The Village of Pinehurst welcomes the worlds greatest junior golfers.
U.S. Kids Golf World Championship and Teen Championship begins
PINEHURST, N.C. — When nearly 1,300 of the top young players tee it up for
the 11th Annual World Championship in Pinehurst, many will walk away from
the course with as many family memories as birdies.

For the fifth consecutive year, U.S. Kids Golf and Pinehurst will partner in
support of the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship and Teen Championship, the
largest and most prestigious worldwide annual junior golf events. More than
1,800 participants will represent nearly 40 countries in the two
competitions, which highlight nearly two weeks of festivities beginning July
29.
The tournament has grown over the years, from 400 competitors in 2002 to
today, an increase of 225 percent.
For families, the days in and around Pinehurst will be as much about having
a ball as striking one, as focused on growing relationships as it is
grooving swings. Most players will have caddies, usually a parent,
grandparent or friend.
“These events show new and returning players how much fun golf is,” said Dan
Van Horn, president and founder of U.S. Kids Golf. “The memories children
experience walking the links with friends and family are invaluable. That’s
what delights us about hosting this premier junior golf event each year.
The three-day World Championship begins Aug. 5. Boys and girls are divided
into age groups ranging from 6 through age 12. Each group will tee off at
one of several courses formatted to meet age-appropriate yardage, layout and
hole quantity standards. The tournament will play out within the Village of
Pinehurst’s most scenic venues, including Pinehurst No. 3, No. 4 and No. 8, Legacy, Little River, Longleaf, Mid Pines, Midland and Talamore.
A week prior to the World Championship, U.S. Kids Golf and Pinehurst will
team up to host the fifth-annual Teen World Championship and Teen World Cup.
The event, which takes place July 29-31, mirrors the format of the World
Championship and features nearly 500 male and female golfers from across the
world between ages 13 and 18.
“I am pleased with the continual growth of the Teen World Championship and
the exposure it provides players to colleges,” Van Horn said. “We have
featured several players who began in the youngest age groups of the World
Championship and now have returned for the Teen Championship. These
championships show how far the sport of golf continues to advance around the
world.”
HITTING THE GREEN: ECONOMIC IMPACT
The events attract 5,000 visitors from all 50 states and 40 countries. That
creates a local economic impact of about $3.9 million, according to the
Moore County Convention and Visitors Bureau, which works out to spending of
about $780 per person. Three of every four attendees stay five to nine
nights – longer than the 3.3 night average for other leisure travelers to
the area.
“We’re glad to provide an economic shot in the arm,” Van Horn said.
“Pinehurst remains at the epicenter of the American and global golf
landscapes, and we are proud to once again partner with an organization that
shares our goal of preserving and expanding golf.
“This is great exposure for young golfers to play at a venue that has hosted
some of the sport’s biggest names and most prominent events. I’m sure there
are some jealous moms and dads.”
The U.S. Kids Golf World Cup concludes competition Aug. 8. Featuring the
World Championship’s top finishers in the 12-year-old group, the World Cup
pits golfers from the United States against a World team in a match-play
format.
Along with the tournament itself, World Championship week includes several
other opportunities to golf alongside friends and family. The week begins
with the first annual Parent/Child competition on Aug. 2, which pairs young
participants with their biggest fans for an 18-hole showdown.
Visit www.uskidsgolf.com for more information regarding the World
Championship, Teen Championship and U.S. Kids Golf. Fans and families can
also follow on Twitter (twitter.com/uskidsgolffnd) and Facebook
(www.facebook.com/uskidsgolf)
About the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation
The U.S. Kids Golf Foundation is a 501 c (3) nonprofit organization that was
established in 2001. The vision of the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation is to
provide kids and their families the opportunity to participate in the game
of golf through instruction and competition. All profits collected by the
U.S. Kids Golf Foundation are allocated towards growing the game of golf
through the expansion of competition. Currently, the U.S. Kids Golf
Foundation conducts more than 400 local, regional, national, and
international events. To learn more, please visit www.uskidsgolf.com .
Media Contact:
Christopher Carme (706) 974-9476
ccarme@uskidsgolf.com