U.S. Kids Golf Coaches Institute

After purchasing equipment, parents often immediately recognize that courses are not designed for the skills of their young players and that they also need more information and guidance to help them learn the game. At the first World Championship, the concept of playing shorter Forward Tees was introduced. Kids found greater enjoyment playing from a location where pars, birdies, and even eagles were attainable at an early age. This concept evolved and became known as the U.S. Kids Golf Family Tee program, leading to a partnership with PGA of America. Ultimately, as the idea grew and inhabited more courses, it became known as the Longleaf Tee System. Hundreds of courses in the United States and abroad have established Forward Tee locations to provide kids and families a suitable way to play the same course together. When the forward tee program was introduced, a kid-friendly curriculum booklet with three levels and an included merit pin awards program began. Now known as the U.S. Kids Golf Player Pathway, this simple curriculum helps provide the young player and their parents a road map for learning the game with the help of their coach. The Player Pathway has evolved to now include ten levels, and once players reach level 10, they can shoot even par scores.

Coaching

In 2004, to provide recognition for those coaches doing exemplary work in training kids and to help parents find kid-friendly coaches, the U.S. Kids Golf Top 50 award was conceived. Yearly, at the PGA of America Merchandise Show, coaches are recognized for their outstanding ability to teach the game to kids. Those receiving the award three times become Master Kids Coaches. So far, over 200 Master Kids Coaches have been recognized, and hundreds more Top 50 coaches have been selected one or more times.

In 2013, recognizing a vast gap in training for golf coaches and to help fulfill its mission, U.S. Kids Golf began offering a continuing education program to assist golf professionals in structuring and conducting their youth golf programs. Early that year, the U.S. Kids Golf Certified Coach accreditation program was launched. Participants complete day-long training and must pass required testing from U.S. Kids Golf and the Positive Coaching Alliance. To date, over 6,000 coaches from more than 70 nations have participated in the training either in-person or online

Longleaf Golf & Family Club, Southern Pines, NC.

In 2015, the Foundation took its mission to heart and purchased the Longleaf Golf & Country Club in Southern Pines, North Carolina. “We are treating this as a living laboratory for growing kids and family golf in a club environment,” said U.S. Kids Golf President, Dan Van Horn. “Our goal is to implement best practices in a real-life situation.” Featuring a state-of-the-art academy building and tee locations of 3200, 3800, and 4400 yards, the club is an ideal location for families. To reflect the new direction, the name was changed to Longleaf Golf & Family Club.

Tournaments

U.S. Kids Golf hosts more than 1,600 events worldwide each year, making us the largest golf tournament organization in the world. Players compete in each event in separate age and gender divisions.

Additionally, our tournaments were the first to encourage parent participation by having Mom or Dad caddie for the young player. Initially seen as radical when first introduced, this concept has become an important and distinguishing hallmark of U.S. Kids Golf events. Today, many junior golf tournaments worldwide have adopted similar practices.

Positive Coaching Alliance Partnership

To help parents in the process of making youth sports in general, and golf specifically, a positive experience for their children, in 2009, U.S. Kids Golf began a partnership with the Positive Coaching Alliance. This program has been instrumental in helping players, coaches, and parents realize that all sports are opportunities to learn how to become a winner on the field, or golf course, and in life. Parents are encouraged to take PCA's Second-Goal Parent course, while coaches wishing to become certified must complete Double-Goal Coach training as a requirement.

United States

Today, with more than 1600 tournaments organized yearly in 60+ markets, players, ages 5 to 14, learn to compete in their local community and then advance to State, Regional, and World Championships. Local Tours are designed for the beginning competitive golfer, as each event provides a fun environment where kids can develop their skills. Two-day events like our State invitational tournaments and Regional Championships are ranked by Junior Golf Scoreboard and are the next step for competitive junior golfers. At each level, players may earn Priority Status in order to gain entry into more challenging events.

International

In 2008, the European Championship was started in East Lothian, Scotland, where each year over 600 participants gather from 40 countries. Currently, there are eight International Local Tours and two regional events: The British Kids Championship and the Venice Open. Additional affiliated events using U.S. Kids Golf specifications and guidance are conducted each year throughout the world.