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Junior golf tours in Florida

16 state, regional, PGA Section, and local junior programs holding events in Florida, plus the national youth programs with Florida chapters.

Start here

Where to start in Florida

  1. 1. Learn and play 9 holes (ages 5–11)

    13 local U.S. Kids Golf tours and chapters we list in Florida, plus PGA Jr. League teams and First Tee chapters. Short yardages, low fees, no ranking pressure.

  2. 2. First 18-hole tournaments

    NFJG Tour / SFPGA Junior or GJGT / GCJGF: one-day events with tiered divisions so new players compete against new players.

  3. 3. Championships and rankings

    FJT / JGA Tour for state junior championships and USGA qualifiers, then NXXT Gen / SJGT for ranked 36-hole events. Then the national tours.

Local & metro tours in Florida

(9)

City, county, and metro-area tours. One-day events, low entry fees, short drives. Where most players enter their first tournament.

Gator Junior Golf Tour

Florida

Local tour

Run by the Gainesville-based Gator Junior Golf Association, the tour offers some of the lowest-priced junior tournaments in Florida and participates in the Florida Junior Tour STEP exemption program. Overall 18-hole boys' and girls' winners earn preferential FJT entry.

Ages Not publishedNot published

Gold Coast Junior Golf Foundation

Florida

Local tour

A South Florida non-profit founded in 1998 and based in Cooper City, GCJGF runs a Gold Tour for ages 7–18 and a Platinum Tour of 36-hole events for advanced 13–18 year olds across Broward and Palm Beach counties. It has awarded more than $250,000 in scholarships and funds members' education savings plans through its GEM program.

Ages 7–18Sep–AugJGS~10 events/yr

Greater Orlando Junior Golf Tour

Florida

Local tour

A monthly junior series in the Orlando area for boys and girls 7–18 that awards season points not only for top-10 finishes but also for school attendance and grades.

Ages 7–18Mar–Dec~10 events/yr

Junior Golf Association of Broward County

Florida

Local tour

Founded in 1968 and based in Cooper City, JGA of Broward County is one of the largest local junior programs in the country, drawing up to 400 players to seven one-day summer events plus a three-day Junior Championship Invitational. For 2026 it introduced Players League and Champions League tiers.

Ages 6–18Jun–Jul~8 events/yr

Manatee Junior Golf Tour

Florida

Local tour

Founded in 2000 and based in Bradenton, the Callaway-sponsored MJGT hosts one- and two-day tournaments for ages 10–19 at courses from Lakewood Ranch and Sarasota down to Rotonda and Englewood. Winners earn exemptions into other regional events including FJT STEP.

Ages 10–19Apr–Dec~12 events/yr

Palm Beach County Junior Golf Association

Florida

Local tour

Operating since the early 1960s, PBCJGA provides tournaments, instruction, leadership programs and community service for Palm Beach County juniors ages 4–18.

Ages 4–18Not published

Southwest Florida Junior Golf Association

Florida

Local tour

Operating since 1974 in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties, SWFJGA runs an eight-event summer series beginning the first Monday in June on a pay-once, play-all-summer model. It has produced multiple PGA and LPGA Tour professionals.

Ages 8–18Jun–Jul~8 events/yr

Suncoast Junior Tour

Florida

Local tour

Founded in 2023, this Southwest Florida tour serves more than 200 members with professionally run events at private and public clubs around Sarasota and the Suncoast. The schedule mixes 9-hole learning events with 36-hole Junior Golf Scoreboard-ranked tournaments, points races and year-end championships.

Ages Not publishedYear-roundJGS

The Claret Junior Golf Tour

Florida

Local tour

A Central Florida tour offering ranked, family-priced 36-hole events at courses around Orlando, Davenport, Oviedo and The Villages. Results feed Junior Golf Scoreboard, Junior Golf Hub and iWanamaker rankings, and winners earn FJT STEP exemptions.

Ages Not publishedYear-roundJGS

PGA Section junior tours in Florida

(2)

Run by the local PGA of America Section. Tiered divisions from beginner to elite, and the on-ramp to the PGA Jr. Championship.

State golf association junior programs in Florida

(2)

Your USGA Allied Golf Association's junior tour and state junior championships. Championship-quality golf at association prices.

Regional multi-state tours in Florida

(3)

Independent tours covering several states, usually 36-hole events ranked by Junior Golf Scoreboard. The bridge to AJGA-level golf.

Local youth golf tours and chapters in Florida

Local tours run by national programs. These are the easiest first events for players under 12.

National youth programs with Florida chapters

Each runs local programs across the country. Use the finder on each page to locate the nearest one.

Drive, Chip & Putt

National program

Founded in 2013 by the Masters Tournament, USGA and PGA of America, Drive, Chip & Putt is a free nationwide skills competition whose winners play the National Finals at Augusta National on Golf Channel.

Ages 7–15 (Girls/Boys 7–9, 10–11, 12–13, 14–15)Local qualifying spring–summer; regionals late summer/fall; National Finals the Sunday before the Masters

First Tee

National program

First Tee is a 501(c)(3) youth development organization that teaches golf alongside life skills through 150 chapters (plus international sites), each running programs at multiple local courses.

