The International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) and Junior Sports Corporation are proud to announce the start of a new tour: the Discovery Tour. The Discovery Tour was designed for any junior, age 8-12, to gain a fun and enjoyable tournament experience while preparing to compete in regular IJGT events in the future. Each 9-hole, one day event will offer a fun way to both learn and compete!

While the IJGT is devoted to juniors with a higher skill level and ambition to compete at a more advanced level, the Discovery Tour is a laid back, fun alternative for younger junior golfers who may have little or no tournament experience. The new tour is an excellent fit for youngsters looking to hone in on their skills while competing with juniors of the same skill level and age.

Discovery Tour participants will tee off following the final IJGT pairing on Saturday. The hope is to allow families with both older children competing in the IJGT Event and younger children competing in the Discovery Tour Event to enjoy a day of golf together.

The Discovery Tour will be played from the most forward tees at each tournament creating an average distance of 2,200 – 2,500 yards. One caddie will be allowed for each player to carry the participant’s bag, help with rules questions, and offer their player advice. To add to the fun and enjoyable atmosphere of the overall event, a 10-stroke limit on each hole has been set. Also, if a breech in the rules occurs that would constitute a disqualification by the USGA Rules of Golf, the 10-stroke limit would be enforced instead.

Five host locations for tournaments have been selected for the inaugural season.

• Greate Bay Golf Club – Somers Point, New Jersey - March 31
• Hershey Links - Hershey, PA - April 7
• Nemacolin - Farmington, PA - April 21
• Mill Creek – Churchville, NY - May 5
• Fowler's Mill – Chesterland, OH – May 19

Membership for the Discovery Tour will be set at $25 – a $50 value that includes a bag tag, golf balls, profile on the IJGT website and more! Members will be eligible to participate in each of the Spring 2012 events. The 9-hole events will priced between $35 and $40 each.

If you are looking to play at some of the top venues in golf, learn the rules of golf and meet children of your own age in a fun and competitive fashion, the Discovery Tour is the right choice for you!

Discovery Tour Membership

Discovery Tour Cancellation Policy

Each Discovery Tour event will have a $35 - $40 entry fee. If a player needs to cancel their registration for any reason, a complete refund will be given until 48 hours before the start of the first round of the event. After the 48 hours, a $20 processing fee will be charged and the balance of the entry fee will be refunded.

NOTE: If it is necessary for you to withdraw less than 48 hours from an event due to a medical or family situation, you must contact the IJGT staff via E-mail or phone (info@ijgt.com, 800-792-9143) and submit your request to have your entry free used as an In-House Credit toward any Discovery Tour remaining balance or toward another event in the current season. All requests must be received and processed no later than 30 days from the start of the tournament. The IJGT staff will review your request and will contact you as soon as a decision is made.

Discovery Tour Caddie Policy

All Discovery Tour participants are allowed to have one caddie during their round. If, at any time, a complaint is received from an official, competitor, player, or volunteer that caddie will receive a warning. If the problem persists, the caddie will be suspended from that event. We ask all caddies to review the important USGA Caddie Related Rules listed below.

Important USGA Caddie Related Rules

1. Rule 14-2b states that in “making a stroke,” a player shall not allow his caddie to position himself on or close to an extension of the line of play or the line of putt behind the ball. A caddie may position himself in this manner before the player commits to beginning his swing but must move away once the player is set to begin his swing. Failure to do so will result in a two-stroke penalty.
2. Rule 8-2b states that when a player's ball is on the putting green, the player or his caddie may before, but not during, the stroke, point out a line for putting, but in doing so the putting green shall not be touched. No mark shall be placed anywhere to indicate a line for putting. Violation of this rule will result in a two-stroke penalty.
3. Rule 17-3 states that the player's ball shall not strike the flagstick or attendant when the flagstick is attended or the flagstick is in the hole, unattended, or when the ball has been played from the putting green. Should this occur, the player is assessed a two-stroke penalty, and the ball is played as it lies.
4. Rule 8-1 states that a Caddie is one who carries or handles a player's clubs during play and otherwise assists him in accordance with the rules. A player may only have one caddie at any given time. A caddie may be replaced or eliminated at any time by the player. No other person may offer advice or help to a player other than his caddie.

Discovery Tour Rules and Regulations

Player Code of Conduct: All players must abide by the IJGT Player Code of Conduct

Spectator Code of Conduct: All spectators must abide by the Spectator Code of Conduct. A spectator is anyone who is not a caddie, competitor, official, or volunteer.

Ten Shot Rule: A player shall take no more than 10 stokes on a hole. Once a 10 is reached, a player must pick up their ball and wait for the other players in the group to complete the hole.

Disqualification Policy: No player will be disqualified for any violations of the Rules of Golf. Instead, a maximum score of 10 on any hole where the infraction would normally lead to disqualification. In situations where the round or hole has been completed, the score of 10 will apply to the last hole played or to the hole where the infraction occurred. Exceptions: A player or his caddie may be disqualified for code of conduct violations, unauthorized use of electronic devices and tobacco use.

Caddie Use of Carts: Players and Caddies must walk during play of each hole. Two strokes per hole at which any breach occurred; maximum penalty per round: Four strokes.

Spectator Policy: If spectator carts are permitted, the IJGT Cart Policy must be followed.

Please consult the IJGT Notice to Competitors for more information on general tournament policies.

Discovery Tour Membership