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Hello Jack,
On Sunday, October 29 the NFJGTOUR kicked off the 2023-2024 season at Bent Creek Golf Club. Reminding us of her influence, Mother Nature was present letting us know that she was still in charge as the morning was filled with some eerie fog that caused a one-hour delay and many accidents on the road. The low round of the day was a very nice one under par round of 70 by a twelve-year-old from Jupiter, Florida. Gracie Carter had 15 pars, two birdies and a single bogey to start her season off right. Carter captured the Elite Tour Girls Gold Medal.
Every season as many as 400 junior players enroll in the North Florida Junior Golf Foundation’s Junior Tour. Each player having goals of bringing home the gold medal, improving their game, making the high school golf team or getting hand-picked by a visiting college coach to play some collegiate golf. It’s extremely satisfying to me, my entire staff and the Board of Directors to see that so many of our players succeed in their efforts. We can certainly give great thanks to our local PGA Professionals who prepare our kids from the teachings during their development through Operation 36, PGA Junior League, private lessons and summer camps. I will also give great thanks to my entire staff for mentoring the thousands of kids who fell underneath our umbrella over the past eleven years. For those at the top of the results we celebrated with cheers and high fives, and we encouraged, wiped tears from the faces of those defeated and disappointed by their performance or by the game. We disciplined rules violators and rewarded players when appropriate and yes, we counseled players and parents. All in an effort, to make our juniors and our junior tour the BEST TOUR around.
This past season 48 seniors graduated and 75% of the graduating class was moving on to play some form of collegiate golf. A quick review reveals that the University of North Florida Golf team has seven NFJGTOUR Alumni players on their thirteen-man roster. Other area colleges with alums are Jacksonville University, Flagler College, Embry Riddle, Daytona State, University of Central Florida and Florida State to name a few. There are many other colleges with our kids leading the way. I guess my point really is, we have the best junior golfers in the nation, right here in North Florida with some fantastic colleges right here at home. Many choose to receive their higher-level education where golf is available 24/7, 364 days a year (Christmas we’re closed) and many want the top schools. It’s awesome, when you think about all the success stories.
This season our kids will visit 29 different golf courses and play in 36 tournaments with 11 multiple day and four special events. Once again juniors will have opportunity to qualify for the Notah Begay Junior Golf National Championship, the Jacksonville Area Golf Association’s First Coast Amateur, First Coast Women’s Amateur, St Augustine Amateur, Junior PLAYERS Championship, the Palatka AZELEA, PGA Junior Championship, Florida State Golf Team Championship and the Florida Coast Junior Ryder Cup. Plus receive FJT exemptions and AJGA PBE Stars for approved events.
It all must be earned, but the hard work and sweat is well worth the reward.
To all the club owners, PGA/LPGA Directors of Golf, Head Golf Professionals and Assistant Golf Professionals we THANK YOU for supporting junior golf and the North Florida Junior Golf Foundation and Junior Tour.
Jack Aschenbach, PGA
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