The PLAY JUNIOR GOLF TOUR - Our Story
Family is the most important and valuable gift we have.
The greatest gift we can give to our children is a life filled with opportunities to discover, learn, and love. My story is slightly unique in the fact that when I discovered something I wanted for my son, instead of finding it, I created it.
One early Sunday morning, I loaded up my six-year-old son, wife, and in-laws into my 2007 Montana van to travel two hours so he could participate in his first golf tournament. He was a competitive athlete who loved all sports. I was a former golf professional who fell in love with the game of golf after being given a Spalding 9-iron at my grandmother’s farm to hit shag balls over the barn on a humid Sunday afternoon.
As you can expect, he did not wake up that morning asking to spend half his day in the car; unfortunately, it was the closest option for a golf tournament for his age and ability. That long Sunday afternoon made me realize that something was missing for children in my community, athletes who wanted to discover the beauty that golf has to offer, and a platform to develop and compete against other junior-aged players. To continue to expect families to have to travel long distances, pay high entry fees, have few dates to choose from, and watch from a distance as their child navigates around the course, afraid to talk with their playing partner didn’t seem to me what junior golf should be about.
It was time to bring the game of golf to the kids, give them a fairway to stroll down with mom or dad as their caddy, and greens where they would shake hands with a new friend after the round. Golf might be the game they are playing, but the lessons they learn go far, far beyond the first tee.
The PLAY Junior Golf Tour was created in 2014 as a gift to my oldest son so he could play competitive golf at local courses with his friends, and with his dad on the bag. From the very first tournament, the PLAY Junior Golf Tour has been centred around family and community, developing young golfers both on and off the course. Twenty-two members, five events, and a million dreams that would shape the future of the PJGT. The tour didn’t have any sponsors or funding, began on burnt fairways at nine-hole courses and had a prize table filled with dollar store treasures. My oldest son would become the face of the tour, a logo created by my best friend with whom I shared many memorable golf moments.
The tour was faced with adversity, rejections, and growing pains. But that’s golf, a game that challenges beliefs and faith. It was the playing test I failed four times before gaining my professional status. It was walking to the 18th tee on several occasions under par, only to tap in for a double-bogey and have that first round in the 60s elude me. And it was on the 18th tee of my home course, that my father died suddenly, playing a game he loved, a game he gave to me to love.
That is golf. It gives you everything you can handle, and then it shows its beauty and all that consumes you. The opportunity was on a tee for me to create a grassroots junior tour to further my passion for the game by embracing and promoting a community approach centred on family. The PJGT would build a strong foundation of values and look to tear down barriers to entry that have stood in the way of young golfers. The parent/child relationship would always be at the forefront of the tour’s vision, through adult caddies, parents delivering water on hot days or assisting with scoring, and simply encouraging the kids after every event to thank their parents. The special bond and gentle smile that the PJGT leaves kids with will outlast any trophy or medal, and will live with them forever.
Since 2014, the tour continues to grow annually, with exponential membership growth, increased event options, larger geographic reach, national partners, and international qualifying opportunities. The PLAY Junior Golf Tour has become a leader in grassroots junior golf development by aligning itself with individuals strong in character and focused on a shared vision. Every child that is looking to play gets an opportunity with the tour. It’s an important part of our mission to create the best atmosphere possible for our youth to succeed and have fun!
Success does not come without a price. For the PLAY Junior Golf Tour, however, the price of hard work, determination, growth, and dedication pays dividends for everyone involved in giving kids the opportunity to step up to that first tee.
Chris Veltkamp, Founder
The greatest gift we can give to our children is a life filled with opportunities to discover, learn, and love. My story is slightly unique in the fact that when I discovered something I wanted for my son, instead of finding it, I created it.
One early Sunday morning, I loaded up my six-year-old son, wife, and in-laws into my 2007 Montana van to travel two hours so he could participate in his first golf tournament. He was a competitive athlete who loved all sports. I was a former golf professional who fell in love with the game of golf after being given a Spalding 9-iron at my grandmother’s farm to hit shag balls over the barn on a humid Sunday afternoon.
As you can expect, he did not wake up that morning asking to spend half his day in the car; unfortunately, it was the closest option for a golf tournament for his age and ability. That long Sunday afternoon made me realize that something was missing for children in my community, athletes who wanted to discover the beauty that golf has to offer, and a platform to develop and compete against other junior-aged players. To continue to expect families to have to travel long distances, pay high entry fees, have few dates to choose from, and watch from a distance as their child navigates around the course, afraid to talk with their playing partner didn’t seem to me what junior golf should be about.
It was time to bring the game of golf to the kids, give them a fairway to stroll down with mom or dad as their caddy, and greens where they would shake hands with a new friend after the round. Golf might be the game they are playing, but the lessons they learn go far, far beyond the first tee.
The PLAY Junior Golf Tour was created in 2014 as a gift to my oldest son so he could play competitive golf at local courses with his friends, and with his dad on the bag. From the very first tournament, the PLAY Junior Golf Tour has been centred around family and community, developing young golfers both on and off the course. Twenty-two members, five events, and a million dreams that would shape the future of the PJGT. The tour didn’t have any sponsors or funding, began on burnt fairways at nine-hole courses and had a prize table filled with dollar store treasures. My oldest son would become the face of the tour, a logo created by my best friend with whom I shared many memorable golf moments.
The tour was faced with adversity, rejections, and growing pains. But that’s golf, a game that challenges beliefs and faith. It was the playing test I failed four times before gaining my professional status. It was walking to the 18th tee on several occasions under par, only to tap in for a double-bogey and have that first round in the 60s elude me. And it was on the 18th tee of my home course, that my father died suddenly, playing a game he loved, a game he gave to me to love.
That is golf. It gives you everything you can handle, and then it shows its beauty and all that consumes you. The opportunity was on a tee for me to create a grassroots junior tour to further my passion for the game by embracing and promoting a community approach centred on family. The PJGT would build a strong foundation of values and look to tear down barriers to entry that have stood in the way of young golfers. The parent/child relationship would always be at the forefront of the tour’s vision, through adult caddies, parents delivering water on hot days or assisting with scoring, and simply encouraging the kids after every event to thank their parents. The special bond and gentle smile that the PJGT leaves kids with will outlast any trophy or medal, and will live with them forever.
Since 2014, the tour continues to grow annually, with exponential membership growth, increased event options, larger geographic reach, national partners, and international qualifying opportunities. The PLAY Junior Golf Tour has become a leader in grassroots junior golf development by aligning itself with individuals strong in character and focused on a shared vision. Every child that is looking to play gets an opportunity with the tour. It’s an important part of our mission to create the best atmosphere possible for our youth to succeed and have fun!
Success does not come without a price. For the PLAY Junior Golf Tour, however, the price of hard work, determination, growth, and dedication pays dividends for everyone involved in giving kids the opportunity to step up to that first tee.
Chris Veltkamp, Founder