AJGA
2415 Steeplechase Ln
Roswell, GA 30076
(770) 998-4653
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- How does the AJGA select the tournament fields?
- Why does the AJGA allow players who have already signed Letters of Intent to college to play in their events?
- If I make a contribution to the AJGA will my child stand a better chance of getting into the tournament?
- Why are the girls fields so small at AJGA tournaments?
- What are your thoughts on recruiting services?
- My junior golfer just finished his/her junior year in high school and wasn't accepted into the tournament. I thought the AJGA gave rising seniors preference?
- What does it take to get into my first AJGA event?
- How much does geography affect acceptance to tournament?
- What is a Junior-Am?
- Why does the AJGA have a strict Pace of Play Policy?
- How do I get invited to the invitational tournaments?
A. The AJGA typically receives between 300-500 tournament applications per event that the Selection Committee uses to select the tournament field. The AJGA tournament application is basically a resume of the player's golf experience on the Local, High School, State/Regional, and National levels. Because the AJGA conducts tournaments at the highest level of national competition, the State/Regional and National tournament experience carry the most weight on a application. In 1996, the AJGA published its Selection Process Guidelines and can be seen by clicking HERE.
Q. Why does the AJGA allow players who have already signed Letters of Intent to college to play in their events?
A. After years of debate, the AJGA and the USGA agreed to create a universal definition of "junior golfer." That definition is a player who has not yet entered college or who has not yet turned 19. By that standard there are many players each year who compete in AJGA events after signing a Letter of Intent.
Our theory on this is very simple: We will not penalize a player who fits the definition of a junior golfer and who has already signed with a university by not allowing them access to our tournaments. There are still many honors and awards that can be contended for (e.g. Player of the Year and All-American).
The college coaches have asked not to ban college signees from our tournaments. It provides them an opportunity to judge younger talent versus players who have already accepted college scholarships.
NOTE: Although the USGA uses this definition of junior golfer in the rules of golf, it does not allow 18 year-olds to play in U.S. Junior Amateur or U.S. Girls Junior Amateur.
A. Absolutely not! While contributions made to the AJGA Foundation are welcome, the AJGA Selection committee is not aware of these contributions.
In the past, a player's entry fee has come with a "little extra" attached. We simply cash the check, keep enough for the entry fee and refund the rest.
Q. Why are the girls fields so small at AJGA tournaments?
A. Field size of the individual divisions is determined on a percentage basis. There will always be a higher percentage of girls playing in the tournament than boys.
Typically, we receive about 300 applications per tournament. Of those, generally 240 are boys and 60 are girls. For a 120-player field in this instance, we would play 90 boys (38%), 30 girls (50%).
Q. What are your thoughts on recruiting services?
A. The AJGA is not the best organization to answer this question. We encourage parents and players who have this question to ask a college golf coach that their son or daughter may be interested in playing for. The coach is more able to give an opinion on this topic.
A. When selecting a field, it is the AJGA's obligation to our sponsors and our membership as a whole to select the best players among the applicants. Most of the time that includes some 13-16 year-olds and means some 17- and 18-year-olds will not be accepted in the tournament.
If there are two equal players with like resumes and one is a rising senior and the other is 15, the rising senior will get the preference. But the bottom line remains this: All players regardless of age, must have demonstrated the skills to play at the highest level of competition.
Q. What does it take to get into my first AJGA event?
A. An AJGA Tournament application is basically a resume of a player's performance on the local, high school, state/regional, and national level. Typically, all of the player that apply to an event have had success on the local level and in high school events. A player's performance on the state/regional as well as national level is what will separate one player from another. Therefore, I recommend participating in as many state/regional events and national tournaments that are not AJGA events.
The Pepsi Qualifier Series is an excellent way to gain entry into your first event. The qualifiers were created to allow talented players to play their way into an AJGA tournament if he or she does not have a full resume. Qualifier fields are filled on a first-come, first-serve basis and a junior golfer does not need to be a member to compete. . If you do not qualify, the qualifier is still considered national tournament experience and a good opportunity to compare yourself to other players. To learn more about the Pepsi Qualifier Series, Click HERE.
Included in the membership packet is a contact list of 22 events that the American Junior Golf Association uses to select our All-American teams. All of these events are quality national events that will help a player gain exposure to college golf programs as well as fortify a player's AJGA tournament application. Tournaments such as the U.S. Junior, PGA Maxfli, and Big I have local or state qualifiers for the national event. There are also other organizations such as the PGA Junior Series, The Junior Tour, and the Nike Winternational Tour that run national tournaments all across the country. To view the contact information for the AJGA All-American events not conducted by the AJGA, click HERE.
Finally, it is recommended to play in your Stroke and/or Match Play Junior State Championship. A strong finish in state-wide events is a definite benefit especially when applying to AJGA events in your state or bordering states.
NOTE: Most important, when applying to tournaments, DON'T GIVE UP!!! The more you apply, the more chances you give the selection committee to get you into tournaments.
Q. How much does geography affect acceptance to tournament?
A. We do try to have players play as close to home as possible but, this is not a guarantee. We would like to accept as many local players as possible but still keep the tournament's integrity as a competitive national junior golf tournament.
A. Conducted at 43 of the AJGA's 55 events in 1999, Junior-Am Tournaments provide the opportunity for businesses and individuals to provide financial support for junior golf while participating in a first-class, competitive golf tournament. Similar to Pro-Ams conducted on the PGA and LPGA Tours, a Junior-Am is a team scramble comprised of four amateurs and a prominent junior golfer from that week's AJGA tournament field. Notable players that have participated in Junior-Ams as juniors include Tiger Woods, David Duval, Phil Mickelson, Michelle McGann, Emilee Klein and Vicki Goetze. Junior-Ams include numerous awards, prizes and the opportunity to play golf on a magnificent course such as Oak Tree Country Club (Ashworth Oklahoma Junior Classic), English Turn Golf & Country Club (Classic Foundation Junior at English Turn), and The Hills Country Club (Tom Kite Chrysler Junior Classic). Junior-Ams are also a great opportunity to help young people who will be the leaders in golf, and in our nation, for years to come. If interested in participating in an AJGA Junior-Am in 1999, please contact the AJGA at (770) 998-4653 or E-mail at ajga@ajga.org.
Q. Why does the AJGA have a strict Pace of Play Policy?
A. The last thing the AJGA wants to do is to penalize players for slow play, but the AJGA stresses pace of play at their events for several reasons. First, every junior plays better and enjoys his or her AJGA experience when not forced to wait between every shot. Secondly, AJGA events are the training grounds for the next levels, whether it is college golf or a professional tour.
Each AJGA tournament has a set pace of play, typically 4 hours, 12 minutes, or four hours, 30 minutes. Pace of play depends primarily on the difficulty of the golf course as well as weather conditions.
For your group to be defined as "out of position" by the AJGA, you must 1) have an open hole in front of your group; and 2) play over the average allotted time per hole. The AJGA official will then time your group, allowing 45 seconds for each shot, until it is back in position.
Q. How do I get an invited to the invitational tournaments?
A. In order to be invited to the invitationals, you must meet requirements set forth by the AJGA.
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