To download the 2024 Conditions of Play PDF booklet, click the button below.

First and foremost, PGA Jr. League is about the enriching experiences provided by PGA Coaches and Assistant Coaches that transcend the game of golf itself. These experiences extend beyond playing and competing; it’s about the social connections among families and friends and making fun memories that will last for a lifetime. By embracing the core values of PGA Jr. League––Safety, Care and Organization––Coaches deliver amazing experiences that create far-reaching value for everyone involved.

We invite all leagues to adopt the PGA Jr. League rules and Conditions of Play, however, these are simply recommendations throughout local league play. The rules and Conditions of Play will be fully enforced throughout the National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship Season, beginning with All-Star Play Days and Sectionals. As scramble play is not recognized in the USGA Rules of Golf, the PGA of America feels it is important to establish guidelines by which this format can be reasonably governed. The following PGA Jr. League official guidelines do not constitute any attempt to alter or revise the Rules of Golf, but attempt to fairly apply them to a two-person scramble match play format. Additional rules addendums will be released at each level of the Championship Season.

Players should be familiar with the most current USGA Rules of Golf, as PGA Jr. League is governed by these rules, and the following Conditions of Play specific to a two-person scramble.

Glossary of Terms

American Development Model (ADM)

Responsibility Reminders

Conduct

What is PGA Jr. League?

How to Play PGA Jr. League

National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship Season

Common Situations

Throughout the Conditions of Play, there will be many different terms mentioned. Here’s a quick refresher on what each one means.

All-Star players must be active PGA Jr. League participants. This is defined as being a registered #GameChanger Club member and participating in a majority of team events (including games, practices and other team activities) throughout a reasonable local league season. Players must participate in the local league in which the All-Star team represents. The National Committee reserves the right to request proof that a player meets the active player eligibility requirements via scorecard requests, schedules, photos, and other forms of validation.

An additional and optional part of the Championship Season, All-Star Play Days are 9-hole aggregate stroke play competitions that teams compete in to receive a Regional Leaderboard score. All-Star Play Days must meet all competitive requirements in order to be deemed official. To view the requirements, check out the All-Star Play Day Handbook.

Golf’s new player pathway is built on the principles of the ADM, a proven long-term athlete development model that has been successfully adopted by the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and implemented by USA Hockey, USA Basketball and USA Lacrosse. PGA Coaches and Assistant Coaches are encouraged to become ADM certified via PGA.Coach.

The PGA Coach must be a PGA or LPGA Member, Associate or Student who oversees a team and/or league. All PGA Coaches must pass a required background screening and complete the required Abuse Prevention Systems (APS) training.

This person assists the PGA Coach with supervising and managing the team. He or she may be a PGA or LPGA Member, Associate, Student, family member or other approved volunteer. All Assistant Coaches must pass a required background screening and complete the required Abuse Prevention Systems (APS) training.

An organized, recreational season environment for teams to play games against one another. Leagues may be facilitated internally (in-house) or among multiple facilities. Local leagues have specific requirements in order to be eligible for an All-Star team(s).

The National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship Season consists of two age divisions: 13u and 17u. All-Star teams from each age division are formed from a combination of players from each of the teams in your league. The Championship Season refers to and encompasses events within the pathway taken by All-Stars.

Refers to two players from the same team, playing as scramble partners in a competition.

Scoring format commonly found at games throughout local league play, as well as championship rounds at both Regional competitions and the National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship. PGA Jr. League match play is a form of play where opposing pairs compete directly against each other in a head-to-head match.

Scoring format commonly found at all levels of the National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship Season. In some cases, the stroke play rounds of competition will determine which teams will move on to the match play championship round(s). PGA Jr. League stroke play is a form of play where all pairs compete against each other in the competition by comparing a total score for one or more rounds.

All-Star teams that choose to compete in All-Star Play Days will have their scores posted to the Regional Leaderboard. Teams that compete in three or more Play Days will have the opportunity to advance on to Regional Championships. The top four 13u and top four 17u teams from each of the 12 Regions participating in the Regional Leaderboard advance to the Regional competition. The Regional Leaderboard can be found at PGAJrLeague.com.

