As a new year speeds into gear, the AJGA is preparing to get started with a bang at the annual Presidents Day events. The ANNIKA Invitational and the HP Boys Championship at Carlton Woods have been leading off the tournament season for years, and provide an exciting opportunity for the nation’s top junior golfers to showcase their talent on a national stage.
While these two events are in the forefront of the AJGA’s mind, there are many other things to anticipate for the 2011 season.
This year, the AJGA’s schedule will expand to 90 events, hosted in 29 states, Mexico and Puerto Rico (congrats on your wins at the Puerto Rico Junior Open, Jason and Monifa!).
The biennial PING Junior Solheim Cup will be held in Trim, Ireland in September. An invitation to be on the U.S. team will surely be on the minds of junior girls through out the year, as the U.S. hopes to retain the Cup and be the first team- U.S. or European- to win the event on foreign soil. Tournament participants can expect to see U.S PING Junior Solheim Cup Team Captain Meg Mallon scouting talent at AJGA events leading up to team selection.
Aside from the exciting tournaments, the AJGA is working to help develop the juniors within the organization. New programs such as AJGA Cares for the Course, alongside new pace of play initiatives and the return of Leadership Links will create opportunities for these young men and women to grow not only in their golf game, but help to develop charitable giving skills and promote volunteerism.
With a trial run of AJGA Cares for the Course at the Polo Golf Junior Classic under our belts, juniors will notice a major change in the Care for the Course program. In 2011, players will be given sand tubes (don’t worry, they are compact and light!), enabling them to fill divots as they go. For all of you who do this, the group behind you says thanks!
AJGA National Headquarters is buzzing with new ideas, exciting events and an eye on the future. It’s an exciting time for us, and we hope you are all looking forward to the coming months as much as we are. We’ll see you on the road!
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