AJGA has Golf Tournament Scholarships for Prep Golfers

     The AJGA (American Junior Golf Association) plays host to some of the top amateurs in the country and players come from around the world to play in tournaments around the USA. It can be expensive to play in their events with entry fees around $250 and up. Add in expenses from travel to lodging and incidentals and golfers have hard choices to make in deciding where to compete against top level competition.

Chris Richards-AJGA

   Enter the Achieving Competitive Excellence Scholarship (ACE) Grant where golfers who qualify can offset tournament expenses from travel including airfare, entry and greens fees and plenty more. While watching elite golfers at Warwick Hills at the Randy Wise Open in Grand Blanc last summer it was 
pretty impressive to watch golfers from around Michigan and as far away as Japan compete in the tournament and some could not have competed without the scholarship. Chris Richards, AJGA Communications Director spoke about the scholarship in this blog interview.  
JA: Why did the AJGA institute the ACE (Achieving Competitive Excellence) Grant program?
CR: In an effort to combat the costs of playing a national junior golf schedule for players without the financial resources, the American Junior Golf Association created the Achieving Competitive Excellence (ACE) Grant in 2003. The goal of the ACE Grant is to give top-flight golf opportunities to young golfers regardless of financial resources. This program helps to fulfill the AJGA’s mission of developing young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf. “The ACE Grant is one of the most important initiatives the AJGA has ever undertaken,” said AJGA Executive Director Stephen Hamblin. “It is critically important that the AJGA helps give young golfers who may have the talent, but not the resources, the opportunity to compete on a national stage to gain exposure for a college golf scholarship.”

JA: Who funds the grants?

Jaye Marie Green- AJGA Tournament Winner and Recipient of the Ace Grant

CR: The ACE Grant was piloted and funded through private donations during the 2003 season, helping 12 junior golfers play AJGA events in which they otherwise may not have had the opportunity to compete. Through the benevolence of Rolex, Ralph Lauren, and private donors, the program has continued to grow. In 2004, Rolex signed on to be the inaugural Founding Partner to the ACE Grant, and in 2009, Ralph Lauren became the second founding corporate partner. In all, more than 600 contributions have been made to the ACE Grant.

JA: Do you look at the tax returns of the golfers parents' applying?

CR: To be considered for the ACE Grant, all candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Candidates must be a U.S. citizen.
• Candidates must be between the ages of 12-18 and a current AJGA member.
• Candidates must clearly establish their need for financial assistance.
• Candidates must provide supporting documents in order to verify their financial standing.

  CR: All candidates who satisfy the above requirements are eligible to apply for the ACE Grant. The final selection of recipients is decided by the ACE Grant Committee. Each candidate can apply for the ACE Grant at any time during the open application period of February 1, 2012, through September 1, 2012. However, no applications will be considered after this period. Grants will be awarded to qualified applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.

JA: Typically, what expenses does the ACE Grant pay for?

CR: The ACE Grant covers expenses incurred while attending AJGA events as well as select USGA junior events. In addition, there are reimbursement limits the AJGA feels are appropriate for each event. Expenses covered by the AJGA ACE Grant include:

• Costs incurred when traveling to and from an AJGA event. This may include gas, airfare/baggage fees (member only), airport transportation, rental cars and cabs.
• Food and beverage costs (member only) incurred while attending an AJGA event.
• Housing costs incurred while attending an AJGA event. The AJGA strongly encourages all families to utilize private housing when available, which will allow each recipient to maximize their grant by reducing expenses.
• AJGA membership fee (up to $165), tournament and TaylorMade-adidas Golf Qualifier entry fees, but without exceeding the maximum ACE Grant value.
• Gratuity up to 10 percent of the total on approved food and beverage expenses.

JA: How is this program making a difference?

CR: Since its inception, the ACE Grant program has awarded 663 grants to 409 junior golfers, distributing more than $1.1 million. With the help of the ACE Grant program, these talented junior golfers have taken advantage of 2,561 playing opportunities. Ultimately, the ACE Grant program will continue to expand until it is able to support all young golfers in need.

In 2010, Jaye Marie Green of Boca Raton, Fla., won the Polo Golf Junior Classic and became the first ACE Grant recipient to win an Invitational, which is the AJGA’s highest-level of competition.

Of the 190 ACE Grant recipients who have graduated from high school, more than 100 have received a college scholarship.

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The Open Enrollment Period is now through September First. The link is below and check it out. Remember, these golfers are among the best in the country and you must be accepted as a member.

http://www.ajga.org/ACEGrant/  <<< For more information, click on the link.  The application is on the site.

The American Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women who aspire to earn college golf scholarships through competitive junior golf.

Give it your best shot. Local golfers have received scholarships and you would be surprised at the golfers who have qualified and some qualify at the under 15 age bracket.