Defined as a continuous, genuine place of habitation or education, and it can only be changed with a genuine move. Residency shall be determined based upon the street address, city, state and zip of a parent(s) or court-appointed guardian(s) or school within the calendar year in which the applicable season occurs.

A round consists of playing the holes of the course in the order set by the Committee. A match play round in PGA Jr. League is three holes and a stroke play round in PGA Jr. League is nine holes, unless noted otherwise in a rules addendum.
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Refers to the format that PGA Jr. League uses. Both players in a pair hit drives. The best shot is selected, then each player plays from the selected spot, and this process continues until the ball is holed.

Refers to a group of at least six 17u players or eight 13u players, who are a part of the same side, participating in a PGA Jr. League practice or competition.

The American Development Model (ADM) was designed by sports scientists to help foster a lifetime affinity to sports and to develop athletes to their greatest potential. These principles align physical and psychological development to stages, delivering appropriate skills and exercise at the appropriate time.

Creating positive experiences early, for all athletes, will keep more players engaged and retained in our sport. Introducing the right aspects of play in a structure that is fun, engaging and progressively challenging allows golfers of all ages to experience the challenges and joys of our sport.

Golf’s new pathway is built on the principles of the ADM, a proven, long-term athlete development model that was developed through the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). It has been successfully applied to USA Hockey, USA Basketball, USA Lacrosse and others.

PGA Jr. League is committed to aligning with golf’s ADM to provide developmentally appropriate experiences that set our players up for lifelong sport participation. Through a welcoming format, age-appropriate yardages, All-Star player age minimums and more, the ADM is implemented throughout our entire program from start to finish.

Coaches who have questions about the ADM are encouraged to visit www.PGA.Coach and complete the free training.

Before players hit the links, there are some important safety reminders to ensure everyone stays healthy and responsible while having fun!

Together, we can keep golf a physically safe sport by following these simple rules:

Golf is an opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors, while keeping a few things in mind:

Golf is a great way to improve your overall physical and mental health. If modifications need to be made to a program to address community health concerns, such as COVID-19, adaptations can be considered in order to remain socially connected while physically distanced.

A few more reminders while at the golf course:

In addition to complying with any federal or state laws that may be applicable to hosting a team in the PGA Jr. League program, PGA Coaches and Assistant Coaches agree to comply with the waivers and Code of Conduct communicated at registration and within the Conditions of Play. Any breach will be handled at the National Committee’s discretion and may be communicated to the respective PGA Section office or may include a PGA Code of Ethics violation to be reviewed by the PGA Board of Control.

The PGA Jr. League National Committee trusts that all Coaches respect the principle of adhering to the rules, proper conduct and fair play in the spirit of the game and of PGA Jr. League. The Committee has the right to remove a Coach from a competition for blatant and/ or extreme breaches of etiquette. The Committee also has the right to suspend or remove a Coach from the program if it is believed that he/she is not acting within the appropriate guidelines.

PGA Jr. League is a fun, team golf experience for players ages 17 and younger. Each team is organized into a league, in which they play together in a two-player scramble format. At the local level, the program provides flexibility for all Coaches to facilitate leagues in a way that best fits their team members. However, specific parameters must be met in order to participate in the National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship Season. Below you will find the recommended local league structure for each age division.

17u Recommended Local League Structure

NOTE: Any adjustments made in multi-facility leagues must be approved by all PGA Coaches in the league along with the Player Engagement Consultant.

In order for a league to be eligible for an All-Star team, minimum thresholds must be met.

PGA Jr. League utilizes a two-person scramble format for competition. The two-person scramble format will be played across both the recreational season and the National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship Season. However, there are two ways this format will be brought to life.

The match play scoring format is the most common and will be utilized in recreational season games as well as throughout the Championship Season. Please see below for some important terms to know when it comes to the match play format and how it is brought to life through our recommended league structure.

