Age Group Descriptions

Updated: 3-31-08

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12 & Under (Instructional)
This age group meets ten times throughout the summer.  The first five weeks will be at Grand Prairie Golf Course. These sessions will concentrate on rules, etiquette, and instruction about the golf swing. Grand Prairie has a fine teaching facility where we will be able to hit practice balls, practice our short game and fine-tune our putting. The next four events will be spent playing on the course at Red Arrow Golf Club. The 8 and under group will play three holes while the 9-12 year olds will play six holes. Our goal is to have all participants play up to nine holes by the end of the program. We would like to have at least one adult walk with each group. Parent volunteers are an important part of the success of this age group. The final event is the 12 & Under Championship at Grand Prairie where any participant ready to play a nine-hole tournament will be allowed to play.

12 & Under (Tournament)
Players in this age group are expected to be able to play under the USGA rules of golf, keep score on the golf course, and total and sign their scorecard at the end of each round. These events will be treated as formal tournaments, which will give many participants their first competitive experience. The tournament schedule includes seven nine-hole events at some of the area’s shorter courses. This year we will be playing Red Arrow, Maple Hills, Hickory Ridge, Grand Prairie, Eastern Hills West, and the short course at Kalamazoo Country Club. The final event is the 12 & Under Championship at Grand Prairie. We recommend having an adult walk with each of these groups so please try to arrange your schedule to help during at least one event.

13 - 15
This age group is designed to prepare participants for high school competition. The events will have a tournament flavor and will enable the player to feel what it is like to play at the higher levels. In this age group, both boys and girls will play 18 holes. Top players in this age group will be invited to participate in the JGA Championship at the end of the season. Parents are encouraged to help administer these tournaments.

15 - 17
This age group is designed to allow the high-school aged player to compete in events throughout the summer that will be similar to their school events. The eight events are held at some of the area’s finest courses. The tournaments are governed by the USGA Rules of Golf and all results are sent to high school coaches. Many coaches use these tournaments as a barometer of the progress of their players throughout the summer. The season-ending 36-hole championship is just before the school season starts, which gives the JGA player a head start on the competition. Both boys and girls will play 18 holes in this division. Field size may be limited in this age group, so sign up early!

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