HOOVER, AL (Oct. 9, 2025) – Alabama is launching a state junior golf team that will expand the pipeline for elite local golfers into the recently created U.S. National Development Program (USNDP), an initiative launched in 2023 by the United States Golf Association (USGA) to create critical development, competitive and talent identification opportunities for golfers ages 13-18.
 
“The Alabama Golf Association is incredibly proud to be part of the U.S. National Development State Team initiative to create additional opportunities for aspiring junior golfers in Alabama” said Jeremy Gardner, AGA Executive Director. “Alabama and the Alabama Golf Association have strived to be leaders in junior golf development and our involvement in the USNDP further solidifies that commitment for deserving local junior talent.”
 
Alabama is now one of 30 states to join the USNDP’s state junior team program. The initiative launched in January 2024 with seven pilot states, expanded to nine more earlier this year and continues to grow steadily. The USGA’s goal is to establish a team in every state by 2033, working in close partnership with Allied Golf Associations, the PGA of America and its sections, and local junior golf programs.
 
“This program represents an important step in building the national player pathway,” said Heather Daly-Donofrio, USGA managing director, Player Relations and Development. “By creating state junior teams, we’re not only opening doors for more juniors to access resources and development opportunities, but also instilling pride in representing their home state. That combination will help elevate competition locally and deepen the overall pool of talent nationwide.”
 
The participating states will each establish a committee consisting of representatives from major golf entities within the state including any AGAs and PGA of America Sections. Alabama’s team committee includes individuals from the Alabama Golf Association, Alabama – NW Florida PGA Section, and USNDP Team Alabama’s Head Coach.
 
The committee will oversee team selection criteria, and the operation of Team Alabama based on guidelines provided by the USNDP. Team selection criteria may consist of a points structure, ranking or combination of other competitive factors, and will be published prior to the entry deadline of the first counting event of the 2026 championship season. For more information, please visit the Team Alabama website.
 
State team roster sizes are calculated by elite junior participation in the state, ranging from two boys/two girls to 20 boys/20 girls. Alabama expects to have eight players, composed of four boys and four girls as part of the initial team, which will be named in late 2026. To be eligible to compete on a state team, a player must be a U.S. Citizen and resident of Alabama. Each eligible player must be 13 years old by January 1, 2027, have not reached their 19th birthday by July 19, 2027, and must not be enrolled in college for the 2026-2027 school year. A Handicap Index® is also required.
 
Additional eligibility requirements and FAQs can be found at the Team Alabama website.
 
Announced in February 2023, the USNDP is designed to ensure that American golf is the global leader in the game by focusing on six key pillars: talent identification, access to competition, national teams, athlete resources, player development and relations and athlete financial support. The state junior team program will focus on creating a developmentally appropriate, aspirational pathway for athletes within each state to compete at higher levels of the game.
 
About the Alabama Golf Association (AGA) 
The Alabama Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization founded in 1915 whose mission is to serve and promote amateur golf in Alabama. AGA membership consists of 122 member clubs represented by over 33,000 individuals. The activities and services of the Alabama Golf Association are governed by a Board of Directors consisting of Alabama golfers who wish to serve the game and the association through service. A full-time professional staff of seven individuals handles day-to-day activities.
 
Based in Hoover, the AGA is the USGA's Allied Golf Association in Alabama conducting national championship qualifying, administering the World Handicap System including the GHIN Handicap service, course & slope rating, and Rules of Golf & Handicapping education. The AGA annually conducts 24 championships; team match competitions for men, women, junior and seniors. The AGA manages the Junior Golf Alabama program that is a joint venture between the AGA and Alabama-NW Florida PGA Section.
 
In addition to competitions, the AGA administers the AGA Scholarship Fund through the Alabama Golf Foundation that is dedicated to assisting young golfers in higher education. Additionally, the Alabama Golf Foundation supports the Youth on Course Alabama program providing facility access to junior golfers and provides funding for the Alabama Turfgrass Research Foundation. In 2016, the AGA earned the Gold Tee Award for “Outstanding Tournament Operations – Small Association” by the International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA).
 
Since 1980, the AGA has managed the affairs of the Southern Golf Association which includes conducting the historic Southern Amateur Championship and Southern Junior Championship, in conjunction with the SGA Board of Directors. 
 
For more information about the Alabama Golf Association, visit www.alabamagolf.org. 
   
Media Contact:
Mikayla King
Director of Media, Marketing & Communications
Alabama Golf Association
205-803-6524
mikayla@alabamagolf.org