The most prestigious tournaments for young golfers
Golfing is not just a pastime here in the United States—it’s an internationally loved sport whose origins can be traced to Scotland, more specifically, near Edinburgh. It has a storied history that even included banning the sport in 1457 by the Scottish Parliament of King James II. While the ban was eventually lifted and the game started to spread worldwide, it wasn’t just adults who took part.
There are plenty of popular sports that children and youth take part in, but golf seems to be gaining traction. What may begin as private lessons when kids are young beginners can eventually lead to a serious passion and skills in the sport. With that in mind, let’s look at the most prestigious tournaments in the world for young golfers.
At What Age Can Young Golfers Compete?
Before outlining the many prestigious tournaments around the world, let’s discuss the age requirements. Generally speaking, young golfers are aged 18 or younger. That’s not a blanket statement, though, as each tournament will have its own eligibility rules.
Some golf tournaments in the United States welcome golfers as young as seven. This is true of the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship. This particular tournament focuses on helping young golfers develop their skills should they decide to eventually go pro.
Questions about age restrictions are something that extends beyond sports. Many people wonder, “How old do you have to be to gamble?” because just like in professional sports, there are strict age requirements. The vast majority of countries have a legal gambling age of 18 or 21, which means these young golfers may be allowed to compete in tournaments they can’t legally place bets on.
Boys Junior PGA Championship
Taking place in late July is the Boys Junior PGA Championship. This tournament will be held in West Lafayette, IN, at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex – Ackerman Allen Course. It showcases the best of the best in junior golf, giving participants a chance to compete at a high level and hone their skills. The regions that can take place are the mid-Atlantic.
Girls Junior PGA Championship
Also part of the Junior PGA Championship circuit is the Girls Junior PGA Championship. This one takes place at the same golf course, Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex – Ackerman Allen Course in West Lafayette, IN. The girls’ version runs simultaneously with the boys, which is July 29 to August 1, 2025. You can bet that Lafayette will be teeming with spectacular players during that weekend.
Australian Junior Amateur
Golf is just as popular in Australia as in the United States, and one of the country’s most well-known youth tournaments is the Australian Junior Amateur. This tournament takes place in early April in Indooroopilly. The tournament is for youth ages 18 and under, with the format of stroke play. International players are welcome, with two categories available: Junior Boys and Junior Girls.
Jacques Leglise Trophy
Not to be outdone by some of the other clubs and tournaments, Belgium also has a fun and challenging offering. Taking place August 22-23, 2025, in Tervuren, Belgium, is the Jacques Leglise Trophy. Featuring team matches for junior boys, this is a competition between all the greats in Ireland, Great Britain, and the entire European continent.
The tournament will be held at the Royal Golf Club of Belgium, which was founded in 1906. What’s even more spectacular is that the clubhouse building dates back to 1748.
Toyota Junior Golf World Cup
While the Toyota Junior Golf World Cup may sound exotic to golfers here in the United States, for those in the Asia Pacific region, this is yet another fabulous tournament. Taking place June 24-27, 2025, in Toyota, Japan, the tournament features an individual and team format. Both boys and girls can compete, and it’s open to international players. The competition will take place at the Chukyo Golf Club.
British Boys Amateur Championship
The British Boys Amateur Championship is about as classic and action-packed as it gets. This one takes place August 11-16, 2025, in Baltray, County Louth, Ireland. The tournament features 256 players and has a match-play format. It’s open for junior boys in international regions and wraps up with a very exciting 36-hole final.
It’s also worth mentioning that County Louth Golf Club is one of the most iconic and beautiful links courses in Ireland. It routinely ranks in the top five courses in Ireland.
British Girls Amateur Championship
Taking place on the same dates as the boys’ competition (August 11-16, 2025), the British Girls Amateur Championship tends to draw a lot of excitement. The location of the two British tournaments is different though, as this British Girls Amateur Championship takes place at Conwy Golf Club, Conwy, Wales. The format is match play but varies a bit from the boys’ version.
Rolex Tournament of Champions
Rounding out the offerings is the Rolex Tournament, which takes place November 22-26, 2025, at the TPC San Antonio – Canyons Course, San Antonio, TX. The tournament is broken into two categories, one for boys and one for girls. It features stroke play and is expected to have 84 entrants.
Conclusion
While this list is far from definitive, there are many exciting junior golf tournaments hosted throughout the year. What makes them even more enjoyable is that they take place across several countries and continents. This gives golfers and spectators alike a chance to experience some unique challenges, natural beauty, and memorable shots.