Everything junior golf families usually learn the hard way — the circuit, the academies, the coaching, the rulebook moments, and the small operational details nobody explains.
The Tours
Who runs junior golf?
A plain-English look at the major junior tours — residency rules, cost, how competitive they are, how hard it actually is to get into events, and whether scores get adjusted for playing conditions. New to all of this? Start with Tournament 101.
Fees and policies change — always confirm on the tour's official site before registering.
AJGA
AJGA — American Junior Golf Association
National
EliteNon-profit
The flagship national tour. College coaches watch AJGA. Fields are deep, courses are great, and entries are gated by a 'performance stars' ranking system. Most kids work their way up through Preview and Open events before sniffing Invitationals.
Residency
No residency requirement
Membership
~$195/year
Entry fees
$300–$700+ per event
How hard to get in
Hard. Status-based — new players usually start with Open or Preview events to earn stars.
Adjusts for conditions? PCC applied
Scores posted to the AJGA Performance Based Entry system are submitted as authorized scores under the World Handicap System, which applies a Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC) when warranted.
One of the biggest tours by event count. Welcoming to newer tournament players, with a huge schedule across the US. A common starting point for families building a competitive resume.
Residency
No residency requirement
Membership
~$99/year
Entry fees
$200–$450 per event
How hard to get in
Generally easier — first-come, first-served with large fields and many events.
Adjusts for conditions? PCC applied
Tournament scores are posted as authorized scores in the WHS, which applies PCC adjustments on the day when conditions push scoring outside expected ranges.
Run out of IMG Academy. Big national schedule, good operations, and a clear pathway into IMG showcases. Strong option for players who want consistent events without AJGA-level pressure.
Residency
No residency requirement
Membership
~$95/year
Entry fees
$200–$425 per event
How hard to get in
Moderate — typically open registration, fills steadily but not instantly.
Adjusts for conditions? PCC applied
Posts authorized tournament scores to the WHS; PCC is applied automatically when the system detects abnormal conditions.
The on-ramp for most young juniors. Age-appropriate tees, family-friendly culture, and a local-tour structure that lets kids play close to home before stepping up to the Teen Series or World Championship.
Residency
No residency requirement
Membership
Local tour membership ~$75; priority status varies
Entry fees
$60–$200 per local event; majors higher
How hard to get in
Easy at local-tour level. World/Teen majors are competitive.
Adjusts for conditions? PCC varies
US Kids uses its own Player Ranking system rather than a course-differential model. Teen Series events posted to the WHS will get PCC; local-tour scores are ranked by US Kids' internal formula.
California-based with a global reach. Hosts the Callaway World Championship and a long calendar of national events. Good developmental path with a clear showcase at the top.
Residency
No residency requirement
Membership
Membership tiers vary
Entry fees
$150–$500 per event
How hard to get in
Open registration. Callaway World Championship is competitive.
Adjusts for conditions? PCC applied
Multi-day events are posted as authorized tournament scores; PCC is applied through the WHS when conditions warrant it.
Run by the Florida State Golf Association. One of the deepest state-level tours in the country because, well, Florida. Strong college-recruiting visibility for in-state players.
Residency
Florida-based or with strong Florida ties typically required
Membership
~$95/year (FSGA junior membership)
Entry fees
$130–$250 per event
How hard to get in
Selective — exemption + qualifying system, demand is high.
Adjusts for conditions? PCC applied
As an allied USGA association, the FSGA posts FJT rounds to the WHS — PCC is applied on days when scoring data warrants it.
The largest girls-only junior tour in the country. Divisions let players compete at the right level, and the schedule is deep across the East Coast and beyond. A staple for girls building a college resume.
Residency
No residency requirement
Membership
~$95/year
Entry fees
$95–$250 per event
How hard to get in
Open registration with divisions by age and skill (Bell, National, Player, Futures).
Adjusts for conditions? PCC applied
PKBGT events post as authorized tournament scores; PCC is applied through the WHS.
