What junior golf tours are there in Pennsylvania?

We list 11 junior programs holding events in Pennsylvania: GAP Junior (Golf Association of Philadelphia) and Pennsylvania Junior Boys' & Girls' Championships (Pennsylvania Golf Association) and West Penn Junior Championships (Western Pennsylvania Golf Association) (state golf association); Isaly's Junior Golf Tour (Tri-State PGA) and Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour (PGA Section); regional tours PKBGT, Penn Ohio Junior Golf; local tours KO Tour, LCJGT, LVJGT, SPJGT. National programs such as U.S. Kids Golf, PGA Jr. League, First Tee, and Drive, Chip & Putt also run in Pennsylvania.

Which junior tour in Pennsylvania 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 Isaly's Junior Golf Tour (Tri-State PGA) or GAP Junior once they can finish 18 holes comfortably. Regional 36-hole tours come after scores are consistently in the 80s.

Which Pennsylvania junior tours count toward rankings?

Philly Junior Tour (JGS, AJGA PBE); PA Golf Junior (JGS); WPGA Junior (JGS); PKBGT (JGS, AJGA PBE); Penn Ohio Junior Golf (JGS). 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 Pennsylvania 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.

By state

Junior golf tours in Pennsylvania

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

Programs in Pennsylvania

By level

Local tour · 4 PGA Section junior tour · 2 State golf association · 3 Regional tour · 2

Upcoming listed events

Pennsylvania tournament schedule →

Start here

Where to start in Pennsylvania

1. Learn and play 9 holes (ages 5–11)
3 local U.S. Kids Golf tours and chapters we list in Pennsylvania, plus PGA Jr. League teams and First Tee chapters. Short yardages, low fees, no ranking pressure.
2. First 18-hole tournaments
Tri-State PGA Junior / Philly Junior Tour or KO Tour / LCJGT: one-day events with tiered divisions so new players compete against new players.
3. Championships and rankings
GAP Junior / PA Golf Junior / WPGA Junior for state junior championships and USGA qualifiers, then PKBGT / Penn Ohio Junior Golf for ranked 36-hole events. Then the national tours.

Local & metro tours in Pennsylvania

(4)

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

KO Junior Golf Tour

Pennsylvania

Local tour

Launched in 2009 by PGA professionals Steve Oltman and Robert Kleckner, the KO Tour gives juniors in Montgomery, Chester and Berks counties competitive rounds close to home. Twelve events are scheduled June 18 through August 4, 2026 at courses such as Turtle Creek, Rivercrest and Spring Ford.

Ages 18 and underJun–Aug~12 events/yr

Lancaster County Junior Golf Tour

Pennsylvania

Local tour

A 501(c)(3) tour founded in 2000 by local golf professionals and run by a parent board since 2003, the LCJGT emphasizes Rules of Golf, pace of play and sportsmanship for central Pennsylvania juniors. Players compete in Gold, Silver, Bronze and Futures divisions at courses across Lancaster County and the surrounding region.

Ages 9 through high school (must have PIAA eligibility remaining)Jun–Aug (registration opens Mar 1)

Lehigh Valley Junior Golf Tour

Pennsylvania

Local tour

Founded in 1994 and run through the Golf Association of the Lehigh Valley, the LVJGT is the main summer junior circuit for the Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton area. The 2026 schedule lists 24 tournaments from May 1 to October 17 at courses across eastern Pennsylvania.

Ages 9–19May–Oct~24 events/yr

Southwest Pennsylvania Junior Golf Tour

Pennsylvania

Local tour

A volunteer-run summer tour for juniors in Washington County and the surrounding southwestern Pennsylvania region, with eight tournaments from June 3 to July 27, 2026 followed by a season-ending picnic. Registration, tee times and scoring run through the West Penn Golf Association's online system.

Ages High-school eligible juniors; 14–18 play 18 holes, 13 and under play 9 holesJun–Jul~8 events/yr

PGA Section junior tours in Pennsylvania

(2)

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

Isaly's Junior Golf Tour (Tri-State PGA)

Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia

PGA Section junior tour

The Tri-State PGA's Isaly's Junior Golf Tour runs about 20 events plus a Player of the Year Championship for ages 8–18 around Pittsburgh, West Virginia and eastern Ohio.

Ages 8–18Summer~20 events/yr

Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour

Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania

PGA Section junior tour

Founded in 1979, the Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour runs 90+ events a season across eastern Pennsylvania, South Jersey and Delaware, from a 25-yard FUNdamental Tour to nationally ranked Elite Tour events.

