Encouraging the growth of youth golf and re-engaging families in private club memberships are the goals of Club League USA, a new travel golf league brought to you by GolfCritique.com. Scheduled to starts in March 2021 and centered around a team approach to the game, Club League USA will be open to boys and girls ages 8 to 15. Private clubs will build teams of young golfers who will compete in tournaments as a team, without age or gender divisions, from April through October. Teams will advance through state and regional qualifiers to a National Championship tournament in Pinehurst, North Carolina in November.
Jeremy Lee, PGA, Founder and CEO of GolfCritique.com, believes Club League will address the adverse impact other travel sports have had on youth golf and club participation by families over the years.
“We are excited about the Club League USA concept, which is the first of its kind at this level and top clubs around the country have already begun signing up.” says Lee. “Private clubs have the greatest potential to influence young golfers, and Club League USA will provide the structure that allows young people to learn so many of the life skills that come with being part of a team.”
Several features distinguish Club League USA from other youth golf programs:
- Promotes a TEAM Approach to Youth Golf: Club League USA will encourage and develop valuable traits such as humility, leadership, and integrity that come with team membership. Young golfers will practice and play together and have a chance to represent their club with pride.
- Values Competition: Club League USA believes healthy competition, fostered in an environment that values coaching and learning, is a trait that young golfers should be exposed to. Competition, as well as winning and losing, are part of life. Golf provides a healthy way for youth to be gracious in victory and defeat, have respect their competitors, and develop skills that will help them in every aspect of life.
- Provides Championship Opportunities: Club teams will participate in tournaments during the season, which runs from April through November. Teams will earn points based on their finish in each tournament, with the top teams in each state earning spots in our Majors and the playoffs in October. The top three teams in each state playoff will descend upon Pinehurst, North Carolina in November to compete for the Club League USA National Championship.
- Benefits Private Clubs: The proliferation of youth team travel sports has impacted private golf clubs, as families spend more weekends traveling to these events. Club League USA will drive families back to clubs by providing a team travel environment for young golfers based in a club setting. Families will become more involved in a variety of club activities through their child’s participation in Club League, along with the development of their junior golfer. Club League USA developed as the next level for juniors who are participating in other club programs, such as Drive, Chip & Putt and PGA Junior League, and also help grow participation in those programs. In addition, clubs will have the opportunity to generate revenue by hosting Club League USA tournaments and controlling participation costs for their teams.
Club League will provide additional opportunities to youth who are not private club members through its innovative 11thPlayer Scholarship program. Private clubs who field a 10-person team in Club League USA will have the ability to offer a scholarship to an additional junior who is not a member of a private club. This young man or woman will show promise on and off the golf course and will receive complimentary registration and tournament fees for the entire 2021 Club League season.
“We are excited to expand the opportunity for more young golfers to participate in Club League USA through this scholarship program,” says Lee. “As we work to grow junior golf, we think it is important to look for players who are not club members but have the potential to develop their game and show promise off the course as well. This financial support can make all the difference for a young player and provide them with the opportunity and motivation to become a better player.” Scholarship players will practice as part of the team and earn their spot in competition just like their teammates, while gaining valuable exposure to teaching and coaching in a club environment.
Club League USA reflects GolfCritique.com’s commitment to growing and changing the game of golf and providing this structure for youth golf is critically important, says Lee. “Club League USA will build relationships around the game for young golfers, their families and their clubs. It will create an environment where juniors can thrive, develop their skills, learn the value of competition, and make friendships that will last a lifetime.”
If you are a Private Club in the United States or Canada, we would love for you to join our league in 2021. Please reach out to us via email at clubleague@golfcritique.com or by phone at 800.869.6430. We look forward to seeing you on the tee!
