The Junior Golf Association of Arizona is a 501(c)(3) corporation, a charity, and relies on fund-raising activities and donations given to the association by clubs, corporations and individuals. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. The JGAA governs and promotes junior golf in the State of Arizona. It introduces non-golfing juniors to the game, establishes golf programs at schools, assists golf courses with their Junior programs, conducts major junior golf tournaments in the state, and administers the Tres Arnold Scholarship Fund.

Full membership in the JGAA is open to all boys and girls who are at least 8 years old and have not reached their 19th birthday or entered college. The JGAA does not recommend membership to those under the age of eight, however young junior golfers can join the JGAA Boys Golf Club or the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf program at age 6.

Membership is for the calendar year, January - December, and is required for participation in any JGAA program. Membership is $45 for the year.

On the back of the Membership Application, the Parent's Consent and Member's Participation Agreement must be signed by a Parent and Junior respectively, and kept on file at the JGAA office or verified on-line when using our on-line entry.

JGAA membership cards are issued after a rules clinic has been attended, the rules test has been taken and all the necessary registration materials have been received.

Online tournament entry is available under the tournament portion of this website. All tournament entries must be received in the JGAA office prior to the stated deadline/closing date.  No emailed or phone tournament entries will be accepted.  Many events may be fill before the stated deadline.  In such situations you will be notified if your application cannot be accepted or if you have been placed on a waiting list as an alternate.  The JGAA does NOT confirm your entry by mail or phone, however, online entries will receive e-mail confirmation of a charge to their credit card after their entry has been accepted.

The JGAA does publish a list of ACCEPTED entries received in the tournament portion of the website.

New members may submit entries, but they will not be officially entered in the tournaments until they have attended a JGAA sponsored rules clinic.

YES! Any junior who wishes to play in 2007 JGAA summer events (first summer event begins with the Phoenix City Championship) must attend a rules clinic.

Rules Clinic participation is NOT manditory for fall or winter participation.

New members who have joined after the clinics have completed, must complete an online rules quiz located on the bottom of the home page.

The JGAA does not offer a specific instruction program for new golfers at this time. However, we will help direct you to the proper place if you need information. The LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Club offers instruction for girls while the JGAA Boys Golf Club offers instruction for boys 12 and under. Most local area golf courses offer summer instruction programs that are designed for beginners and experienced alike. To find a junior program near you, visit our Instruction section, where you can find information on local junior golf programs.

Some clubs offer year-round instruction. Regional summer instructional programs for juniors are offered by the Southwest Section PGA.

It really depends on the individual child. For most it is a matter of physical strength. When the child can hold a club over their head in a "set" position, they are probably ready. Before that whiffle balls and plastic clubs are fine. Lessons should not begin until the age of 5 or 6 as the attention span is not sufficient to make something of the instruction.

The JGAA runs state level tournaments while the SWSPGA offers instruction and tournaments on a more local level. The JGAA is a suitable arena for competitive juniors seeking state level rankings to obtain college scholarships. The SWSPGA offers tournaments for juniors who play for fun or are just beginning tournament play. The Southwest Section PGA may be contacted at 480-443-9002.

First of all know when your tee time is. Starting times are published by the JGAA on this website, under the Tournaments section. They are also available by phone at 602-944-6168 (JGAA office) or at the golf course where the tournament will be played. Tee times are available 3 days before the first round. Arrive at the golf course 45 minutes to an hour prior to your starting time. You must register at the registration table and be present at the starting tee 10 minutes before you tee off. Make sure to have plenty of golf balls, tees, gloves and no more than 14 clubs. Be sure to wear a sunblock of 15SPF or stronger and always carry a water bottle which should be filled and DRINK WATER FREQUENTLY!

Starting times are published three days before the event by the JGAA on this website, under the Tournaments section. They are also available by phone at 602-944-6168 (JGAA office) or at the golf course where the tournament will be played. After the first round tee times are determined by score.

Caddies may be utilized at match play events only. Caddies will NOT be allowed for stroke play events OR any playoffs. A pull cart policy has been implemented for the 2006 tournament year. The JGAA will allow pull carts at all tournaments, subject to the host golf course approval.

When you become a JGAA member you automatically receive a handicap through the Arizona Handicap Network (AZHN) which is published monthly. A handicap will be established after five 18-hole scores are posted. After a handicap has been established, scores may be posted by the golfer at any local golf course. Handicap cards can be printed at any local golf course. The JGAA will no longer send out handicap cards. All tournament scores will be posted by the JGAA.

Tournament scores are posted upon the conclusion of the round on this website, under the Tournaments section. Just click on the event for which you need results information, and then click on the corresponding age division.