Team golf with jerseys, captains, and a scramble format. Run through local PGA facilities. The easiest, most fun on-ramp into competitive junior golf for younger kids.
Residency
Local-club based
Membership
Varies by local facility
Entry fees
Season fee through host facility
How hard to get in
Sign up through a participating PGA facility — very accessible.
Adjusts for conditions? No PCC
Scramble team format. Scores aren't posted to the WHS individually, so PCC doesn't apply.
Run by the Masters, USGA, and PGA of America. A free, three-skill competition with the dream of a finals appearance at Augusta National the Sunday before the Masters. Iconic introduction to competition.
Residency
No residency requirement
Membership
Free to register
Entry fees
Free
How hard to get in
Free local qualifiers — advance through sub-regional and regional rounds to Augusta National.
Adjusts for conditions? No PCC
Skills competition (drive, chip, putt) — no 18-hole stroke play, so PCC doesn't apply.
U.S. Junior Amateur, U.S. Girls' Junior, and U.S. Adaptive — the pinnacle of junior amateur competition. Make it through qualifying and you're playing one of the biggest events of the year.
Residency
No residency requirement (US citizenship not required)
Membership
None — entry per championship
Entry fees
~$60–$200 entry; qualifying required
How hard to get in
Very hard — handicap thresholds plus local/sectional qualifying.
Adjusts for conditions? PCC applied
The USGA wrote the rules. Stroke-play qualifying rounds are posted under the WHS and PCC is applied as designed.
Long-running international championship with district qualifiers around the world feeding a finals week at PGA National. Strong recruiting visibility and great age-group divisions.
Residency
No residency requirement
Membership
None — qualifier entry
Entry fees
$75–$175 qualifier; finals separate
How hard to get in
Qualify through district events to reach the finals in Florida.
Adjusts for conditions? PCC varies
Varies by qualifier host. Finals at PGA National post through the WHS; some district qualifiers may not.
A growing national tour with a published ranking system and a points race. Solid alternative or complement to HJGT and IMG for families wanting more national reps.
Residency
No residency requirement
Membership
Annual membership
Entry fees
$200–$400 per event
How hard to get in
Open registration with national rankings.
Adjusts for conditions? PCC applied
Tournament scores are posted as authorized scores in the WHS with PCC applied.
Resort-based multi-day events, often paired with college coach showcases. Popular with players who want travel, recruiting exposure, and a tournament-week experience without AJGA gating.
Residency
No residency requirement
Membership
Annual membership
Entry fees
$300–$700 per event
How hard to get in
Open registration; multi-day events at resort venues.
Adjusts for conditions? PCC applied
Multi-day stroke play posted as authorized tournament scores; PCC is applied through the WHS.
One of the most developed PGA section junior tours in the country. Tiered by skill so beginners and elite players each have a level. A great pipeline into TYGA, LJT, and AJGA.
Residency
Open, but built for North Texas families
Membership
NTPGA junior membership
Entry fees
$50–$150 per event
How hard to get in
Accessible — points and divisions by age/skill.
Adjusts for conditions? PCC applied
Tournament scores post through the WHS; PCC is applied on days the data warrants it.
The go-to regional tour across the DMV. Well-organized, affordable relative to national tours, and a great way to rack up tournament reps close to home.
Residency
No residency requirement
Membership
Annual membership
Entry fees
$95–$200 per event
How hard to get in
Open registration with age divisions.
Adjusts for conditions? PCC varies
Varies by event and host club. Scores at WHS-rated tournament events get PCC; some smaller events are scored within MAJGT only.
Newer for-profit junior + amateur tour with a strong brand and event-day production. 36-hole events at high-end courses, plus college-recruiting services. Headquartered in the Carolinas with a growing national footprint.
Residency
No residency requirement
Membership
Annual membership
Entry fees
$250–$450 per event
How hard to get in
Open registration. 36-hole stroke-play events at premier courses.
Adjusts for conditions? PCC applied
Tournament rounds are posted as authorized scores in the WHS; PCC applies automatically.
