Updates Made to STPGA Junior Golf's Rules & Regulations
March 18, 2026 • Southern Texas PGA
Section 3: Policies and Procedures
- Account Credit Policy - Any account credit accrued throughout a given year will stay on your account for the following year so long as you register for membership. I.E., if you end 2018 with $35 in account credit and register for 2019 membership, the $35 will be available for use. However, if you do not become a member in 2019 and sign up in 2020, the $35 will not be available for use. (p.11)
- Age Division Placement Policy - Prestige Tour players will be placed in a division based off their age as of the second round of the tournament. (p.12)
- Distance Measuring Devices Policy – Cell phones and smartwatches are NOT permitted at any point during play. The exception to this is that a player may use a phone to take a picture of a ruling situation, should a rules official not be immediately available. First offense is a two-stroke penalty. (p.12)
- Pace of Play Penalty Structure – New penalty structure implemented on the Junior Tour. (p.15)
Section 5: Little Linksters
- Division Advancement - It is the player's responsibility to contact the STPGA once they have achieved a score of 8 over par or lower in two events in order to be moved into the 9-hole Modified Division. (p.20)
- Unique Rules of Play – (verbiage change) Penalty Area Rule - If a player hits two (2) balls into a penalty area that is designated by red or yellow stakes or freshly painted lines they may drop a ball on the opposite side of the said penalty area for no additional penalty. (p.21)
- Example: Player hits his or her first (1) shot into the penalty area designated by red or yellow stakes or freshly painted lines. Player drops and lays two (2). The player proceeds to hit his or her third (3) shot into the same penalty area. The play may then drop on the other side of the penalty area. At this point, the player will be laying four (4) and will proceed to hit his or her fifth (5) shot. Note: The player must count the two (2) strokes for hitting into the penalty area before proceeding under this rule.
- Breaking Ties - For ties for 1st place only, the winner will be decided via a scorecard playoff. It will be broken using the last six holes, last three holes, and last hole method. If the players are still tied, they will each earn 1 st place and split the points. All players who tie for a place other than first will receive a medal for that place. The following policy will only take place for 9-hole divisions. There will be no tiebreakers for 5-hole divisions. (p.22)
Section 6: Junior Links
- Awards - Medals will be given out for 1st thru 3rd place at every Junior Links event, regardless of field size. (p.25)
- Points Challenge - After each tournament, points will be awarded that will be used to decide who receives an invitation to the series championship. The championship will take place in December. (p.25)
- NOTE #1: The Points list will run for the entire calendar year. It will not be split up into separate season series’.
- NOTE #2: The Championship is an invitation-only event and the field is a direct representation of our entire program based on both the number of people in both metro area and age division.
Section 7: Junior Tour
- Awards - Medals will be given out for 1st thru 3rd place at every Junior Tour event, regardless of field size. (p.28)
- Yardage Guidelines (p.29)
Section 8: Prestige Tour
- Points Challenge - The Southern Texas PGA Srixon Prestige Tour has a year-round points challenge. Points acquired throughout the year will accumulate towards the Boys and Girls 13-14, Boys and Girls 15-18, and new Boys and Girls 13-18 overall divisions lists. After the final Srixon Prestige Tour of the year, the Southern Texas PGA will award the overall Boys and Girls 13-18 Points List winners with an exemption into the following year Invitational tournament. The STPGA reserves the right to add additional exemptions at any time. (p.31)
Section 10: STPGA Area Directors
- Austin Junior Tour Area Director – Emily Hassey – ehassey@pgahq.com
- Beaumont Area Director – Mitch Duncan – mduncan@pgahq.com
Cypress, TX (March 16-17, 2026) – The Srixon Prestige Tour continued its spring season with the Rocket City Open, held March 16–17, as junior golfers took on a competitive field in another exciting Monday–Tuesday event. Battling through challenging conditions, players faced strong winds and cold temperatures that tested their resilience and shot-making across both rounds. Despite the harsh weather, the event showcased incredible determination and high-level play from start to finish. A big thank you to our host facility, our players and parents, our Title Partner Srixon, and all of our staff who helped make the tournament a success. Read more about our winning junior golfers below!
Spicewood, TX (March 16-17, 2026) – The Srixon Prestige Tour returned for another Monday-Tuesday event with the 2026 Shootout in the Hills, held at Lakecliff Golf Club. With multiple exemptions on the line, junior golfers faced a competitive field and up-and-down weather conditions that made for an exciting two days of golf. A big thank you to our host facility, our players and parents, our Title Partner Srixon, and all of our staff who made the tournament such a success. Read more about our winning junior golfers below!
Katy, TX (March 9-10, 2026) – The Srixon Prestige Tour held its first Monday-Tuesday event of the year with the 2026 Spring Break Classic at The Club at Falcon Point. Junior golfers experienced beautiful weather and course conditions and had strong performances through two rounds of golf. A big thank you to our host facility, our players and parents, our Title Partner Srixon, and all of our staff who made the weekend such a success. Read more about our winning junior golfers below!
San Antonio, TX (March 7-8, 2026) – The Srixon Prestige Tour traveled to San Antonio this past weekend for the Hill Country Open , held March 7–8 at the Hill Country Golf Club. Despite rainy and challenging weather conditions, junior golfers showed great determination during the tournament. Due to the weather, the event was only able to complete the first round, but players still delivered a strong day of competitive golf, making it another memorable stop on the 2026 Srixon Prestige Tour. Congratulations to Lia Beyer, and our Boys 15-18 Champion, Diego Amour for earning an invite to the Insperity Invitational Tour Championship , hosted at Boot Ranch on July 20–21, 2026! This prestigious championship brings together top junior talent for an exciting two days of competition at one of Texas’ premier venues. You can find more information about the championship here . A big thank you to the staff at Hill Country Golf Club, our STPGA area staff, and all of the golfers and parents who made the weekend such a success. Read more about our winning junior golfers below!