The Spectator Guidelines for JGAA & BGC events are as follows:

 

• All spectators MUST be at least 7 years of age.
• Spectators are asked to adhere to the JGAA dress code.
• Spectators must remain on the cart path at all times or at least 30 yards away from the group if a cart path is not available.
• Spectators must wear a spectator badge. Anyone without a badge will be removed from the course.
• Any contact could be construed as giving advice. (Rule 8)
• Requests to use a golf cart while spectating must be submitted to the JGAA office at least one week (7 days) prior to the event. Requests will be approved if warranted by health or age.
• Cell phones or other electronic devices are prohibited when spectating.

 

Failure to abide by these rules will result in immediate disqualification of the related participant.

For more information please visit the JGAA website.

Age groups for all JGAA tournaments will be determined by the age of the competitor on the stated "Age Group Determination Date" for each event. That is, the age of the child on the last day of the tournament. Age groups will be as follows except when noted on the tournament entry form:

10 and Under  /  11-12  /  13-14  /  15-18 Regular  /  15-18 Championship

The JGAA publishes an "Accepted Entries List" under the Tournaments section, which lists the entries received for each tournament. Online entries will also recieve e-mail confirmation. Entries are accepted on a first come, first serve basis, it is best to get the entry in ASAP. Please note the "entry acceptance date" on each entry. Spring tournament entries are accepted as soon as you receive your 2007 Member handbook. Players are notified by e-mail if they are placed on a waiting list or pulled off the list and placed into the tournament. (But please check the accepted entry list).

When the tournament has received more entries than tournament spots available, a waiting list is formed on a first come-first served basis. This list can be viewed on the "Accepted Entries List" area of the Tournament. As spots open in the tournament field due to withdrawls, the players next on the waiting list are put into the tournament. Players coming off the waiting list into the tournament will be notified by phone.

If you are still on the waiting list prior to the event, our policy states that you may come to the tournament site the morning of the first round and be placed on a "stand by" list. Please be advised that the 'stand by' list will be decided on a first come-first serve basis with precedence given to players who were originally on the tournament waiting list. Members on the original waiting list will automatically be placed above members who simply decide to come out and play the day of the event.

To withdraw from an event, notice must be given to the JGAA office or Tournament Director at prior to your starting time. Withdrawing from an event will not affect future tournament play, although, failure to withdraw will be considered a "NO SHOW" (See NO SHOW policy). You do not automatically receive a refund. (see refund policy).

The No-Show policy applies to all competitive rounds of each event, not just the first round. If you begin play on the first day and cannot play in the second or third round of an event, you MUST notify the JGAA Tournament Staff prior to your scheduled starting time for that round. Call the JGAA Tournament Director and leave a message at (602) 944-6168.

Sanctions for No-Show Infractions

First No-Show Offense

• The player is disqualified from the next JGAA event for which the junior has previously entered (Invitational or open entry).

Second No-Show Offense

• The player is disqualified from the next two JGAA events for which the junior has previously entered, and must assist the staff at a JGAA event prior to being allowed to play in another event in the 2007 season.

Third No-Show Offense

• The player is disqualified for the remainder of the 2007 season, including any State JGAA Teams.

If a member is disqualified from an event(s) because of a No-Show offense, there will be a forteiture of all applicable entry fees.

All entries processed on our secured online payment system with a credit card will receive a refund through our online system applicable to the credit card used in making the transaction.  All other tournament entries must submit a request for refund in writing to our office.  All refund requests, online or other, must be in our office before the Closing/Refund Date of the event.  No refunds will be available after the Closing/Refund Date.

The amount refunded will be the amount originally paid, minus a $5.00 per tournament handling fee. JGAA Invitaionals will have specific refund deadline dates assigned to each event.

When requesting a refund in writing, please include the members's name, age, address and the name and date of the tournament.  Please note that a refund will not be applied to a players's future tournament entry. 

The JGAA selects four different teams to represent Arizona, the Boys America's Cup Team, the Girls America's Cup team, the Eddie Hogan Cup Team Matches, and the Mary Cave Cup team. These tournaments will be held during the summer. If you would like to be considered for one of the teams, you must not have reached your 18th birthday by the final-round of the team competition for which you are a selection. Any member who is interested in being considered for a JGAA state team MUST check the box on the Declaration of Intention portion of the Membership Application. 

Final selection is based upon points accumulated in designated tournaments. Please visit the Rankings section on this website for current point standings and point information.

The Itty Bitty Open is a special event open to 3, 4 and 5 year olds only, put on two weeks before the FBR Open. The event includes instruction from a PGA or LPGA professional and a favorite cartoon character. Each child receives a free set of play clubs and parents must accompany the child. At the end of instruction a fun little tournament is held.

ABSOLUTELY! The JGAA relies on the tremendous support of the community and individuals such as yourself, who share a concern for the betterment of the Junior Golf Program. Please call the JGAA office at 602-944-6168 and we will be happy to get you involved. In the spring, all parents who have children who are members, will receive a packet in the mail regarding volunteering positions and what each position requires.