Drive, Chip & Putt
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.
About Drive, Chip & Putt
- Completely free to enter; registration opens in late January each year
- Local qualifiers in all 50 states, then sub-regional, regional and National Finals
- Eight divisions by gender and age (7–9, 10–11, 12–13, 14–15)
- National Finals held at Augusta National the Sunday before the Masters and broadcast live
- Alumni include PGA Tour winner Michael Thorbjornsen
Best for: Any junior 7–15; the lowest-barrier competitive experience in golf.
Other junior programs with local chapters
Most families mix two or three programs in a season: a local tour for reps, an association tour for championships, a regional tour for rankings.
First Tee
Nationwide
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.
IMG Academy Junior World Championship
Nationwide
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.
Junior PGA Championship (Section Qualifiers)
Nationwide
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.
LPGA*USGA Girls Golf
Nationwide
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.
Operation 36
Nationwide
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.
Optimist International Junior Golf Championships
Nationwide
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.
Good to know
Drive, Chip & Putt frequently asked questions
- Who can play Drive, Chip & Putt events?
- Drive, Chip & Putt serves junior golfers aged 7–15 (Girls/Boys 7–9, 10–11, 12–13, 14–15). Any junior 7–15; the lowest-barrier competitive experience in golf.
- Where does Drive, Chip & Putt hold tournaments?
- Drive, Chip & Putt operates nationwide through local chapters and tours. Use the official finder to locate the program nearest you.
- How much does Drive, Chip & Putt cost?
- Free. Fees are set by the organizer and can change each season; confirm on the official site before entering.
- Do Drive, Chip & Putt results count toward junior rankings?
- Drive, Chip & Putt is a developmental program and does not report to national junior ranking systems, which makes it a low-pressure place to learn tournament golf.
Guides for new tournament families
For Parents
How Much Does Junior Golf Really Cost? A Parent's Honest Budget Guide
Read moreFor Parents
How to Build the Right Junior Tournament Schedule (Without Burning Out Your Player or Your Budget)
Read moreGetting Started
How to Get Started in Junior Golf Tournaments: A Complete First-Timer's Guide
Read moreBrowse all local junior golf tours, compare the national tours, or search the tournament directory.