Pinehurst, NC – U.S. Kids Golf, the world’s largest junior golf organization, and the Veteran Golfers Association, the largest military-centric golf organization, have teamed up to honor military families by providing them an exclusive opportunity to compete on golf’s largest stage for kids.
Players with at least one family member who is an active or retired member of the Armed Forces can compete in a special one-day qualifier to earn a spot in the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship. This event will be the first such one-day World Championship qualifier in U.S. Kids Golf history. The qualifier, held at Longleaf Golf & Family Club in Southern Pines, NC, will be held on August 1, 2022, and is open to eligible kids aged 6 to 12 (boys) or 7 to 12 (girls).
Each of the 13 winners (for each age & gender field), who must also meet a minimum scoring requirement, will earn an exemption to the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship and have all World Championship tournament fees sponsored by the Veteran Golfers Association. This select group will also lead all 1500 participants during the annual U.S. Kids Golf World Championship Parade of Nations.
“It’s a privilege for our organization to find ways to honor the service and sacrifice that military families make for all of us,” says Dan Van Horn, President and Founder of U.S. Kids Golf. “This is our way of saying “Thank You,” that we recognize their efforts and want to use our platform to promote lifelong memories in the military community.”
The U.S. Kids Golf World Championship is held annually in the Pinehurst, North Carolina area. It attracts more than 1500 of the world’s best young players representing over 50 nations around the globe.
“The VGA is delighted to be the military partner of U.S. Kids Golf as we look for ways to grow the game of golf together in the Veteran youth community,” said Josh Peyton, President of the Veteran Golfers Association.” The U.S. Kids Golf VGA Military Qualifier is a powerful way to salute and thank those veterans that have bravely served our country and will give military children an amazing opportunity to participate and compete at the pinnacle event for young golfers.”
About U.S. Kids Golf
Founded in 1996, U.S. Kids Golf is the world’s leader in golf for young players. The company serves every aspect of golf for kids, including offering award-winning products, hosting the most tournaments, and training golf professionals globally in best practices for player development. In equipment, the company offers three distinct systems of clubs in up to 10 sizes. These products have revolutionized junior golf, perfecting fitting clubs for growing bodies and eliminating the need for cut-down adult models. The U.S. Kids Foundation, founded in 2000, now hosts more than 1600 tournaments globally – including the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship held annually in Pinehurst, N.C. The World Championship was the subject of the popular Netflix documentary “The Short Game.” The U.S. Kids Golf Coaches Institute includes over 1800 active trained professionals around the world. The Foundation also owns and operates Longleaf Golf & Family Club in Southern Pines, N.C., a “Living Laboratory” of golf’s best practices and newest ideas to make golf a better game for everyone. Since 2018, U.S. Kids Golf has been honored by the National Golf Foundation as one of the “Top 100 Businesses in Golf” based on influence, innovation, and social good, among other criteria.
About Veteran Golfers Association
The Veteran Golfers Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of Veterans and their family members through the sportsmanship and camaraderie of golf. To accomplish this mission, the VGA hosts 350 golf tournaments annually for more than 7,000 VGA members nationwide, culminating in a VGA National Championship. Visit https://www.vgagolf.org/.