The Sussex Junior Golf Development Tour started in 2023, and its purpose is to get the less experienced kids onto the golf course in a friendly, competitive environment. In our first year, we hosted 7 events with over 100 children taking part in at least 1 Tour Event representing 16 Sussex Golf Clubs. In 2024, we hosted 10 events with 22 clubs being represented by the 115 kids who took part. In 2025, we hosted 17 events with 30 clubs being represented, with over 140 children taking part. Each event has attracted new children and new clubs being represented. In 2026, we are adding Development Tour Plus, which will be a series of 9-hole stableford events for kids under 18 with a handicap of 45 or less. These events are created for those kids who feel 18 holes is just too big a step up, but still wish to compete, have fun, and make new like-minded friends.
Alex Romanowski 2024 triple winner
Laif Campbell, 2024 Tour Champion
Who is The Development Tour for?
All kids in Sussex who have not got a handicap yet and those with handicap indices above 28.0
If a child’s handicap improves during the year, they can continue to play the Development Tour Events as well as Development Tour Plus Events as well as Junior Opens and anything else that they would like to play in.
2024 Claret Jug winners
Entering and Entry Fees
In 2026 all competitors will need to either be an affiliated Tour Member (£25 fee) or be a member of the host club. This year all entries (including affiliation fee) will be taken via this website and payment will be made via PayPal. Entries will then be taken on a first come first served basis with priority given to the first 20 players who are members at that club and then to those who are affiliated members of the Tour. Book now. To enter a Development Tour Plus event please follow this link here.
The Fees are: Tour Membership – £25. Event entries will either be £10 or £20 depending on whether the club has included food for their event.
If an event is oversubscribed, players will be entered according to the Priority Entry List.
Priority Entry List.
Prizes
There are trophies to be won in up to 7 age categories: Under 16 boys, under 16 girls, under 11 boys, under 11 girls, under 9 boys, under 9 girls and under 7s mixed. Trophies are given to the top 3 in each age category with the overall winner receiving The Claret Jug and the Champions Hat.
At the end of the season, there are Order of Merit Trophies for each age group and the overall Tour Winner as well.
Rules
- All courses are shortened and are no more than 2000 yards long for 9 holes.
- All players play from the same shortened tees on each hole.
- All players play 36 shots and then finish the hole that they are on.
- Scorecards must be filled in and signed at the end of your game.
- Players must stick with their group until all players have finished their game.
- Every shot counts including air shots (except under 7s and under 9s)
- If your ball is in a bunker and you have 2 failed attempts at getting it out you can drop to the side of the bunker with no extra penalty. (All shots count)
- In all other instances, the rules of golf apply.
- Parents are allowed to caddy and give advice to their children.
2026 Developmet Tour Schedule
Chichester Academy Open – Thursday 9th April 2026 (TBC) – Enter here
Worthing Academy Open – Sunday 31st May 2026 (TBC) – Enter here
Slinfold Academy Open – Sunday 7th June 2026 (TBC) – Enter here
Holtye Academy Open – Sunday 20th September 2026 (TBC) – Enter here
Singing Hills Academy Open – Sunday 21st June 2026 (TBC) – Enter here
Littlehampton Academy Open – Sunday 26th July (TBC) – Enter here
Mannings Heath Academy Open – TBC – Enter here
Horsham Golf Academy Open – Saturday 29th August (TBC) – Enter here
Hill Barn Academy Open – Sunday 13th September 2026 (TBC) – Enter here
Cottesmore Academy Open – Sunday 4th October (TBC) – Enter here
Goodwood Academy Open – TBC – Enter here
2026 Development Tour Plus Schedule
These events are not entered on this page.
Brighton & Hove 9 Hole Academy Open – Sunday 17th May
Slinfold 9 Hole Academy Open – TBC
Holtye 9 Hole Academy Open – TBC
Willingdon 9 Hole Academy Open – TBC
Ham Manor 9 Hole Academy Open – TBC
Dyke 9 Hole Academy Open – TBC
Piltdown 9 Hole Academy Open – TBC
Haywards Heath 9 Hole Academy Open – TBC
2025 Development Tour Order of Merit
| Position | Name | Events Played | Total Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Billy Stott | 11 | 281 points |
| 2 | Harry Valentine-Clarke | 11 | 228 points |
| 3 | Sofia Dadswell | 15 | 184.8 points |
Rocky Shi winner of the Cottesmore Claret Jug and winner of the 2023 Under 9s Order of Merit