Ages Youth through high school (typically 5–18; varies by chapter)Year-round, by chapter

IMG Academy Junior World Championship

National program

Founded in 1968 by the San Diego Junior Golf Association, the Junior World Championship draws about 1,250 players from 56 countries and 42 states each July, reached through designated qualifiers or open application.

Ages Through 18 (14-and-under and 15–18 groups)July (2027: July 12–15); registration opens Feb 10, open-registration deadline Mar 15

Junior PGA Championship (Section Qualifiers)

National program

The Junior PGA Championship is one of junior golf's majors; the way in is your PGA Section's Junior PGA Championship, held in every section each spring/summer, with all 41 section champions invited to nationals.

Ages Junior (section championships are generally for ages 13–18)Section championships May–July; national championship late July

LPGA*USGA Girls Golf

National program

Founded in 1989 in Phoenix, LPGA*USGA Girls Golf is the only junior program built specifically for girls 6–17, now at 700+ sites serving about 100,000 girls a year.

Ages 6–17 (girls)Year-round, by site

Operation 36

National program

Operation 36 is a progression-based learn-to-play program used at 800+ facilities in 22 countries; juniors start 25 yards from the green and earn their way back to the full tee box, with an app tracking every round.

Ages 6–18 (plus adult and family programs)Year-round, by facility

Optimist International Junior Golf Championships

National program

One of the largest junior tournaments in the world, the Optimist Junior Golf Championship is reached through local Optimist district qualifiers and played in age waves at Trump National Doral (Miami), with a Tournament of Champions at Mission Resort each fall.

Ages 10–18 (Boys 10–11, 12–13, 14–15, 16–18; Girls 10–12, 13–14, 15–18)District qualifiers spring–early summer; Championship July (2027: July 11–28 by division); Tournament of Champions Oct 31–Nov 1, 2026

PGA Jr. League

National program

PGA Jr. League is the PGA of America's team-based, no-experience-required program: kids wear numbered jerseys and play two-person scramble matches for a local team led by a PGA Coach, with an All-Star pathway to a National Championship.

Ages 17 and under (9u, 13u and 17u divisions)Year-round: Spring/Summer (Mar–Jun), Fall/Winter (Jul–Dec); All-Star season May–Nov

U.S. Junior Amateur & U.S. Girls' Junior Qualifying

National program

The USGA's two junior championships, the U.S. Junior Amateur and U.S. Girls' Junior, are entered through local qualifying run by allied golf associations each spring and early summer. Check the USGA championships site for current dates, sites, and handicap limits.

Ages Under 19 (age limit as of the championship's final round)Qualifying typically May–June; championships in July

U.S. Kids Golf Local Tours

National program

U.S. Kids Golf Local Tours are the most widespread entry-level tournament series in the country: age-scaled, single-day events run by local directors in more than 100 U.S. metro areas (300+ worldwide), with points that earn Priority Status for State, Regional and World Championships.

Ages 5–18 (core 5–14; 15–18 division on select tours)Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter seasons (age cut-offs May 31, Aug 31, Nov 30, Feb 28)

Youth on Course

National program

Youth on Course is a nonprofit that subsidizes rounds so members 18 and under pay $5 or less at more than 2,400 courses in the U.S., Canada and Australia — the cheapest way for a junior to get course reps.

Ages 18 and underYear-round

Upcoming junior tournaments in Florida

Full Florida schedule →

Junior tours in states near Florida

Regional tours often cross state lines, and a neighboring state's association tour may be closer than your own.

Good to know

Junior golf tours in Florida: questions families ask

What junior golf tours are there in Florida?
We list 16 junior programs holding events in Florida: Florida Junior Tour (Florida State Golf Association) and JGA Tour – Junior Golf Alabama (Alabama Golf Association) (state golf association); North Florida Junior Golf Tour (NFJG) and Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Tour (PGA Section); regional tours NXXT Gen, SJGT, Top 50; local tours GJGT, GCJGF, GOJGT, JGA Broward, MJGT, PBCJGA, SWFJGA, Suncoast Junior Tour, Claret Junior Tour. National programs such as U.S. Kids Golf, PGA Jr. League, First Tee, and Drive, Chip & Putt also run in Florida.
Which junior tour in Florida should a beginner start with?
Players under 12 usually start with U.S. Kids Golf local tours or PGA Jr. League, then move to the North Florida Junior Golf Tour (NFJG) or FJT once they can finish 18 holes comfortably. Regional 36-hole tours come after scores are consistently in the 80s.
Which Florida junior tours count toward rankings?
GCJGF (JGS); Suncoast Junior Tour (JGS); Claret Junior Tour (JGS); NFJG Tour (AJGA PBE); SFPGA Junior (TUGR); FJT (JGS, AJGA PBE); NXXT Gen (JGS); SJGT (JGS, AJGA PBE); Top 50 (JGS, AJGA PBE). Junior Golf Scoreboard rankings and AJGA Performance Based Entry stars are what national tours and college coaches look at.
How much do junior golf tournaments in Florida cost?
Local one-day events are typically $40–$120, PGA Section and state association events $60–$200, and regional two-day tours $150–$350, often plus an annual membership. Each program page shows published fees where the organizer lists them.

Guides for Florida golf families

Run a junior tour in Florida that is not listed?

Listings are free. Email info@amateurgolf.com or read how listings work. National tours are compared on the tours page.