Junior Program
Frequently Asked Question about the MGA Junior Program
- What courses participate in the junior program?
- How do I sign up for the program?
- Can any course participate?
- How old do I have to be to participate?
- Do I have to be an MGA member to participate?
- Do I need a handicap to participate in the junior program?
- What are the Minnesota/Manitoba Cup Matches?
- How do I get to play in the Minnesota/Manitoba Cup Matches?
- Are there any individual championships?
- What is the deadline to apply for championships?
- Does the MGA offer junior instructions?
- What is the difference between the MGA's Junior Program and the Minnesota Section of the PGA's Junior Program?
- What is the Minnesota section of the PGA's Junior Program?
- What is the Evans Scholarship?
Q: What courses participate in
the junior program?
A: There are approximately 150 courses throughout the state
that participate in the MGA Junior Program.
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Q: How do I sign up for the program?
A: You must sign up at a participating
club, so check with the junior representative or golf professional
at an MGA member club where you play for details.
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Q: Can any course participate?
A: Yes. Any course can participate as long as they are a member
club of the MGA.
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Q: How old do I have to be to participate?
A: There is no minimum age requirement to participate. That
is at the discretion of each individual club. However, a participant
must not turn 19 by September 1, of the current year to be eligible.
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Q: Do I have to be an MGA member
to participate?
A: No. The only requirement is that you be on a team of a participating
club.
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Q: Do I need a handicap to participate
in the junior program?
A: No. However, it is a good idea to establish a Handicap Index
in case you need it for other tournaments.
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Q: What are the Minnesota/Manitoba
Cup Matches?
A: The MGA established the Minnesota-Manitoba Cup Matches as a
goodwill gesture with Canada. Each association invites its eight top
boys and six top girls to compete in the matches. The juniors play
individual matches, four-ball matches and foursome matches. The
format is similar to the Walker Cup and Curtis Cup Matches.
Minnesota and Manitoba alternate hosting the matches. The event has
developed into an extremely competitive series.
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Q: How do I get to play in the
Minnesota/Manitoba Cup Matches?
A: The Minnesota Golf Association team members are comprised
of current champions (MSHSL, MGA, MWGA), current MGA Junior Players
of the Year, immediate past MGA Junior Champions, and high ranking
players from the MGA Junior Point Standings. The Manitoba Golf Association
has a similar standard for selecting its team members.
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Q: Are there any individual championships?
A: Yes - The Minnesota State Junior Boys Championship
and the Minnesota State Junior Girls Championship. See the MGA
Championship page for details.
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Q: What is the deadline to apply
for championships?
A: See each championship's application for details. See the MGA
Championship page for details.
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Q: Does the MGA offer junior instructions?
A: The MGA works closely with member clubs and the Minnesota
Section of the PGA to provide instruction to juniors. Please contact
your local club or a golf professional for more information.
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Q. What is the difference between
the MGA's Junior Program and the Minnesota Section of the PGA's
Junior Program?
A: The MGA's Junior Program consists of a member club participating
in the program and each individual signing up through his/her club.
The program consists of three weeks of round-robin district play
between teams from participating clubs. The top two teams and top two
individuals in each district proceed to a regional playoff. The top two
finishing teams and top two individuals in the regional playoffs advance
to the MGA Junior Team Championship. There is no charge to juniors who participate in the MGA's program.
The Minnesota Section of the PGA's Junior Program
consists of participants who have some experience with the game
of golf. The annual membership fee for juniors who are 12-18 years
of age is $50.00. For juniors ages 11 & under, the annual membership
fee is $30.00. A computerized lottery program is used to determine
which juniors play in what events. Over 125 events are offered June
through August. Entry fee for juniors playing in 12-18 year old
divisions is $15.00 per event. Entry fee for juniors playing in
11 & under events is $10.00 per event. www.minnesotajuniorgolf.com
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Q: What is the Minnesota section
of the PGA's Junior Program?
A: The Minnesota PGA Junior Golf Association provides playing
opportunities for the advanced, intermediate and beginning golfer,
ages 8-19. These playing opportunities promote competition and camaraderie.
The Minnesota PGA Junior Golf Association is sponsored by the Minnesota
Section of the Professional Golfers' Association of America, Inc.,
a non-profit corporation chartered in the state of Minnesota. All
Junior Golf Association correspondence should be directed to the
sponsor's corporate office: Minnesota PGA Junior Golf Association,
12800 Bunker Prairie Road, Coon Rapids, Minnesota, 55448. Telephone:
763-754-6641. www.minnesotajuniorgolf.com
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Q: What is the Evans Scholarship?
A: Each year more than 800 deserving caddies attend college
on tuition and housing grants from the Evans Scholars Foundation.
To qualify, caddies must be nominated by their club and meet four
requirements:
- Rank among the top 25 percent of their high school class
- Have a superior caddie record for two or more years
- Show financial need
- Have outstanding personal character
More than 200 new Scholars are chosen annually. The culmination of the selection process is the applicant's interview with the Scholarship Committee, consisting of WGA officials and other friends of the program. The decision follows, and the new Evans Scholar is notified within a few days.
Almost all Evans Scholars attend one of the 14 universities where the Foundation maintains a Chapter House. An Evans Scholar is asked to fulfill four requirements: They must keep a strong academic record, perform community service, respect their fellow Scholars and faithfully perform assigned housework.
*Nearly one-half of all Scholars maintain a B average or better
- The graduation rate is 90 percent, compared to a 50 percent national average.
- The Evans Scholars Program is the largest scholarship organization in sports and the largest privately-funded scholarship program in the United States.
For more information on the Evans Scholarship Program,
contact the WGA/ESF at 1 Briar Road, Golf, IL, 60029, call 1-847-724-4600 or visit www.westerngolfassociation.com.
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