GAME – A competition between two PGA Jr. League teams. A GAME consists of two teams each fielding multiple players that are broken down into two-person pairs.

MATCH – As part of the GAME, pairs participate in head-to-head MATCHES. A MATCH is 9 holes in length, and the Coach is responsible for appropriately assigning pairs to each MATCH. Note: once assigned to a MATCH, a player must remain with that MATCH for the entire GAME. The only exception to this rule would be in the case of an injury or illness.

FLAG – Each MATCH is broken into three of these. A FLAG is 3 holes in a row, and each team has the opportunity to earn points at the end of each FLAG. Each 13u GAME consists of 12 FLAGS, and each 17u GAME consists of 9 FLAGS.

The stroke play scoring format within a team scramble will be found throughout the new All-Star Play Days, as well as qualifying rounds of the National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship Season. Typically referred to as “aggregate stroke play competitions,” two-player pairs will play their best golf in order to contribute to a team aggregate total. Team aggregate totals are used for the Regional Leaderboard, to create rankings at a Sectional, Regional or National competition, or may even determine a winner of a competition, such as a Section Champion. For a 13u stroke play competition, the best three out of four pair scores will be counted toward the team total. For a 17u stroke play competition, the best two out of three pair scores will be counted toward the team total. Below is an example of how 13u aggregate scores are totaled and winners may be determined.

It is important to familiarize yourself with the rules differences between stroke play and match play scoring formats.

The National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship Season highlights the aspirational nature of competition, celebrated in a way unique to PGA Jr. League. Ultimately, it’s a celebration of PGA Jr. League as a whole, and all competitions are designed to have a fun, family-friendly and festival-like atmosphere. The following pages cover what the Championship Season consists of, eligibility and the rules that apply at each level of competition.

Note: Any deviation from the policies outlined are not permissible without expressed, written consent from the PGA of America.

SECTIONALS – These are 13u and 17u All-Star competitions hosted across the country in each of the 41 PGA of America Sections. Depending upon the size of the Section, there may be Section Qualifiers prior to the Section Championship. Competitions may be stroke play and/or match play, and all Section Champions will move on to Regionals. There are no entry fees for these events.

ALL-STAR PLAY DAYS – hese are 9-hole team scramble events with aggregate stroke play scoring hosted across the country at PGA Jr. League facilities. These events are open to both 13u and 17u All-Star teams, and teams must participate in at least three or more All-Star Play Days to qualify for the Regional Leaderboard. The top four 13u and top four 17u teams from each of the 12 Regions participating in the Regional Leaderboard advance to the Regional competition. All PGA Coaches are eligible to host an All-Star Play Day, and each event must meet specific competitive requirements to ensure equity. Requirements and all qualification information can be found in the All-Star Play Day Handbook.

REGIONALS – This is the second level of qualifying for All-Star teams in the National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship. There are 12 Regional events, consisting of both stroke play and match play team scramble competitions. There will be eight 13u All-Star teams and eight 17u All-Star teams competing at each Regional, with four 13u and four 17u teams qualifying through the Section and four 13u and four 17u teams qualifying through the Regional Leaderboard. Note: If a team wins both the Section Championship and earns a spot via the Regional Leaderboard, they will receive the spot allocated to the Section and the next eligible team from the Regional Leaderboard will also qualify. There is a $300 entry fee per All-Star player at each Regional.

NATIONAL CAR RENTAL PGA JR. LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP – This is the culminating, celebratory event for the 12 Regional Champions in each age division. The Championship consists of both stroke play and match play team scramble competitions. Championship entry fees are $500 per player.

The National Car Rental Championship Season is composed of All-Star teams made up of a combination of players from all teams in a league. At the end of the recreational season, a league champion team will be crowned. In order for a league to be eligible to create an All Star team, they must have an active recreational program as well as meet a minimum number of active and unique players in their league.

13u

17u

Coaches who run multiple in-house leagues within the eligibility period can combine their programs into one.

Once a league is eligible to create an All-Star team, the following guidelines must be met.

Note: 17u minimums may increase in 2025 based upon participation.

