Leading the Way

Colorado one of seven states participating in team pilot initiative for USGA’s new U.S. National Development Program

By Gary Baines – 1/17/2024

Having a national development program for golf is a new concept in the U.S., and Colorado will be at the forefront of the proceedings.

On Wednesday, the USGA announced the creation of a state team pilot program that will “expand the pipeline for elite junior golfers into the recently created U.S. National Development Program.” And while the goal is to have all states feature teams by 2033, Colorado will be one of just seven states to participate in the pilot program, starting this year.

Joining Colorado in the pilot program are Southern California, Georgia, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Ohio and Tennessee.

“When the USGA formed a ‘Working Group’ for Allied Golf Association and USGA staff to collaborate on the development of state teams, we raised our hand!” Ashley Harrell, the chief operating officer for the CGA, said in an email on Wednesday. “We have some unique experience with education and player-development programs similar to this state team initiative — like the former Hale Irwin Player Program — that led the USGA to choose Colorado as a pilot location. The USGA also recognizes that junior membership within the CGA has grown over 100 percent in the last year, indicating that Colorado junior golfers are eager to be involved in programs like this.

“We are excited to have been chosen as a state team pilot location. This initiative is a clear priority for the USGA and the ability for us to help shape the elements of the state team program will only make Team Colorado stronger in the future!”

According to the USGA, the pilot program took shape through collaboration among the USGA, its Allied Golf Associations (such as the CGA), the PGA of America and relevant state junior programs.

“This first-of-its-kind state team program will serve as a critical part of the talent identification pathway for the USNDP and provide more opportunities for a diverse population of athletes to receive resources and guidance to compete at the highest levels of the game,” two-time LPGA Tour winner Heather Daly-Donofrio, the USGA managing director for player relations and development, said in Wednesday’s release. “Additionally, the opportunity to represent their home state will incentivize each region’s best junior golfers to play more in-state competitions, ultimately strengthening the junior golf programming across the country.”

The size of state team rosters — ranging from two boys/two girls to 20 boys/20 girls — will be calculated by elite junior participation in the state. Initially, the Colorado team is expected to include 16 players — eight boys and eight girls. To compete on a state team, a golfer must be a U.S. citizen, and no younger than 13 (as of Jan. 1, 2025), no older than 18 (as of July 19, 2025) and not enrolled in college for the 2024-25 school year.

The seven states picked for the pilot program each will create a committee that includes representatives from major golf organizations within the state, including Allied Golf Associations and PGA Sections. The committees will handle team selection criteria and the operation of the state program based on guidelines provided by the USGA. The selection criteria will vary by state. The USGA indicated selection criteria for each state will be published prior to the entry deadline of the first counting event of its 2024 championship season.

The Colorado team committee will include CGA executive director Ed Mate, Harrell, CGA manager of programs Cayla Regnery, Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Mark Crabtree and Peter Weisel from the Colorado PGA.

The U.S. National Development Program was announced last February with the goal of ensuring the American golf is the “global leader in the game”. It will focus on six areas — talent identification, access to competition, national teams, athlete resources, player development, and relations and athlete financial support. Individual states will develop an “aspirational pathway” for their golfers to compete at higher levels of the game, including possibly having the opportunity to represent the U.S. on the national teams.

“The goal of the USNDP is to strengthen American golf by ensuring that the nation’s vast pool of junior golf talent has the resources necessary to progress in their development and a clear path to the highest levels of competition,” said Chris Zambri, head coach of the U.S. National Development Program. “The state team program will allow us to leverage the expertise and local knowledge of the regional and state junior golf programs to ensure that all golfers with the appropriate skill have an equitable opportunity to pursue their dreams.”

For additional information regarding the program, CLICK HERE.