The Blue Ridge Junior Golf Tour is ready to tee up for another season of junior golf.
Celebrating its 24th year, the tour returns offering golfers up to age 18 the opportunity to learn golf rules, etiquette, and skills while playing golf courses in Southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia.
Participants make friends, improve their skills, and live up to the tour’s motto of “building character and sportsmanship through the game of golf.” Executive Director Dewayne Belcher says, “We’ve conducted the tour with the same motto since the beginning in 1999. With that foundation, players have not only become better players, but they have honored the fundamental principles of the game by playing with fairness and integrity. This has yielded many social skills helpful in producing good community citizens. To that end, we are most proud.”
Action will begin with the usual golf academies in May with a different twist this year. In an effort to get young players involved earlier in life, the “Teach a Child to Play Golf” campaign will be offered for ages 6-12.
The academy will include five sessions and will be held at Fincastle in Bluefield, West Virginia on Saturdays May 5, 12, 19, and June 4.
A one-on-one session will be provided for participants after that.
“This is a new extended version of an academy for ages 6-12 taught by golf professionals,” Belcher said.
The other two academies are similar to previous years and are designated for ages 13-18. They are being conducted at Draper Valley Golf Club in Draper on Saturday, May 21, and at Fincastle in Bluefield on Sunday, May 22.
The “Golf by the Rules” clinic will also be held at Fincastle on Sunday, June 12. Tournament play begins in early June with stops at the River Course, Draper Valley, Fincastle, Pipestem State Park, Glade Springs Resort, Blacksburg Country Club, and the season-ending Tour Championship at Wytheville Golf Club.
Interested junior golfers can find all dates, events, and sites at brjgt.com. Registration can be completed on the website. Cost to join the tour is $30, and each tournament is $20 except for the season-ending Tour Championship. That is a two-day event that costs $40. Through the experience, the junior golfer will receive a number of Blue Ridge Junior Golf Tour gifts including the official 2022 cap. Also, the players will become better golfers, make many good friends, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Age groups are divided into the following categories: 17-18, 15-16, 13-14, (play 18 holes), 10-12 and 9 and under (play 9 holes). Also, an additional developmental group will play for those ages 13-18 who are brand new to the game. A coach to accompany them for nine holes during selected tournaments.
“2022 promises to be another fun season filled with many rewarding experiences. Please register soon,” Belcher said.
