Junior Golf Scoreboard (JGS) Rankings Explained

The Junior Golf Scoreboard (JGS) rankings are a widely recognized system for tracking the performance of junior golfers across the United States. These rankings serve as an essential benchmark for college recruiters and competitive junior golfers aiming to gauge where they stand among their peers. Here’s a breakdown of how the Junior Golf Scoreboard rankings work, the factors that impact rankings, and how points are awarded:

1. Who Qualifies for a Junior Golf Scoreboard Ranking?

• To be ranked on the Junior Golf Scoreboard, a player must meet a few basic requirements:

  • Age: Players must be between 12 and 18 years old to qualify.

  • Rounds and Tournaments: Have competed in four multi-day stroke play tournaments or multi-round match play qualifiers , with a total of 8 completed 18 hole rounds, within the last 365 days

  • Tournament Type: Only specific tournaments that meet JGS standards are counted. These typically include state, regional, national, or recognized junior tour events (such as AJGA tournaments) but not high school or local club events.

• Once these criteria are met, the golfer’s scores, finishes, and placement in these events start contributing to their overall ranking.

2. Factors Influencing JGS Ranking Points

JGS rankings are based on multiple factors that provide a balanced view of a player’s performance. These include:

• Scoring Average: This is the primary factor in the ranking, calculated as the average of a player’s scores in tournaments over a year. Lower scores result in higher rankings.

• Field Strength: Tournaments with stronger fields—those featuring highly ranked or skilled competitors—are weighted more heavily. Placing well in tournaments with strong competition has a greater positive impact on a player’s ranking.

• Tournament Weighting: JGS assigns a weighting to tournaments based on importance, level of competition, and prestige. For example, national tournaments like AJGA events are often weighted higher than state-level or regional tournaments.

• Consistency and Recent Play: Rankings account for consistency by averaging performances over multiple rounds. Recent performances are also given more weight, meaning a golfer’s current form is more influential than older results.

3. How Points Are Awarded

Points in the JGS system are awarded based on a combination of a player’s finish position and the strength of the tournament field. Here’s how these factors are broken down:

• Placement Points: Higher placements (finishing in the top positions) earn more points. For instance, winning a tournament earns maximum points for that event, while finishing in lower placements receives incrementally fewer points.

• Field Strength Multiplier: Points are multiplied by a field strength factor that considers the number and ranking of participants. A win in a highly competitive tournament is worth significantly more than a win in a smaller, less competitive field.

• Event Multipliers: The type of tournament (local, regional, national) affects the point distribution. For example:

  • National Events: These often have the highest multipliers, as they attract top-ranked juniors and are more competitive.

  • Regional/State Events: Moderate multipliers; these events are generally competitive but feature fewer top-ranked players.

  • Local Tournaments: Typically have the lowest multipliers and contribute minimally to a player’s ranking compared to regional and national events.

4. Ranking Updates and Point Calculation

• Rankings on the JGS are updated weekly, so as juniors compete in new events, their ranking points can fluctuate. Points from tournaments are generally kept in the system for a rolling 12-month period, meaning only the most recent year’s performances are actively contributing to a player’s rank.

• After 12 months, older tournament results “drop off,” ensuring that the ranking reflects current ability rather than older results.

5. Why Junior Golf Scoreboard Rankings Matter

• College Recruiting: College coaches often use JGS rankings as part of their scouting and recruitment process. Strong rankings can open doors to college programs and scholarships.

• Tracking Progress: For juniors and parents, the rankings provide a transparent measure of development and growth, especially as players aim for higher-tier tournaments.

• Setting Goals: Many juniors set ranking goals as part of their development, focusing on steadily improving their scores, competing in tougher fields, or winning specific events to increase their rank.

The Junior Golf Scoreboard Rankings system ultimately helps level the playing field across thousands of junior golfers, providing a structured and fair way to recognize talent and reward competitive success.

At Short Game, award-winning instructor Joe McNeil and our certified team are ready to help you elevate your game and improve your ranking with expert, personalized guidance. Contact us at info@shortgameusa.com or 830-931-8891 to get started!