All-Star players must meet all of the following requirements in order to be eligible to participate on an All-Star team:

The following rules of play are recommended for PGA Jr. League local league play and will govern the National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship Season. Additional rules addendums may be released for specific competitions.

The Competition Committee will be defined here as: PGA Section Staff, PGA or LPGA Representative from host facility, PGA Jr. League Rules Committee and assigned designees at Championship Season events.

Advice is defined as any verbal comment or action (such as hand signals) that is intended to influence a player in choosing a club, making a stroke, or deciding how to play during a hole or round. Advice does not include: any form of encouragement, public information (such as location of a player’s ball, location of items on the course, or rules of the game), or providing players with necessities (such as snacks and water).

Local League play, Sectionals and All-Star Play Days:

PGA Coaches and Assistant Coaches may provide advice to their players at any time during

the playing of a game. However, it is required that they maintain pace of play while doing so.

Additionally, it is recommended that each Coach:

Regional competitions and National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship:

PGA Coaches and Assistant Coaches may only communicate with their players between

holes (from green to tee). Once both teams have holed out, a Coach may provide advice and communication until any player in the group has teed off on the next hole. If a Coach chooses to communicate to their player(s) between two holes, he or she must do so without unduly delaying play.

Simply put, while a group is playing a hole, Coaches have the same status as a spectator, however they are not restricted to the cart path.

The full advice policy for Regional competitions and the National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship can be viewed on our website.

In match play, a player may concede his/her opponent’s next stroke at any time. This concession does not affect the other opponent’s right to play from the previous location. A concession may not be declined or withdrawn. The opponent is considered to have holed out with his or her next stroke, and the ball may be removed by either team. Concessions may not be made in any stroke play competitions. If a pair does not hole out in a stroke play competition, they will receive the maximum score for that hole.

Notes:

Throughout the National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship Season, the player’s league age (their age on July 31, 2024) is the age that will be used to determine the appropriate tees.

A player will not receive relief from a condition that by rule would result in free relief if interference with this condition did not exist when the ball lay in its original spot.

The selected ball may be lifted by the player, his/her partner, or another person authorized by the player, and may be cleaned. The position of the ball must be marked before it is lifted or played, unless the original ball is played from its original location. The mark must be placed right behind or right next to the ball and the mark may be moved up to one clubhead-length on the putting green or one club-length off the putting green. If a selected ball is lifted without being marked prior to taking a stroke, the pair will incur a one stroke penalty.

NOTE: If the original ball is played from its original location without being marked, there is no penalty. The second ball, if selected, will incur a one stroke penalty for playing from the wrong place.

If a pair’s selected ball becomes lost outside of a penalty area, the pair must take stroke and distance relief by adding one penalty stroke and playing the original ball or another ball from where the previous stroke was made.

At each hole, both players on a side may make a stroke from the teeing area. Unless the tee shot is holed, the side must select one of the tee shots and both players may make a stroke from that location. Unless the second shot is holed, the side must select one of the second shots and both players may make a stroke from that location. This procedure is repeated until a ball is holed.

The maximum score on a hole is “triple bogey.” Once a pair has not holed out their shot(s) for double bogey (two-over par), they will pick up their ball and a triple bogey is recorded.

The Committee will determine when to suspend or call the event. It is strongly encouraged that every effort be made to finish a competition. Six out of 9 holes must be decided for the result to be official, with an exception. In situations when play is suspended for player safety; and all efforts to conduct or reschedule the competition have been exhausted; and the Player Engagement Consultant or the Competitions Committee approves; a competition can be deemed “official” if fewer than six holes have been completed. Note: for a stroke play competition, all players must have played the same holes in order for them to be counted.

These additional guidelines can be applied to a match play competition: If at least one flag is complete, the winner of that flag is declared to have won the game. If the flag is tied, the Committee may elect to use a chip-off (if possible). The PGA Coaches will select two players to represent their team with the single closest ball to the hole of all four players determining the winner. If teams are unable to conduct a chip off, we recommend PGA Coaches conduct a coin flip to determine a winner.

