a Transportation Request Form. Temporary disabilities or injuries do not qualify.

Source: Code of Conduct for Parents, Guardians and Spectators Policy and Transportation Policy for Players, https://www.golfcanada.ca/golf-canada-policies/

No advice may be given to any player during the competition or official practice rounds. Advice means any verbal comment or action intended to influence a player in choosing a club, making a stroke or deciding how to play a hole or round. Avoid any verbal or non-verbal communication that others (competitors, parents or referees) could take as advice. This conduct may also result in penalties for the player.

Where to stand:

• Keep about 20 yards from competitors while following them.
• Parents, guardians and spectators are not permitted on the teeing areas, fairways, putting greens, or the starting and scoring areas.

Source: Golf Canada Code of Conduct for Parents, Guardians and Spectators Policy, https://www.golfcanada.ca/golf-canada-policies/

Generally no. Parents, guardians and spectators are not permitted on the course with a golf cart during a Golf Canada competition, and players and caddies are expected to walk at all times.

In exceptional circumstances the Golf Canada Tournament Director may let a parent, guardian or spectator use a golf cart to follow one group of players. To request this:

• Submit a Transportation Request Form, including the required medical documentation specified on the form, to Golf Canada at least 7 days before the competition.
• If approved, the cart must stay on cart paths (where available), stay at least 20 yards from all players in the group, and be no closer to the green than any player's ball.
• The cart must not be operated while any player is playing their ball, or in a way that disrupts other groups.
• The Tournament Director can withdraw the permission.

Source: Code of Conduct for Parents, Guardians and Spectators Policy and Transportation Policy for Players, https://www.golfcanada.ca/golf-canada-policies/

Under the Golf Canada Code of Conduct for Parents, Guardians and Spectators Policy (reviewed April 2024), the code applies throughout the competition, including practice rounds. A parent, guardian or spectator whose conduct is deemed disruptive may be banned from the course, the host facility or future Golf Canada competitions. The Tournament Committee decides what is unbecoming conduct and may assess sanctions based on the severity and frequency of the violations.

The policy also notes that parent conduct may result in penalties to players. Other expectations in the code:

• Let the Golf Canada referees handle rulings and do not intervene. You are brought in only if the referee asks you.
• Help with pace of play by spotting balls, but only start searching for a ball once the player authorizes it.
• Keep mobile devices on silent unless the host facility prohibits them, and keep any photos or videos respectful and non-disruptive.
• Follow the host facility dress code. Metal or traditionally designed spikes are prohibited if you wear golf shoes on the course.

Source: https://www.golfcanada.ca/golf-canada-policies/

Under the Golf Canada Code of Conduct for Players Policy (reviewed April 2026), players must follow the code on and off the course for the whole competition, including practice rounds. Violations include:

• unsportsmanlike conduct (bullying, abuse, harassment, discrimination, intimidation, abusive or offensive language, club throwing, abuse of equipment, disrespect to volunteers, officials or other players)
• failing to replace divots, rake bunkers or repair ball marks
• possessing or consuming alcohol, tobacco (smoking, vaping or chewing) or any illegal substance on the golf course property in junior competitions or by minors in any competition
• not following the host facility dress code
• using a motorized push or pull cart at a competition that does not allow caddies
• vandalism or abusive behaviour at a hotel or toward a host family

Penalties: the Tournament Rules Committee may assess a warning, one penalty stroke, the general penalty (two strokes) or disqualification, depending on severity and frequency. Warnings and penalties carry over from earlier rounds. The Tournament Committee may suspend a player for serious misconduct for the rest of the competition. A suspension is notified in writing and can be appealed in writing to the Golf Canada Amateur Competitions Committee within 30 days.

Source: https://www.golfcanada.ca/golf-canada-policies/

Under the Golf Canada Concussion Policy (approved April 2024), any concussion or suspected concussion is reported to the Golf Canada Representative (the Tournament Director, Tournament Chair or Tournament Rules Chair).

• Unconscious after a head impact: the Representative calls 911, stays with the person until medical services arrive, tries to make sure they are not moved (other than for airway support or imminent danger) and tries to contact the designated emergency contact.
• Conscious: if no medical personnel are on site, the Representative checks for red flags and symptoms using the current Concussion Recognition Tool (CRT6) and recommends medical help or an assessment at the earliest opportunity. If there are no signs, the player may resume play and is monitored.
• Refuses assessment: it is recommended they leave the playing area and rest in a dark, quiet area. The Representative tries to notify the emergency contact and confirms the person has a ride home.
• Refuses emergency medical assistance or the advice of medical personnel: Golf Canada may withdraw the player's entry at its sole discretion.
• Afterwards: the Tournament Director aims to contact the player, or the parent or guardian if a minor, within 10 days to ask how they are and whether medical attention resulted.

Source: Golf Canada Concussion Policy, https://www.golfcanada.ca/golf-canada-policies/

Golf Canada follows the Canadian Safe Sport Program (in effect from April 1, 2025), under which the Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport (CCES) administers the Universal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sport (UCCMS) for federally funded national sport organizations.

• Most participants, including parents and junior players: report directly to Golf Canada's Independent Third Party, which decides the appropriate forum and manner to address the report: https://app.integritycounts.ca/org/itpsport
• Golf Canada staff, board members, officials and Team Canada athletes, coaches and support personnel: report to the CCES online at https://cces.ca/report-safe-sport or by phone on 1-866-971-2777. Both methods allow you to stay anonymous.
• At a Golf Canada competition: unbecoming conduct by a parent, guardian or spectator should be reported immediately to the Golf Canada Tournament Director. All instances of bullying, abuse, harassment or discrimination require an incident report from the Tournament Director.

Source: https://www.golfcanada.ca/safe-sport/