PGA Jr. League All-Star Coaches guide their teams through various Qualifiers and Championships held throughout the 41 PGA Sections. These events provide a platform for All-Star players nationwide to compete with some of the most skilled PGA Jr. League participants in the country.
In many cases, however, an All-Star player’s experience may only last for nine holes at a Section Qualifier or Championship, depending on the format of the event and whether or not a player’s All-Star team makes it to the next round. This can certainly leave some players wanting more.
It was this feedback from parents and players that led to the development of All-Star Play Days and the Regional Leaderboard as a way to increase playing opportunities for All-Star players and teams, similar to other youth sport travel leagues. Many PGA Jr. League Coaches are leveraging Play Days to enhance their programming and provide additional experiences for competitive players who want more.
Teams that participate in at least three All-Star Play Days between May 1 and Aug. 20 and rank among the top four on their Regional Leaderboard will qualify for the Regional Championships. While participating in Play Days and posting scores to the All-Star Leaderboard increases a team’s odds of qualifying for Regional and National Championships, there are far more important benefits that result when coaches are willing to dedicate their time and effort to an All-Star Season.
PGA of America Member Anthony Rodriguez, Senior Program Director at The First Tee of Metro New York, has taken advantage of All-Star Play Days since their inception in order to build out more playing opportunities for both the 13u (pictured) and 17u players who qualify for his All-Star teams.
Rodriguez says that by offering an All-Star Season, “We have noticed more and more of our families planning and adjusting their schedules around the PGA Jr. League program so that they can qualify for the All-Star team.” These parents are also planning their summer travel around the dates of the various All-Star events.
Rodriguez and his teams posted five All-Star Play Day scores in 2024, with the 17u team qualifying for the Regional Championship at Bethpage. All of that extra time spent together has had major benefits for team camaraderie.
Rodriguez says, “The more the All-Stars play and collaborate with one another, the more confident they are and the more fun they have. We are seeing friendships develop and evolve, with positive and competitive spirit carrying over week after week.”
Another coach who achieves success by creating an All-Star Season experience for his players is PGA of America Member Mark Thornewell, Director of Instruction at Haworth (New Jersey) Country Club. Thornewell’s All-Star teams each posted three All-Star Play Day scores in 2024, and his 13u team qualified for the Regional Championship at Maple Dale Country Club in Dover, Delaware, via the Regional Leaderboard.
For Thornewell, the All-Star Season offers his players “a chance to play more fun, but competitive, rounds with their friends as teammates instead of going up against them individually every week.”
In fact, Thornewell noticed that the players on his All-Star teams are achieving better results in their individual tournaments and seem to be enjoying the game even more.
That is a powerful example of the effect that being part of a team can have on a young athlete. Even high-achieving golfers can benefit from having teammates to feed off of and help take their games to the next level. Creating an All-Star Season helps further build those bonds and will positively impact these players in the long run.
The extra time spent with coaches and teammates has also strengthened the players’ commitment to the overall program. Thornewell has seen tremendous buy-in from his All-Stars as mentors to the younger groups. “Some of my 17u players are now offering to volunteer and assist me with 13u sessions and my summer camps,” he explains.
To enhance your PGA Jr. League program by creating your own All-Star Season, reach out to your Player Engagement Consultant. They can connect you with other All-Star coaches in your region to schedule All-Star Play Days, guide you through setting up your own Play Day registration, and assist you in signing up for existing Play Days.