U.S. Kids Golf
US Kids Golf has a brilliant format for junior golfers: shortened tee distances, age divisions, no handicap requirement and medals for every player.
Unfortunately, US Kids is not very active in the Western Cape at the moment. We usually only see one or two local events a year.
That is a shame, because the setup is exactly the kind of thing that works well when kids are starting out.
The event to keep an eye on is their annual Big 5 tournament. It is very popular with Western Cape golf families and gives juniors a possible pathway to the big US Kids Golf international event at Pinehurst in the USA.
How U.S. Kids Golf works
US Kids Golf is built around age-based junior golf.
Your child plays in an age division, from tees set for that age group. Younger kids are not pushed onto a course that is too long for them, and older juniors still get a proper test.
That makes it still feel like a real tournament, but the course setup makes sense for the child standing on the tee.
No official handicap is needed to enter. That makes it much easier for children who are ready to try tournament golf but have not gone through the handicap route yet.
The children (or their caddies) keep score, play in divisions and learn how to manage a competitive round. They still have to deal with good holes, bad holes, nerves, slow play, scorecards and all the normal junior tournament stuff. But they are doing it from a setup that gives them a fair chance.
US Kids Golf gives medals to all participants. The winners still win, but the event does not feel as if only the top few children mattered. It’s an excellent motivation for younger kids.
U.S. Kids Golf in the Western Cape
Sadly, US Kids Golf is not one of the main regular junior tournament routes in the Western Cape at the moment.
There may be one or two local events in a year, but it is not like a full local season where your child can play every few weeks.
So for regular golf, you will still mostly look at your club, school golf, WP Golf, Boland Golf, Southern Cape events, GolfRSA fixtures and other local junior golf calendars.
If there were more of these events locally, they would be a great option for children who are ready to try tournament golf but still need shorter, age-appropriate distances.
Fees and registration
US Kids Golf does not work with an annual membership fee in the same way for example SA Kids Golf does.
You enter the tournament and pay the registration fee for that event.
One thing to note, is that the registration fees are in US dollar and can be pricey compared with local junior tournaments, so check the cost before you enter. This is especially important if participation also means travel, accommodation or practice rounds.
The Big 5 tournament
The Big 5 is the US Kids Golf event that is very popular amongst Western Cape golf families.
It gives children the full US Kids Golf setup: age divisions, shortened tee distances, no handicap requirement and medals for all participants.
The Big 5 also provides a pathway to qualify for the big US Kids Golf international tournament at Pinehurst in the USA. That is part of the appeal for juniors who enjoy the format and want to see where it can take them.
Where U.S. Kids Golf fits
US Kids Golf is separate from WP Golf, Boland Golf, Southern Cape Golf and GolfRSA.
Those structures are still the main, more official routes for regular local play, rankings, regional pathways and official amateur golf.
US Kids Golf is an extra tournament option.
Its value is the beginner friendly format: shorter tee distances, 9 or 18 holes, depending on age divisions, no handicap requirement and medals for everyone. It gives younger golfers a proper competition feel without putting them straight into a course setup that does not suit their age.
Tip: use local events as practice
If your child is playing the Big 5, use local events beforehand as practice.
A few club junior days, school events or 9-hole tournaments can make the bigger event feel much easier; scorecards, pace of play, bad holes and tournament routines all feel less stressful once they have done them a few times.
US Kids Golf is a good structure for beginning junior golfers, but tournament confidence still comes from playing.
Contact details
U.S. Kids Golf South Africa
Lola Geerts
+39 331 867 4609
lgeerts@uskidsgolf.com
For U.S. Kids Golf South Africa tournament information:
lgeerts@uskidsgolf.com
Spring 2024 Cape Town (ZA)
Listed under Lola Geerts
Quick summary
US Kids Golf is one of the better tournament formats for younger juniors.
Children play in age divisions, from shortened tee distances, and no official handicap is needed. Everyone gets a medal, which gives the events a more encouraging feel for younger kids.
However, in the Western Cape, US Kids Golf is not very active at the moment, with only one or two local events in a year.
The Big 5 is the main event to watch out for. It can provide a pathway to the big US Kids Golf international tournament at Pinehurst in the USA.
If the event fits your budget and schedule, US Kids Golf can be a great way for your child to experience proper tournament golf in a setup that actually makes sense for their age.
