AJGA Tournaments

[bogeybob]

Hey guys,

this is my first attempt at starting a thread on a website I have  spent a lot of time on.

I'm a senior in high school and love playing in tournaments, I played on my high school team in the fall with not much success, however in the summer I played in  a series of tournaments called Philly junior tour events. I had a touch of success and improved my game and nerves each time I played. As there are limited events in the next step up of " Philly junior college series" It caught my attention when watching a John Daly interview about his success in AJGA Tournaments. I've done a little research  and found that these tournaments are competitive, expensive, and exclusive. My goal is to be able to walk on to my college golf team, and I plan to spend a lot of time on the golf course this year, however I don't want to shell out a couple hundred dollars and walk away with a bad experience. Has anyone had experience with AJGA and if so what was it like? also, what would you recommend be the best way to give myself an opportunity to compete in these tournaments as far as performance based entry as I know that they have a pre season series for players to earn credentials. Thanks.

[Pretzel]

I know in Colorado the Rocky Mountain Junior Golf Tour is one of the best ways to get into AJGA tournaments through performance based entry, but I don't of anything in Pennsylvania. I do know, however, that AJGA tournaments are the most competitive ones out there and, as such, are the ones that colleges take the most interest in.

One thing to note is that you may need to sharpen your skills some more before you are able to get into the AJGA tournaments, if your handicap is a 12. Most players in these events carry handicaps of scratch or better, and you'll rarely see scores in the 80's unless someone had a terrible day. The easiest way to qualify through the performance based entry is to just win tournaments that give you performance stars. More information can be found at http://www.ajga.org/TournInfo/PBE/TOC.asp

Does Pennsylvania have their own junior golf association? I know Colorado does, and the CJGA puts on some of the most affordable tournaments throughout the year while still fielding good competition (they also have an AJGA performance based entry agreement if I remember correctly).

[phillyk]

I played in IJGA events in high school, and the winner of these will be shooting 74 or 75.  AJGA events are a step above these, so I would agree with Pretzel, the winners of these will be scratch golfers.  To be competitive and ready to try for college golf, you'll want to be at least a 2 or 3 handicap, at the most, by the end of high school.  I've played in bigger events when I was in high school that included many AJGA golfers, and it seemed the same as playing sectional events for golf team.  Even if you can play/practice a lot, make sure it's for a purpose.  Work on ONE thing at a time.  You don't want too many scattered thoughts.

[bogeybob]

thanks pretzel and phillyk for your advice,

phillyk, when i search ijga i get two results: Illinois junior golf association and international junior golf academy. what are you referring to because it seems like it might be something i'm interested in because the scores seem a little more fathomable for me.

thanks

[phillyk]

It is the Illinois Junior Golf Association.  It's definitely more reasonable.