Nomads
Nomads Golf Club is a name you will definitely come across on your child’s junior golf journey. It is attached to South African junior golf fixtures, especially at national level. Nomads is not a junior golf academy, provincial union or beginner pathway, but it has played an important supporting role in junior and amateur golf for many years.
If your child is still new to golf, Nomads is probably not something you need to understand straight away.
That is where it can become confusing.
You may see events such as Nomads SA U15 Championship, Nomads SA Boys U17 Championship or Nomads National Order of Merit and wonder whether you need to contact Nomads directly.
In most cases, the answer is no.
For junior golfers, Nomads is usually relevant because its name is attached to certain higher-level tournaments. The events themselves usually sit within the GolfRSA national junior structure or connect back to provincial union pathways like WP golf.
What is Nomads Golf Club?
Nomads Golf Club is a South African non-profit golf organisation with a long history in the game. Nomads was formed in 1960 and is built around golf, friendship, fundraising, volunteering and the “furtherance of golf”.
Furtherance of Golf stands for the support Nomads provides for junior golf through funding, sponsorship, volunteering and tournament support. It helps national age-group championships, National Order of Merit events, provincial junior golf initiatives, development golf and disabled golf.
Why does the Nomads name appear in junior golf?
The Nomads name appears in junior golf because Nomads supports the game behind the scenes. They provide financial and administrative support to GolfRSA, including support for boys’ and girls’ golf.
They also have involvement with major golf bodies such as GolfRSA, SADGA and SAGDB.
So when you see a junior tournament with Nomads in the name, it does not mean it is a local Nomads club event for any junior to join. It usually means Nomads is connected as a sponsor, supporter or partner behind that tournament.
Is Nomads like WP Golf, Boland Golf or Southern Cape Golf Union?
No. This is the important distinction.
| Organisation | Main role for junior golfers |
|---|---|
| WP Golf / Boland Golf / Southern Cape Golf Union | Provincial golf unions. They run or support local junior structures, rankings, teams and events. |
| GolfRSA | National amateur golf body. Runs national fixtures, rankings, championships and high-performance pathways. |
| SAGDB | Development pathway for abled children who may not otherwise access golf. |
| SADGA | Golf opportunities and pathways for golfers with disabilities. |
| Nomads Golf Club | Supporting organisation behind the game, including support for some junior and amateur events. |
A simple way to understand it:
A Nomads-named junior event is usually a GolfRSA-level event with Nomads support. It is not usually a Nomads club event that you enter through a local Nomads branch.
Are Nomads junior events open to all juniors?
Usually, Nomads junior tournaments are not the same as local junior opens.
A local junior open may be suitable for a wider range of junior golfers, depending on age, handicap and union requirements. Nomads-named junior events are generally higher-level events. They usually have age limits, handicap expectations, limited fields, ranking relevance, union involvement or and participation is often through union selection.
A helpful way to think about it:
Nomads-named junior events are usually for experienced junior golfers who are already active in competitive golf. They are not normally the first events a child enters when they are new to golf.
Examples of Nomads junior events in the Western Cape in 2026
Nomads-linked junior events appear on GolfRSA fixture lists.
| Event | Type | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nomads SA U15 Championship | National junior championship | Somerset West Golf Club | 6–8 January 2026 |
| Nomads SA Boys U17 Championship | National junior championship | Bellville Golf Club | 7–9 July 2026 |
These events are useful to know about, but entries and eligibility should be checked through GolfRSA or the relevant golf union. Nomads may be attached to the event name, but that does not mean entries happen through a local Nomads club.
What does NOoM mean?
NOoM stands for National Order of Merit.
These are higher-level ranking events and are not beginner tournaments. They are relevant for juniors who are already competing seriously and are working their way through the national junior golf structure.
If your child is still learning the basics, it will still be a while before looking at National Order of Merit events.
Should you contact Nomads to enter a junior tournament?
Usually, no.
For Nomads junior tournament information, entries and eligibility, you would normally check:
- GolfRSA tournament entry platforms
- the relevant provincial golf union
- the tournament information page or entry portal
- your child’s coach, club or union contact
Final takeaway
Nomads plays an important role in South African golf, but it is not a junior golf starting point.
For junior golfers, Nomads is most relevant because its name appears on certain national junior tournaments and higher-level events. These events are usually part of the GolfRSA structure and are better suited to experienced competitive juniors.
If you see Nomads on a junior fixture, check the event through GolfRSA or the relevant golf union rather than assuming it is a local Nomads event.
For more information go to: https://www.nomads.co.za/
