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.
The 2026 Cape Town tour will start mid August and run till November with 7 events planned.
Another 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.
US Kids golf event format
U.S. Kids Golf Local Tour events are individual stroke-play competitions, with children grouped by age and gender. Players aged 10 and under play 9 holes, while boys and girls aged 11 and older play 18 holes. Each child plays from age-appropriate tees based on the U.S. Kids Golf Longleaf Tee System, so the course becomes progressively longer as the age divisions increase.
The official figures are given in yards and represent approximate total course lengths. The exact setup may vary slightly by venue.
Boys
| Age group | Holes | Approximate distance |
|---|---|---|
| 6 & under | 9 | 1,200–1,350 yards |
| 7 | 9 | 1,500–1,650 yards |
| 8 | 9 | 1,800–1,950 yards |
| 9 | 9 | 2,100–2,250 yards |
| 10 | 9 | 2,400–2,550 yards |
| 11 | 18 | 4,800–5,100 yards |
| 12 | 18 | 5,400–5,700 yards |
| 13–14 | 18 | 6,000–6,300 yards |
| 15–18 | 18 | 6,600–6,900 yards |
Girls
| Age group | Holes | Approximate distance |
|---|---|---|
| 8 & under | 9 | 1,200–1,350 yards |
| 9–10 | 9 | 1,800–1,950 yards |
| 11–12 | 18 | 4,200–4,500 yards |
| 13–14 | 18 | 4,800–5,100 yards |
| 15–18 | 18 | 5,400–5,700 yards |
Children play their own ball and record a score for every hole. The maximum score is 10 strokes per hole; once a player reaches 10, they pick up and record a 10. Caddies are allowed in every age group and are compulsory for players aged eight and younger.
A child’s age on the tour’s official Tournament Age Date determines the division they remain in for that season. Players entered in an 18-hole age division cannot choose to play only nine holes.
U.S. Kids Golf in the Western Cape
We are happy to see that US Kids Golf has a proper tour lined up in Western Cape in 2026, after not much activity in 2025.
Their tour consists of 7 events in the end of the year. Please have a look at our tournament calendar for exact dates.
So for more regular (weekly) 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.
We highly recommend US Kids as 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 also works with a membership fee in the same way for example SA Kids Golf does.
Each player pays a Local Tour membership fee of $40 per tour season. This fee is non-refundable, may vary by location and is automatically added when you register for your child’s first event of the season.
Tournament entry fees are charged separately for every event, in 2026 these are:
- 9-hole divisions: $37 per event
- 18-hole divisions: $47 per event
You will need to create a free U.S. Kids Golf Tournament Account before registering. Once logged in, you can select the tournament, complete your child’s entry and make the payment online.
A further $15 late-registration fee applies when you enter events during the late-registration period, so it is worth checking the deadline listed for each event.
As a last reminder: because the registration fees are in US dollar, U.S. Kids golf events can be pricey compared with national local junior tournaments, so check the cost in Rands 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 will be playing the Big 5, use US Kids local Cape Town tour or other 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.
2026 promises a great Cape Town local tour with 7 events planned at some great golf courses.
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 is an excellent way for your child to experience proper tournament golf in a setup that actually makes sense for their age.
