Unlike most team sports, golf is a game that can be enjoyed for life. I’ve met far too many golfers who have said, “I wish I started playing at a younger age”. While you can learn to play in adulthood, the young mind is much more willing to adapt and change to create the ideal swing sequence…perhaps they have less negative swing thoughts than us adults! Additionally, I find that many young golfers innately move their bodies in a way that optimizes speed and higher launch conditions.
One of the primary ways a young golfer improves is through level-appropriate competition. It’s remarkable to see how quickly a junior golfer develops once competition and tournaments are introduced. Creating goals and personal bests, and then reestablishing these goals and PB’s are a time-tested way to improve one’s skills. Furthermore, encouraging your junior to play and compete in golf can be a positive experience on many levels. Your young golfer can create lifelong friendships, fond memories, and an improved golf game that lasts for life.
Through my junior golf experiences, I have found that junior golfers will develop if they have the 5 following qualities:
- Desire
- Proper facilities & equipment
- Expert coaching
- Parental support
- Competitive Opportunities
If you live in the Columbus, Ohio area and are looking for a suggested pathway for junior golf competition, I’ve developed the following rubric for our Academy Juniors based on age and ability, along with links to learn more about each organization:
| Tour | Location / Season | Shooting Stars ages 7-9 | Rising Stars ages 10-12 | Elite Stars ages 13-17 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drive, Chip & Putt www.drivechipandputt.com Unique and free introduction to junior golf competition featuring divisions based on age and gender. | National event, with Columbus area qualifiers each Summer. |  | | |
| U.S. Kids Golf www.uskidsgolf.com Family-friendly competition on scaled courses featuring divisions based on age and gender. Parents/siblings can caddy. Great value. | Local Columbus Tour in Spring, Summer & Fall. Also host state, regional & world tournaments. | | | |
| PGA Junior League www.pgajrleague.com Great introduction to competitive golf in a fun team scramble format. | Available to NorthStar members each Summer. Opportunity to advance to All Stars, Sectionals, Regionals and Nationals. | | ||
| SOPGA Junior Tour www.southernohiojuniorgolf.com 1 & 2 day events conducted by PGA Golf Professionals. Great value and experience. | Serving the Columbus, Cincinnati & Dayton markets April – July. | | | |
| COGA Tour www.cogagolf.com 2 day events. Many local high school golfers participate, with events conducted at league and sectional courses. | Greater Columbus Area with events in June – July. | | ||
| Golfweek Junior Tour www.golfweekjuniortour.com 2 day events. The regional tour of choice for Elite junior golfers. | Regional Tour serving Ohio, Indiana, Michigan & Kentucky each March – November. | | ||
| AJGA www.ajga.org 1-4 day events. The national tour of choice for Elite junior golfers. | Year-round National Tour. | |
Please keep in mind, the above is not a complete list of competitive opportunities for your junior golfer. As your junior’s performance improves, you will discover more opportunities for tournament play.
Have questions regarding Casto Golf Academy’s suggested competitive junior golf pathway? Feel free to reach out at http://www.CastoGolf.com