Since the Nebraska Section PGA adopted PGA Jr. League in 2017, the program has skyrocketed in participation and grown each year. After a record amount of PGA Jr. League registrants in 2022, the Section is on track to surpass last year’s number of 1,423 registrants in 2023.
Currently, 39 facilities in our Section are running programs and 1,147 junior golfers have registered to participate in PGA Jr. League this season. That number continues to grow rapidly each day. Nebraska PGA Professionals have fully bought-in, and the junior participants have grown to love the team format.
“I can tell you the benefits from PGA JR. League are incredible. To have the ability to get juniors on the course and to teach them the correct way to play the game all while they can meet new friends in a welcoming team-format, it’s been outstanding”, said Director of Instruction Alex Janssen, PGA of Oak Hills CC.
It’s amazing to think how far this program has come in the Nebraska Section PGA when you see there were zero PGA Jr. League players in 2016 and even just 288 in 2020.
“To me, PGA Jr. League has been a great way to make new friends while competing as a team towards the same goal. We’re all just trying to get better”, said PGA Jr. League participant Harper Kalin.
Kalin was lucky enough to be part of the 2022 13U Eastern Nebraska All-Star Team who advanced to the PGA Jr. League Regional event last season. The team advanced out of the Nebraska PGA Jr. League Section Championship that was hosted at the Club at Indian Creek alongside the Korn Ferry Tour Event.
We look forward to hosting our 2023 Section Championship back at the Club at Indian Creek alongside the Pinnacle Bank Championship, presented by Aetna.
It’s not too late to become a PGA Jr. League Coach and to register your facility and junior golfers can still find a PGA Jr. League team near them. For more info and to get signed up, click HERE.
Good luck to everyone competing and enjoying all of what PGA Jr. League brings to the table throughout this summer. Feel free to share photos, videos and experiences via social media and tag our Section channels at @NebraskaPGA!