Throughout local league play, All-Star Play Days and Sectionals: all players designated to hit from the BACK tees will play first on every hole.

Exception: If all players are playing from the same tee box on a hole, the order of play is at the discretion of each side.

Violations For Stroke Play: There will be no penalty for players who accidentally play out of order. However, if it is determined that a player/side intentionally played out of order, the side will incur one penalty stroke for the first breach and will be disqualified from the round for any subsequent breaches.

Violations For Match Play: USGA Rules of Golf Rule 6.1b applies: The opposing side may opt to cancel the stroke, but it must be done before either side makes another stroke.

Defined as all areas outside the boundary edge of the course as defined by the Committee. All areas inside that edge are in bounds.

In a PGA Jr. League competition, players may use the same relief options for a ball out of bounds as for a ball within a red penalty area. Note: This means that a ball still may not be played from out of bounds, however players may choose to take lateral relief instead of stroke and distance.

Teams should always encourage each other to keep up with the group in front of them.

The Competition Committee has the right to penalize groups that are behind. The full pace of play policy can be viewed on our website and will be enforced at the Regionals and National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship.

The maximum penalty for any rules violation in PGA Jr. League is one stroke. When implementing one stroke penalties, penalty strokes incurred solely by playing a ball which is not selected are disregarded.

Defined as any body of water on the course including a sea, lake, pond, river, ditch, surface drainage ditch or other open watercourse and any other part of the course the Committee defines as a penalty area.

If a player elects to play the ball from within the penalty area, the ball must be placed within the penalty area, or, under penalty of one stroke, a player may use the relief options under Rule 17.1d.

As previously mentioned, if any team arrives at any competition with fewer than the eight rostered 13u players or the six rostered 17u players, the team will not be penalized if they choose to compete without that player(s). If a team has fewer than the appropriate number of active players in attendance for a game, they must fill as many two-player matches as possible.

Roster Changes

Roster changes may be made throughout the All-Star Play Days and Sectionals by Coaches via their Coach Dashboard. Players who have been removed from the roster during this time will be eligible to return to the roster, if applicable. PGA Coaches must also adhere to any specific roster deadlines put in place by their PGA Section. Note: The roster change feature on the Coach Dashboard will lock on August 27, 2024, in preparation for Regional Championships. Coaches may still make roster changes at this time, but must do so by requesting the change via their Player Engagement Consultant, Regional Championship Tournament Director or the website. Roster changes may not be made during play of a competition, unless approved by the on-site Committee.

Permanent Roster Replacements

Beginning with Regional Championships, if an All-Star player is no longer able to participate in the Championship Season, they may be permanently replaced by a new, eligible player. The All-Star PGA Coach must submit a request via the Coach Dashboard as well as the permanent roster replacement form where they will sign off on the new player’s participation and eligibility. Upon receipt of this form, the replacement player is considered a part of the team’s All-Star roster. Permanent roster replacements must be completed prior to the first starting time of the Regional or National Championship, unless noted differently in a specific addendum for the competition. Once a player has been permanently replaced, he/she is not eligible to return to the team. Additionally, permanently replaced players are not eligible to join another All-Star team that he/she may be associated with. In each case, All-Star team composition and eligibility requirements still apply.

Players must play the round from the teeing area that they are assigned to in advance of the competition. For violations of this rule see below:

For Stroke Play: There will be no penalty for a player who accidentally plays from the incorrect tees. However, if it is determined that a player intentionally played from the incorrect tees, the PGA of America reserves the right to declare him/her ineligible for the Championship Season.

For Match Play: USGA Rules of Golf Rule 6.1b applies: The opposing side may opt to cancel the stroke, but it must be done before either side makes another stroke.

Each player must not start a round with more than 14 clubs. However, the pair may share clubs regardless of the total number of clubs carried.

A player’s partner may be positioned behind the player on an extension of the player’s line of play, while the player is making a stroke. At no point may a Coach be positioned behind the player on an extension of the player’s line of play while the player is making a stroke.

