US Kids Golf runs its competitive calendar through Local Tours, State Invitationals, Regional Championships, and the World Championship. All of them use the same age-division system, so once you understand how divisions work for Local Tours, the rest falls into place. How divisions are determined A junior's age division is based on their age on the day of the event. For multi-day events, it's usually determined by age on the first day. US Kids moves players up in one-year increments through age 10, then switches to two-year groupings. Boys divisions: U6, U7, U8, U9, U10, U11, U12, Boys 11–12 (where used), Boys 13–14, Boys 15–18. Girls divisions: Same age structure, with Girls 11–12 and Girls 13–14 two-year groupings for teens. At State Invitationals and higher levels, the younger divisions play 9 holes per day while Boys 9 through Boys 13–14 and Girls 11–12 and 13–14 play 18 holes. Yardages follow the Longleaf Tee System US Kids doesn't pick yardages arbitrarily. They use the Longleaf Tee System — a joint initiative with the American Society of Golf Course Architects Foundation designed around how far juniors of each age actually hit the ball. The principle: you shouldn't need a 5-iron to reach a par 4 if you're seven years old. Approximate target yardages by division (Local Tours): - U6 boys and girls: ~1,400 yards (9 holes) - U7: ~1,800 yards - U8: ~2,100 yards - U9: ~2,400 yards - U10: ~2,700 yards - Boys 11–12: ~5,500 yards (18 holes) - Girls 11–12: ~5,000 yards - Boys 13–14: ~6,000 yards - Girls 13–14: ~5,300 yards - Boys 15–18: ~6,500 yards - Girls 15–18: ~5,600 yards These are targets; actual yardage varies slightly by course. State Invitationals and national events use slightly longer yardages than Local Tours. Priority Status and what top finishes earn Finishing well in US Kids events earns Priority Status, which is US Kids' internal ranking system. Priority Status determines eligibility for Regional Championships, the World Championship, and other multi-day events. Top levels of Priority Status (Levels 12–14 and Lifetime) also award AJGA PBE Stars for the following season, giving an older junior a path into AJGA events through US Kids play. Which division is "right" for my kid? US Kids generally enforces playing in your actual age division. There's a conditional-advancement path for players under 9 who can prove exceptional tournament performance at tougher yardages — usually a record of top-5 finishes at World Championships or equivalent. For most families, though, the answer is: play your age, and focus on improving within it rather than moving up early. If your junior is on the borderline age-wise (turning 12 mid-season, for example), divisions are set by age on the event date, so your junior may end up in different divisions depending on event timing.
Last verified: 2026-04-22