In my role, I often receive incredibly uplifting messages from families of both beginners and competitive players raving about the fun their children had while playing PGA Jr. League.
By utilizing the principles of the American Development Model (ADM), the program ensures that every child has a clear and engaging pathway to enjoy the sport for a lifetime. While the recreational season focuses on accessibility, the All-Star Season provides a robust opportunity for more advanced players.
At Kenwood Country Club in Cincinnati, Ohio, Staff Instructor Logan Thomas, PGA (pictured), has spent the past few years refining a model that serves the entire spectrum of junior golfers.
“PGA Jr. League is an outstanding entry point for beginners because it creates a fun, supportive and accessible environment,” says Thomas. “Players can use appropriate tee markers based on their ability, compete as part of a team, and they do not have the pressure of playing their own ball. The atmosphere – driven by coaches and parents – is consistently positive and encouraging.”
PGA Jr. League serves as a natural progression from foundational programs like Birdie Basics and Operation 36 at Kenwood, focusing on developing fundamentals and on-course experience.
“By the time players move into PGA Jr. League, they are consistently making forward contact with the ball and are ready for an introduction to structured competition,” Thomas explains. “We set up the experience to build confidence — ensuring players are competing from distances where they can realistically reach greens in regulation, and pairing players by similar age and skill level.”
PGA Jr. League can also be a powerful tool for elite development when structured with intention. After a hiatus during the pandemic, Thomas reintroduced the league in 2023 with a plan centered on both opportunity and accountability.
Kenwood launched a Junior Golf Rankings system that awards points based on performance in club, local and regional events. The top 10 members (ages 10–13) are invited to join a Travel Team to compete in a local league, while all other players (ages 7–12) participate in an In-House program.
“PGA Jr. League can be extremely beneficial for competitive players,” Thomas notes. “With the addition of All-Star Play Days, our program now provides higher-level competitive opportunities that challenge our more advanced juniors and support their continued development.”
However, Thomas found the benefits for competitive players go far beyond the scores.
“The greatest benefit is the sense of community it creates,” he says. “Each year, our Travel Team develops into a close-knit group, with players regularly practicing and playing together outside of scheduled games. This aligns with our broader goal — creating an environment where families play golf together and juniors feel confident and excited to be on the course with their peers.”
One of the most unexpected successes at Kenwood occurred during the 2025 season when roster challenges forced Thomas to get creative. When the Travel Team was short on players, he intentionally paired experienced juniors with beginners from the In-House group.
“The results exceeded expectations,” Thomas says. “The older players embraced the role, ensuring the younger players felt included and confident throughout the round.”
The parental feedback was immediate and heartfelt. Their children started the day nervous but left feeling empowered by their older teammates. This year, the Travel Team is expanding to 14 players to pair experienced leaders with developing juniors.
If there is one principle that connects the beginner experience to the competitive pathway, it is the importance of on-course play. Too many junior programs rely heavily on range-based instruction, which can lead to players developing skills in isolation without ever understanding how to actually play the game.
“In nearly every other sport, practice takes place in the same environment as competition — basketball on the court, soccer on the field, hockey on the rink. Golf should be no different,” says Thomas. “Juniors should be on the course immediately to feel the joy of sinking a real putt or hitting the ball onto the green.”
By playing from appropriate distances where they can make pars and birdies, juniors learn to love the game rather than just the swing. The evolution of the program at Kenwood Country Club serves as a blueprint for clubs nationwide.
“Seeing families embrace the game together and watching juniors form lasting friendships is what truly makes it special,” Thomas concludes. “We will continue to evaluate and adapt the program each off-season to best serve all of our players.”
Kim Shafer, PGA/LPGA, is a PGA of America Senior Player Engagement Consultant serving the Northern Ohio, Southern Ohio, Tri-State and Wisconsin Sections. She can be reached at kshafer@pgahq.com or (561) 647-5372.