Additional rules addendums will be released at each level of the National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship Season to include tiebreaker procedures for each round of competition, as well as for each format of play.

Players must not ride on any form of transportation during a round unless authorized by the Committee. Penalty for violating this rule is a one stroke penalty of player(s) involved at each occurrence.

Exception: On holes in which the Committee is providing a player shuttle, for safety reasons, the Committee authorizes any person (i.e. parent/spectator) to transport the player’s clubs. In particular, bags that are on push carts.

As mentioned, we highly encourage leagues to adopt the Conditions of Play. Below are a few situations that commonly occur once the rules are enforced in the Championship Season. As a best practice, use these situations to help PGA Jr. League players prepare for Championship Season participation.

Regardless of where the golf ball is located (general area, putting green, bunker, etc.), one of the most important things players should do is mark it with something that can be seen easily and quickly by all participants. We discourage the use of sticks, leaves or other natural objects to mark the position of the golf ball.

The penalty for all rules infractions in PGA Jr. League is one stroke. However, it is important to keep in mind that at times, a penalty may only be applied to one player on the side.

For example: Player A and B are a pair, and the ball they’ve selected is on the lip of the bunker. Player A takes three club-lengths out of the bunker and hits. Player B takes one club-length and stays in the bunker to hit. If the team selects Player A’s next shot, they will incur a penalty for playing from the wrong place. If they select Player B’s shot, they will receive no penalty.

In PGA Jr. League, players are allowed to move one club-length to either side of the original spot of the selected ball in the general area, penalty area, teeing area or bunker. Players are allowed one clubhead-length to either side of the original spot of the selected ball on the putting green. This should never result in the ball being placed closer to the hole. When measuring the club-length or clubhead-length, the ball must stay in the same area of the course. The 5 areas of the course are:

Utilizing the five areas of the course means the following:

A stroke is the forward movement of the club made to strike the ball. A stroke has not been made if the player:

If the club accidentally hits the ball more than once, there has been only one stroke and there is no penalty. If the player swings and misses the ball, however, the stroke does count. In this situation, the player may either count the stroke and use that ball, or simply choose to use their partner’s ball instead.

We encourage players to concede short putts in PGA Jr. League mostly because it can help with pace of play. In this scenario, Player A and Player B are a pair and have a putt to win the hole. Player A, putts first and rolls it close to the hole. Player C on the opposing side concedes Player A’s next stroke. Can Player B attempt the same putt to win the hole? Yes, just because Player A’s next stroke was conceded doesn’t mean Player B cannot attempt to make the original putt for the win. When conceding an opponent’s next stroke, players should communicate clearly with verbiage such as: “Your next stroke is good.” “Go ahead and pick up, that’s good.” Players can even pick up their opponent’s ball if they want to concede their next stroke.

It is recommended that each partner in a pair attempts his/her putt prior to an additional putt being attempted by one partner. However, the scenario is similar to the concession options shared above. For example, Player A and Player B are a pair and have a putt for birdie. Player A, putts first and rolls it close to the hole. Player A then taps in the putt for par, prior to Player B receiving the attempt at birdie. In this case, Player B still receives a chance at making the birdie putt. If the putt is made, the pair will score birdie. If the putt is missed, the pair will score par with Player A’s ball. In the instance that Player A missed their par putt, Player A’s ball is no longer in play and Player B still receives the birdie attempt. If Player B misses, he/ she must complete the rest of the hole without any assistance from Player A.

A bunker is a specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed. If a selected ball is located in the bunker, both players must play from the bunker, unless they choose to take penalty relief.

If Player A is to hit first from the bunker, he/she may mark and lift the golf ball in order to rake the surrounding sand area. If Player B is second to hit from the bunker, he/she may rake the surrounding sand area after Player A has hit and before he/she places or drops the second ball.

Have a question or need clarification about the PGA Jr. League Conditions of Play or the USGA Rules of Golf? PGA Coaches may contact their Player Engagement Consultant or chat with us via the blue bubble on the bottom right of your screen for more information.