A joint initiative founded in 2013 by the Masters Tournament, United States Golf Association and The PGA of America, the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship is a free nationwide junior golf development competition aimed at growing the game by focusing on the three fundamental skills employed in golf. By tapping the creative and competitive spirit of girls and boys ages 7-15, the Drive, Chip and Putt Championship provides aspiring junior golfers an opportunity to play with their peers in qualifiers around the country. Participants who advance through local, sub-regional and regional qualifying in each age/gender category earn a place in the National Finals, which is conducted at Augusta National Golf Club the Sunday before the Masters Tournament and is broadcast live by Golf Channel.

The LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Program provides a solid foundation for girls ages 6 to 17 who want to learn and play the game of golf, whether it is on the recreational or competitive level. The program, which is administered through a partnership with the Ladies Professional Golf Association Foundation and the United States Golf Association, has established nearly 300 sites around the country, where participants receive instruction and life skills education in a fun, welcoming environment. The program highlights its “Five E’s” – Empower, Enrich, Engage, Exercise and Energize – to inspire thousands of girls. In 2015, more than 50,000 girls are expected to participate in an LPGA-USGA Girls Golf program.

The First Tee, an international youth development organization that introduces the game of golf and its inherent values to young people, is a World Golf Foundation initiative that was founded in 1997 as a partnership between Augusta National Golf Club, the LPGA, the PGA of America, the PGA TOUR and the USGA. Since the program’s inception, more than 10.5 million young people ages 5-18 have participated in The First Tee programs at after school and in-school programs at golf courses, in elementary schools and at youth centers. The First Tee helps shapes the lives of young people ages 5-18 from all walks of life by reinforcing values like integrity, respect and perseverance through the game of golf.

PGA Junior League Golf, which launched in 2011, is designed to better socialize the game for boys and girls, ages 7-13. PGA Junior League Golf features team vs. team competitions in structured leagues that provide a popular, less stressful nine-hole scramble format. In 2014, more than 17,500 kids participated in Junior League Golf around the country.

Since 2009, the USGA has partnered with the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) to present the Leadership Links program, which encourages young men and women to develop charitable giving skills and service-oriented practices at an early age. Since 2009, the Leadership Links program has helped more than 3,800 junior golfers make a difference in their community by generating more than $4 million in charitable contributions to hundreds of charities. Each year, the two organizations partner to present the USGA-AJGA Presidents’ Leadership Award, which honors one girl and one boy who have demonstrated service-oriented skills, character and community service and fundraising experience. AJGA members who are active participants in the Leadership Links program are eligible for the award.