Kiddyshack

Growing Golf On The Junior Level

By Jennie Hanna

Decades ago golf went miniature, and these days it appears the athletes are following suit.

Youth began playing golf on a competitive level more than 40 years ago, but there has been a surge in the numbers of junior players in the last decade. “The game has completely evolved and is so widespread that kids anywhere can get involved,” said Chris Richards, media relations coordinator for the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA). “A lot of the surge of new players has to do with the fact that kids are watching golf more on TV and deciding they want to give it a shot.”

The goal of AJGA, which formed in 1978, is to help its 5,000 youth members ages 12-18 to hone their golf skills into college scholarships, Richards said, adding that many of AJGA’s bigger invitationals draw about 20 to 30 college coaches who come to see AJGA members play.

In 2009, AJGA will conduct 84 events in 25 states. The biggest events will include the 2009 Rolex Tournament, held over the July 4th holiday weekend, and the Polo Golf Junior Classic, which will take place over the Thanksgiving holiday. Richards said 75 percent of AJGA’s events are held during holidays or summer breaks so that students don’t miss too much school. “We value our members’ education as just as vital to making it to college as their swing, so it is important to us that players don’t miss their classes.”

Like AJGA, the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) offers a golf program to help youth ages 8-14 develop their skills. Hal Yost, national chairman for AAU Golf, said many kids come to golf while playing other AAU sports since the annual membership allows them to participate in any of AAU’s 33 sports. “Many kids initially register to play a different sport but give golf a try when they find out we offer it as well,” he said. “Many kids find that they like golf more than they expected they would.”

In fact, the playing roster for the 2009 AAU Junior National Championship in July is so long that the event will be divided into two age categories—ages 8-14 and a “senior” division for 18U and 16U players, Yost said. The championship roster is determined by the top three players in each of the AAU’s 58 districts.

Planning for AAU-sanctioned district events is usually started a few months in advance, Yost said, and AAU can assist local organizers who may need help with planning or running the events. In some instances, AAU will advertise the events on the AAU website, e-mail event flyers to AAU members, and coordinate officials for the events.

Richards said planning of AJGA events begins as much as a year in advance, depending on the size of the event, and that the national office helps promote major events in golf magazines, golf clubs, youth centers, and the AJGA website. “For bigger events, we also help coordinate hotel accommodations, transportation, meals, etc., for the players.”

California, Florida and Texas have been popular areas for AJGA’s major events, Richards said, but junior golf events are rapidly expanding across the nation.

A Youth Golf Franchise

Joshua Jacobs recognized the growing number of youth golfers and started Total Golf Adventures in 2003 to fill the void of youth golf camps in the Southern California area, he said. In just five years, Total Golf Adventures has expanded to 43 franchises in 22 states. Jacobs, CEO and founder, said the franchise has also brought golf into more than 1,500 schools so that children can learn the sport.

“Kids like it because they’re just having fun; it doesn’t seem instructional at all,” Jacobs said. “The best part is that we incorporate golf skills with life skills that can be taught together. Students are introduced to golf, prepared for the golf course and then primed for competitive golf as they advance, while also learning life lessons and having fun at the same time.”

Usually, a class with Total Golf Adventures consists of 14 students, from kindergarten through eighth grade. Jacobs estimates that the program has helped more than 45,000 students across the country learn the sport of golf.

“Since only 10 percent of the world plays golf, we are proud that we are changing the perception of the game at a young age. Of the youth we teach, 80 percent have never played golf, and we’re their first impression of the sport,” he said.

Total Golf Adventures is strong in California, where the franchise started, and in Texas, northeastern states and states along the East Coast, including South Carolina, Jacobs said. He said he hopes to expand into the Midwestern states and beyond schools—in child care centers, community centers and youth clubs like the YMCA.

Each Total Golf Adventures franchise can hold its own events, and Jacobs is developing a nationwide event as well.

Girls’ Golf On The Rise

Golf organizers agree that youth programs are helping to attract more female participation. “It’s great to see males and females wanting to learn more about the sport. It’s refreshing to think that our program will help even out the playing field in the future,” Jacobs said.

Richards is optimistic that youth golf programs, like AJGA and others, will be successful in reaching more girls. “It’s only natural that the progression will be to attract more young girls to the sport as years go by.”

AAU’s Yost stresses that golf can be an avenue for young women to get a college education. “Last year, there were 95 Division 1 golf scholarships that went unused because there simply weren’t enough girls trying out—that’s a waste,” he said. “If I had a daughter, I’d make sure I taught her to play golf for that reason alone."

Find out how the Duramed Futures Tour is helping female golfers improve their game in this online exclusive. Click here to read more.