American Junior Golf Association
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) 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." [1] It is considered by the vast majority of leaders in the golf industry to be the premiere junior golf organization in the world [2], as evidenced by its financial support from such organizations as Titleist (its National Sponsor), Rolex (a Premier Partner), the United States Golf Association (Association Partner), and Official Partners such as Canon, hp, and Polo Golf [3].
The AJGA has been running elite tournaments for junior golfers of both sexes in the United States since 1978 and as of 2006 it stages roughly 75 a season. It is headquartered at Chateau Elan Resort in Braselton, Georgia. It focuses more on developing elite golfers of both sexes than on fostering the recreational side of the sport, as is made clear by its mission statement.
It is considered by the vast majority of leaders in the golf industry to be the premiere junior golf organization in the world [4], as evidenced by its financial support from such organizations as Titleist (its National Sponsor), Rolex (a Premier Partner), the United States Golf Association (Association Partner), and Official Partners such as Canon, hp, and Polo Golf [5].
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[edit] Playing on the AJGA
Junior golfers between the ages of 12 and 18 are eligible to play in AJGA events. Players can qualify to take part through local and regional tournaments via the AJGA's Performance Based Entry system[6]. Players who have the ability but not the financial means to play may qualify for the AJGA's ACE Grant program[7], which provides financial support for players who need help covering the expenses of national junior golf competition.
[edit] Rankings and Awards
The AJGA runs a variety of rankings, teams and awards. The AJGA has developed its own ranking system that helps fill tournament fields and determine the Rolex Junior All-America teams and the Rolex Junior Player of the Year winners.[8] Past winners of the Player of the Year awards include Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods in the boys division and Cristie Kerr and Paula Creamer in the girls division.
[edit] Beginnings
The idea behind the AJGA was conceived in the mid 1970s by Mike Bentley, a sportswriter in DeKalb County, Georgia. Bentley first formed the DeKalb Junior Golf Association in 1974, which eventually evolved into the Atlanta Junior Golf Association [9]. Bentley soon realized the need for organized golf at the national level. At the time, there existed several national junior golf tournaments but no cohesive administration of junior golf events on a national scale. Bentley envisioned such an organization, and created the American Junior Golf Association to meet the need [10].
The AJGA conducted its first national junior golf event in 1978, the AJGA Tournament of Champions, at Inverrary Country Club in Lauderhill, Fla. [11], and later that same year conducted its second national event. The AJGA also named its first Junior All-Americans in 1978, and has done so every year since [12].
In 1984, Stephen Hamblin was hired as Executive Director, the role he continues in today. The AJGA's first permanent home was built in 1983 at Horseshoe Bend Country Club, and the Association moved to a new facility in September of 2000 [13].
[edit] Growth
The AJGA has experienced consistent growth throughout its history in many aspects. The AJGA had a staff of five in 1983, and today employs 53. The number of AJGA tournaments has also greatly increased, moving from two in 1978 to its current total of about 75 events per year. AJGA membership has increased to approximately 5,000 from a few hundred in 1978. The AJGA also has a college coaches membership of about 300, whose membership with the AJGA gives them access to vital recruiting information.[14]
[edit] Achieving Its Mission
The AJGA focuses on running high-level, consistent golf tournaments that give college coaches the ability to accurately judge the skill level of junior golfers. This is accomplished through adherence to the USGA Rules of Golf, the AJGA Code of Conduct[15], its Pace of Play policy[16], and the use of its Performance Based Entry system[17] to fill tournament fields.
Each year, around 500 AJGA juniors go on to compete at the college level [18], and most of those do so on college scholarships.
[edit] AJGA Alumni
The majority of the country's top golf programs are filled with AJGA alumni, which include Stewart Cink, Steve Flesch, Jim Furyk, Sergio Garcia, Charles Howell III, Matt Kuchar, Justin Leonard, Davis Love III, Andrew Magee, Phil Mickelson, Joe Ogilvie, David Toms, Mike Weir, Tiger Woods and Scott Verplank, Beth Bauer, Brandie Burton, Laura Diaz, Vicki Goetze-Ackerman, Pat Hurst, Christina Kim, Cristie Kerr, Emilee Klein, Kelli Kuehne, Michelle McGann, Lorena Ochoa, Grace Park, Dottie Pepper, Kelly Robbins, Sherri Steinhauer, Kris Tschetter and Wendy Ward.
AJGA alumni in college compete very well, winning 18 of the past 24 NCAA Division I men's champioships and 21 of the past 24 NCAA Division I women's championships. Also, 14 of past 16 U.S. Amateur champions and 14 of past 16 U.S. Women's Amateur champions are AJGA alumni.
Many AJGA alumni have also found success at the professional level, with players on both the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour combining to earn more than 300 professional victories.[19]
![[10]](http://www.ajga.org/Media_Center/images/MikeBentley.jpg){kind=link}