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KJGA participation provides chance to ‘get in the game’
   KGA Q & A: Tyler Cummins, junior golf manager

   With the weather finally beginning to warm up around the Sunflower State, Kansas golfers of all ages are getting back out on the course. That group includes many young players who are just picking up the game or are beginning to develop into the next generation of prep

standouts all across the state – the players that will be winning Kansas high school titles and playing in KGA championships for years to come.
   Kansas Golfer Online recently had a chance to sit down with Tyler Cummins, junior golf manager for the Association, to discuss the upcoming Kansas Junior Golf Association season, what young players can expect as they get involved in the program and the benefits they can reap from participation.
   Cummins, who played collegiately at Kansas State, first joined the KGA as a Boatwright intern and became a full-time employee in 2007. His duties include administering the KJGA program, working with the Kansas Golf Foundation, its scholarship program and fundraising events, and helping with administration of other KGA championship events.

   KG Online: In general terms, can you tell us about the KJGA season?
   Cummins: The KJGA season takes place mainly in the month of June but due to the increasing amount of tournaments available for kids these days it has stretched into the first half of July. The state of Kansas is divided into six sections: Metro (K.C. area), Northeast, North Central, South Central, Southeast and West. Each section hosts four events during our season and has five age divisions: 11 & under, 12-13, 14 -15, 16 -17 and 18 & over.
   All age divisions compete to earn points towards our season-ending Junior Section Team Championship. The top 18 players from each section are invited to the event where they play to see which section is the best. It is truly one of the top events we host during the season. It gives players from around the state the chance to compete against the best golfers in their particular age division. The 2010 Junior Section Team Championship will be held July 26-28 at Eagle Bend Golf Course in Lawrence.
   The entire KJGA program would not be possible without the help of our section chairmen and the many volunteers that donate their time during the summer. A special thanks goes out to them!

   KG Online: At what age and/or skill level can players get involved?
   Cummins: The KJGA has no minimum age or handicap requirement, but we do have some general guidelines that we provide for parents who are unsure if their child is ready to jump into a competitive program. Players should possess the ability to complete 18 holes in four hours or less and score under 100 strokes for an 18-hole round. For golfers in our 11 and under age group we ask that they be able to shoot 60 or less for nine holes. Every year we do have players that fall outside of these guidelines, but they are encouraged to keep working on Tyler Cummins

their game.
   The two age divisions that have the least amount of participation are the 11 & under and the 18 & over. Most participants in the 11 & under age division have just turned 11, but we have had players as young as eight years old. I would really like to remind all of our soon-to-be high school graduates that they are still eligible to participate before they head off to college.

   KG Online: Included in its efforts to grow the program, is the KJGA making a push to get more girls involved?
   Cummins: Yes. Over the past three years we have slowly seen an increased participation from young women in our program. In the past, girls have been playing with the boys from the same set of tees. Now we have decided to include a “Girls Division” in three of our six sections. The Northeast, North Central and West sections will feature this new division that will include awarding medals to the top three performers from each event. Even with this new change female participants still have the option to play with the boys in any section they choose if they want to try and qualify for our season-ending Junior Section Team Championship.
   Our hope is to eventually grow the program enough to allow a split in the “Girls Division” into two separate age divisions which will allow for better competition for all ages.

   KG Online: What types of positive impact does participation in KJGA events have on the youngsters?
   Cummins: Like most organized sports the idea is to reach out to our younger generation and provide a positive structured environment. Since we don’t actually teach kids the golf swing, we must rely on our volunteers and staff to promote the game and administer the rules. Golf is a game of integrity and is one of two sports where you can actually call a penalty on yourself. It’s a ‘gentlemen’s game!’
   The KJGA gives juniors a competitive environment in which they can grow to become better golfers and individuals. Just like in the real world kids learn from their mistakes and build character as well as mental toughness. We have a zero tolerance behavior policy that was put in place for all of our events in 2008. It focuses on the respect of your fellow competitors, any spectators and most importantly the golf course.
   Most kids get involved in our program at an early age and play until they graduate from high school. Golf is a lifelong sport. I am still in contact with many of the friends I made while participating in the KJGA sectional program.

   KG Online: KJGA participants are eligible for the Kansas Golf Foundation’s Junior Scholarship Program. Can you tell us more about that?
   Cummins: The Kansas Junior Golf Scholarship is something that the KGF has been trying to promote since we started the program in 2005. To be eligible you must be a current Kansas high school senior, enrolled in a Kansas college or university for the coming fall semester and you must have participated in high school golf or some programs sponsored by Kansas organizations. These organizations include: the Kansas Golf Association, Kansas Junior Golf Association, Kansas Women’s Golf Association, The First Tee, Wichita Junior Golf Foundation or the Native American Junior Golf Association. Participation is the only requirement; playing ability is irrelevant.
   Each spring we award five, four-year $1,250 scholarships to deserving young students. As of right now, we typically only receive about 40 applicants per year and would like to double that amount in the coming years.

   KG Online: What kind of impact does playing in tournaments at some of the state’s finest facilities have on a young golfer?
   Cummins: Giving the juniors the opportunity to play a variety of different golf courses challenges their playing ability and also makes it fun. In some cases, the juniors in our program are getting to play courses that their parents have not even played. It is truly a great opportunity and privilege, and I hope they see it as such.

   KG Online: KJGA participation can help lead players into successful high school and even college golf careers, correct?
   Cummins: For the younger players our one-day tournaments help prepare them for life as a high school golfer. In many cases it gives them the opportunity to play courses that they will see again. Since you don’t get a practice round it prepares them for the unknown and gives them a better opportunity to succeed. Often times it leads to a scholarship. If I had to guess I would say that at least 25 percent of the junior golfers in the program will go on to play some sort of college golf whether it be a community college or a big-time university.