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Note: Any information dependent on the completion of the 2010 schedule will be updated after the schedule is finalized.
What is the AJGA?
Why should I join?
How do I join?
Who is eligible to be an AJGA Member?
What playing opportunities are available with the AJGA?
Do you have more questions?
The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.
Since 1978, the American Junior Golf Association has been devoted to conducting national junior golf tournaments at the highest level of junior golf. In 2010, the AJGA will conduct more than 80 tournaments and 45 K12 Qualifiers for young players, ages 12-18. At each event, the AJGA seeks to live up to its mission statement by providing a first-class venue, professional staff and a safe environment. The AJGA requires its golfers to adhere to a Code of Conduct and Pace of Play.
Most junior golfers join the AJGA to play tournament golf, where they will find outstanding competition and be seen by college golf coaches, in hopes of securing a college golf scholarship. The benefits go beyond the tournaments, however.
The AJGA offers three different membership options. The standard Junior Membership is recommended for those who have not yet reached their sophomore year of high school.
The Junior Plus Membership is ideal for high school sophomores and juniors who are planning to attend college. Younger players may wish to become Junior Plus Members in order to better prepare themselves for the recruiting process yet to come. Players who sign up for the Junior Membership may upgrade to the Junior Plus during the season.
The Future Player Membership is a non-playing membership for juniors who are either not old enough to compete in AJGA events or have no intention of applying to play in AJGA tournaments. This offers an opportunity for younger players to keep abreast of AJGA events and programs.
For a complete list of membership benefits click here.
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Joining the AJGA can be done online at ajga.org. Click here and you will be taken to the AJGA online membership form. After submitting your membership the AJGA will send an automated e-mail confirmation which includes your AJGA Member ID # and a summary of the information entered on the membership form. Members will also be mailed a membership packet with other membership items. Juniors may also join by mail. Simply call toll-free 1-877-373-2542 and request an AJGA Membership Brochure.
Prior to applying to tournaments or qualifiers, you will need to submit acceptable proof-of-age documentation to the AJGA. A notarized copy (must be notarized after the copy is made) of either a birth certificate, passport or drivers license is acceptable documentation. This document must be mailed to the AJGA. Please click the link above for the complete policy and submission instructions.
Players may sign up for Junior or Junior Plus Membership before their 12th birthday. However, they must be at least 12 years of age to participate in an AJGA event. Future Player Membership (non-playing) is open to all juniors under the age of 19.
Those juniors who have graduated from high school may only play until Sept. 1 (through August 31) of the season directly following high school graduation, regardless of age and/or juniors may not play in an AJGA event if they have reached their 19th birthday, regardless of graduation date. Any junior who has graduated high school and started college is not eligible to play in AJGA events.
Prior to applying to tournaments or qualifiers, you will need to submit acceptable proof-of-age documentation to the AJGA. A notarized copy (must be notarized after the copy is made) of either a birth certificate, passport or drivers license is acceptable documentation. This document must be mailed to the AJGA. Please click the link above for the complete policy and submission instructions.
2010 AJGA Membership expires Nov. 30, 2010.
Golf Academy of America Preseason Junior Series
The AJGA's Golf Academy of America Preseason Junior Series is a series designed specifically for first-time AJGA members or those members who have not yet been accepted to or participated in an AJGA Open event, AJGA Invitational or Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series event in the current calendar year and/or the previous calendar year.
For those who are eligible, participation is limited to one Golf Academy of America Preseason event per calendar year as long as they have not yet been accepted to or participated in an AJGA Open event, AJGA Invitational or Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series event.
For more information about the Golf Academy of America Preseason Junior Series click here.
Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series
The Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series is a collection of nine events specifically designed for boys and girls age 12-15 years old. The competition provides an opportunity for younger members to develop their skills and build Performance Based Entry status to earn entry into Open tournaments. Juniors are limited to a maximum combination of five AJGA Open and Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series events. The series concludes with the invitation-only Montverde Academy Junior All-Star Invitational.
For more information about the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy Junior All-Star Series click here.
Open Tournament Series
AJGA Open tournaments make up the largest part of the AJGA schedule. All members may submit tournament applications to Open tournaments and the tournament fields are filled by Performance Based Entry.
With the AJGA's Performance Based Entry system, all AJGA Open tournaments are filled based on players’ status, which consists of Tournament Exemptions and Performance Stars. All players have a status that is based on how they've performed in hundreds of state, regional and national events across the country, both AJGA and non-AJGA events. Tournament fields are filled by players who have the highest status and have properly applied to the event. Juniors are limited to a maximum combination of five AJGA Open and Junior All-Star Series events. Click here to view more information on Performance Based Entry and see a complete list of tournaments where a player can build their Performance Based Entry status.
All AJGA members are encouraged to apply for AJGA Open tournaments, regardless of status. Players who do not earn entry into an Open tournament can apply to the qualifier coinciding with that event.
Players who apply to AJGA Open events and do not gain entry are NOT automatically moved to the qualifier for that event. They must submit a separate qualifier application.
For more information about the Open Tournament Series click here.
Invitational Events
These championships require an invitation based on selection criteria from finishes in AJGA and non-AJGA national junior tournaments. Eligible players for each invitational will appear on an invitation list at ajga.org. Eligible players must submit a tournament application at the AJGA Player Center. For more information and selection criteria for Invitational Events, click here.
K12 Qualifier Series
The K12 Qualifier Series is one of the main ways players get their start with the AJGA.
Typically held the day prior to AJGA Open tournaments, 18-hole K12 Qualifiers give juniors an opportunity to "play their way in" to each coinciding Open tournament or earn a Tournament Exemption or Performance Star for a future event.
While most qualifiers fill the 100-player field size, there were many qualifiers in 2009 that still had available spots after the initial application window providing many additional opportunities for players.
A typical Qualifier field size is 80 boys and 20 girls. Typically, 10% of boys in a Qualifier and 10% of girls in a qualifier will move on to play in the coinciding Open tournament. The exact number of spots will be posted at Qualifier registration. In 2009, the average score to qualify was: Boys – 76.2 Girls – 82.6. The average score to finish in the top 50% of the qualifier field and earn a Performance Star was: Boys – 78.9 Girls – 82.8.
*Note: Those who qualify and play in the tournament or elect to choose the Option Policy and have a Tournament Exemption added to their status are not eligible to earn an additional Performance Star for finishing in the top 50% of the K12 Qualifier field.
Prior to applying to tournaments or qualifiers, you will need to submit acceptable proof-of-age documentation to the AJGA. A notarized copy (must be notarized after the copy is made) of either a birth certificate, passport or drivers license is acceptable documentation. This document must be mailed to the AJGA. Please click the link above for the complete policy and submission instructions.
More answers to questions involving AJGA tournaments and policies are available in the Membership FAQ. Also, the AJGA's Player Services Department is ready to answer your questions. Call the AJGA toll-free at 1-877-373-2542, or contact the AJGA via e-mail at ajga@ajga.org.
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