Ages 7–18 (18 or younger by June 1, not started college)Spring–fall; separate fall membership Sept–NovJGS · AJGA PBE~90 events/yr

State golf association junior programs in Pennsylvania

(3)

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

GAP Junior (Golf Association of Philadelphia)

Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania

State golf association

GAP's junior program centers on the Lawler Junior Tour for boys and girls 10–18, culminating in the Junior Tournament of Champions, alongside the Junior Boys' and Junior-Junior championships. The GAP Central Junior Series extends one-day events to central Pennsylvania.

Ages 10–18 (GAP Central Junior Series 18 & under)Spring–Summer

Pennsylvania Junior Boys' & Girls' Championships (Pennsylvania Golf Association)

Pennsylvania

State golf association

The Pennsylvania Golf Association conducts the statewide Junior Boys' and Junior Girls' Championships each June alongside a Junior Team Championship, and selects the PA State Junior Team for the USNDP. Regional junior tours in Pennsylvania are run by GAP and the WPGA.

Ages Not publishedJuneJGS~2 events/yr

West Penn Junior Championships (Western Pennsylvania Golf Association)

Pennsylvania

State golf association

The WPGA does not run a named junior tour but conducts Western Pennsylvania's most prestigious junior events: the West Penn Junior Championship (held since 1921, with alumni including Arnold Palmer), the West Penn Boys Championship and invitational match plays for the top 16 boys and girls.

Ages Not publishedSummer (team selection each August)JGS~4 events/yr

Regional multi-state tours in Pennsylvania

(2)

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

Peggy Kirk Bell Girls' Golf Tour

Delaware, Georgia, Maryland, North Carolina +4

Regional tour

A girls-only tour run by the non-profit Girls Golf of America out of Greensboro, NC, the PKBGT stages more than 110 tournaments a year across nine East Coast states. Players compete in yardage-based divisions (Discovery, Futures, Prep, Bell National) rather than age brackets so they can move up as their game grows.

Ages 9–19Oct–SepJGS · AJGA PBE~110 events/yr

Penn Ohio Junior Golf (North Coast Junior Tour and Great Lakes Junior Golf Tour)

Ohio, Pennsylvania

Regional tour

Based in Erie, Penn Ohio Junior Golf operates the North Coast Junior Tour in northwestern Pennsylvania (14th season in 2026) and the Great Lakes Junior Golf Tour in northeastern Ohio (36th year). One membership covers both tours, and 13 events on the annual schedule are posted to Junior Golf Scoreboard.

Ages 19 and under (Boys 16–19, Boys 15 & Under, Girls 19 & Under, Futures 12 & Under)May–Jul (plus fall high-school prep events)JGS

Local youth golf tours and chapters in Pennsylvania

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

U.S. Kids Golf Philadelphia Local TourUS Kids Local Tours

U.S. Kids Golf Pittsburgh Local TourUS Kids Local Tours

U.S. Kids Golf South Central Pennsylvania Local TourUS Kids Local Tours

National youth programs with Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania

Full Pennsylvania schedule →

Pittsburgh Fall Junior Open

Totteridge Club

Greensburg, Pennsylvania

Oct 24 — 25, 2026

In 5 weeks

HJGTStroke PlayRegistration open

Junior tours in states near Pennsylvania

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

Ohio · 9 New York · 8 New Jersey · 6 Delaware · 4 West Virginia · 4 Maryland · 3

Good to know

Junior golf tours in Pennsylvania: questions families ask

What junior golf tours are there in Pennsylvania?: We list 11 junior programs holding events in Pennsylvania: GAP Junior (Golf Association of Philadelphia) and Pennsylvania Junior Boys' & Girls' Championships (Pennsylvania Golf Association) and West Penn Junior Championships (Western Pennsylvania Golf Association) (state golf association); Isaly's Junior Golf Tour (Tri-State PGA) and Philadelphia PGA Junior Tour (PGA Section); regional tours PKBGT, Penn Ohio Junior Golf; local tours KO Tour, LCJGT, LVJGT, SPJGT. National programs such as U.S. Kids Golf, PGA Jr. League, First Tee, and Drive, Chip & Putt also run in Pennsylvania.
Which junior tour in Pennsylvania 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 Isaly's Junior Golf Tour (Tri-State PGA) or GAP Junior once they can finish 18 holes comfortably. Regional 36-hole tours come after scores are consistently in the 80s.
Which Pennsylvania junior tours count toward rankings?: Philly Junior Tour (JGS, AJGA PBE); PA Golf Junior (JGS); WPGA Junior (JGS); PKBGT (JGS, AJGA PBE); Penn Ohio Junior Golf (JGS). 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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania golf families

For Parents

How Much Does Junior Golf Really Cost? A Parent's Honest Budget Guide

For Parents

How to Build the Right Junior Tournament Schedule (Without Burning Out Your Player or Your Budget)

Getting Started

How to Get Started in Junior Golf Tournaments: A Complete First-Timer's Guide

Run a junior tour in Pennsylvania that is not listed?

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