The Heart of Ohio Junior Golf Association is reaching a milestone season in 2026.
The organization is celebrating its 40th season serving area youth between the ages of 9 and 18 within the seven central Ohio counties of Marion, Crawford, Delaware, Hardin, Morrow, Union and Wyandot.
The non-profit, all-volunteer association is supported by donations and was begun in 1987 to educate juniors through a golf camp, seminar and seven-tournament tour with awards and scholarships going toward college educations during June and July.
One of the early events in the 2026 season is the golf camp scheduled for June 4. The camp will be held for beginners and youth wanting to brush up on the fundamentals of the golf swing. Rules and etiquette on the golf course will be discussed.
The camp will be held at Determined Brilliance Driving Range in Marion from 8 a.m. to noon. Campers will receive professional instruction, logo bag tag, towel, booklet handout and lunch. The cost is $17 plus a $5 membership fee. The Clubs for Kids program is available for juniors needing golf clubs.
Juniors are placed in one of four divisions: 12 and under, 13-15, 16-18, and 13-18 girl divisions. Age as of September 1 determines the division each junior will play. The 13-18 divisions compete for points that bring eligibility to win scholarships with participation in five or more tournaments.
HOJGA’S tournament tour schedule begins June 1 at Three Sticks in Marion followed by June 9 at the Marion Country Club, June 15 at the Golf Club of Bucyrus, June 25 at Veterans Memorial, Park in Kenton; June 29 at Blues Creek in Marysville; July 9 at Kings Mill in Waldo and July 13 at Valley View in Galion. Ribbons and trophies are presented after each tournament.
The HOJGA Chad A. Wheeler Best of Best playoff event for tournament winners and runners-up is slated for July 21 at Lincoln Hills.
The presentations of scholarships, awards and the raffle prize of a set of Callaway X Series OS Steel Irons 5 thru AW will be held at the Year-End Appreciation Banquet on July 23 at Kings Mill. There will be a guest speaker to be determined, and parents and friends will be invited to honor the season’s junior golfers.
For information and entry forms see the website www.heartofohiojuniorgolfassociation.org or call 740-389-6207 and leave message. Mail entries to HOJGA, P. O. Box 821, Marion, Ohio 43301-0821.
This article originally appeared on Marion Star: HOJGA getting ready for 40th season serving Marion-area youth golfers
Reporting by Staff Report, Marion Star / Marion Star
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