WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES JUNIOR GOLF TOUR
Hopefully, any questions you have about the USJGT will be answered here. However, feel free to contact us if you can’t find what you are looking for. See you on tour!
OUR PURPOSE
The USJGT was founded in 2001 with two basic fundamental principles – provide quality golf tournaments at affordable prices. Those two principles guide everything we do. We are sensitive to the expense of living these days and that factors into every decision we make. We do not run this tour as our primary careers. This is a passion for us. As a result, we do not price our events based on profit. Events are priced based on the cost of hosting the event.
SEASONS
The USJGT season begins June 1 and runs through May 31.
DIVISIONS
There are seven age divisions within the USJGT. Divisions are based on the school grade of the participant. We choose to divide by grades rather than age because once players get to high school, that’s how the division of participation is done. There are no age divisions in high school sports or beyond so why do it differently?
Our divisions and approximate yardages played are:
Boys High School – Grades 9-12 (6500-7000)
Girls High School – Grades 8-12 (5100-6000)
Boys Junior High – Grades 7-8 (5500-6000)
Girls Middle – Grades 6-7 (4500-5500)
Boys Rising Stars – Grades 5-6 (5000-5500)
Girls Rising Stars – Grades 3-5 (1800-2000)
Boys Future Stars – Grades 3-4 (1800-2000)
TOURNAMENTS
All USJGT events are either 36 or 54 holes. All divisions play 36 or 54 holes except when designated differently. The only exception to this rule is for the Girls Rising Stars and Boys Future Stars divisions. Those groups play 18 hole tournaments over a two-day period.
WHO SHOULD PLAY?
The USJGT is open to all players. However, we do encourage you to have some competitive experience before participating in USJGT events.
TOUR MEMBERSHIP
A tour membership is good for one season. It allows players to play in our events at the member price. It is better to be a member if you plan on playing three or more events in a season. Non-members are allowed to play, but are charged a higher entry fee.
ENTERING AN EVENT
All tournament entry forms are available on the website. Once you have submitted an entry, the player’s name will appear in the Tournament Entries Received section. Please allow 24 hours from the time of submission for the name to appear on that list.
WITHDRAWING
Please notify us via email if you plan to withdraw. On the day of an event, contact us by phone.
NO SHOWS
If a player is entered in an event and does not show, they will be charged the full price of the event.
Players who play the first day and then no-show the second day are subject to suspension from future tour events.
COMMUNICATIONS
All tour communications are done through three sources – the website, email and Facebook. Please check these sources regularly for updates.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
In the event that a tournament is shortened by weather, the tour will notify you if your entry fee will be discounted. This will be based on what the host facility charges us.
SELECTION OF COURSES
When scheduling events, we strive to provide a variety of venues to play. Our schedule will always include a combination of public, semi-private and private courses so that players can gain experience playing at different facilities. We could play nothing but upscale courses, but we believe that providing variety improves a player’s ability to adapt and makes them a better player.
CHARGING OF ENTRY FEES
Unlike most other golf events, we do not charge you when you enter an event. We will charge credit cards and checks when an event starts. That way, you can enter several events at one time and not have to pay for them all at one time.
RULES OF PLAYING
1. All USJGT events are governed by the rules of the USGA, unless specifically altered prior to the start of an event due to weather or course conditions. The one constant exception to USGA rules is that we impose an eight stroke limit per hole in the Boys Rising Stars, Boys Future Stars, and Girls Rising Stars division. There is no stroke limit on the last hole each day in these divisions.
2. No caddies are allowed in any division and we ask that spectators remain on or near the cart paths to avoid any illusion of giving advice. Players are allowed to be shuttled between holes in order to maintain pace of play.
3. A) Pace of play - it should never take more than 4 1/2 hours to complete a round. B) Decorum - cursing, club throwing, ball throwing or any other act deemed unsportsmanlike will result in 1 warning and then ejection from the event and suspension from the tour for a second offense.
4. No advice is allowed from spectators. There is no second chance on this. First offense will result in the spectator being asked to leave the course and the player will be subjected to a two-stroke penalty as per USGA rules. We strongly suggest that spectators stay one shot ahead of the players so as not to allow the perception of giving advice.
5. Distance measuring devices are not allowed in USJGT play.
6. There is an 8-stroke limit on all holes except the last one in the Girls Middle, Boys Rising Stars, Girls Rising Stars and Boys Future Stars divisions.
TIEBREAKER PROCEDURE
In the event of a tie for first place, a sudden death playoff will begin immediately at a designated hole.
For trophy positions other than first place (or for first place if inclement weather or darkness prevents a playoff), the tiebreaker procedure is as follows.
1. Lowest 18 hole score in tournament by tied players
2. Sunday total score
3. Saturday total score
4. Sunday back nine
5. Saturday back nine
6. Sunday front nine
7. Saturday front nine
8. Scorecard playoff starting at #18 on Sunday and working backwards
TROPHIES
Trophies are awarded in each age group. The number given is based on the number of players in that age group. 3 or less players - 1 trophy spot. 4-6 players - 2 trophy spots, 7-9 players - 3 trophies, 10+ players - 4 trophies. 'we also award hat pins to the player who shoots the lowest round in each age group each day and that player receives 100 bonus points.
What does my entry fee cover?
The cost of each tournament covers greens fees, tournament fees, and range balls. There are no add-on fees paid to us. If you wish to purchase additional range balls or rent a cart as a spectator, that is your expense.
TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP
We have a season ending Tour championship in May. During that event, we have a player's banquet and honor our Player of the Year in each age group. That is the player that leads the point standings. We also select one male and one female to receive the Director's Award for Excellence in Play and Sportsmanship. Invitations to the Tour Championship are based on tour victories, number of events in which a player participated during the season and points.
