About the HJGT
We are the HJGT
The Hurricane Junior Golf Tour (HJGT) was founded in 2007 with the intention of providing junior golfers, boys and girls between the ages of 8-18, an opportunity to play exceptional courses in a competitive environment. The tour’s vision is to provide superb hospitality and make every event memorable. Currently the HJGT is the largest multi-day junior golf tour in the United States hosting more 2-day nationally ranked events than any other tour. The HJGT has been able to achieve this goal by running the most professional events and providing an exceptional value to all of our players and families over the last 17 years.
Based out of Orlando, FL, the HJGT administers events all across the country. In 2024, the HJGT will conduct events in Alabama, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, China and Canada. Juniors will compete in 1 of 6 divisions which are: Boys 16-18, Boys 14-15, Boys 11-13, Boys under 10, Girls 14-18, and Girls Under 13. Memberships for the 2024 season start at $299. Click here to view approximate yardages for each division. The HJGT season is based on a calendar year and players earn points throughout the season towards year end honors beginning December 31, 2024.
The Evolution of the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour
The Hurricane Junior Golf Tour began all the way back in 2007 with a very specific mission to impact the lives of young golfers in a real way, providing them with experiences to play the game on some great courses and be among their peers. Just take a look at our timeline below to see how we’ve evolved over time and continued to build on quality and provide even more opportunities for junior golfers both domestically and even more recently, across the globe.
The Hurricane Junior Golf Tour (HJGT) was founded in 2007 by Mario Conte in Tampa, Florida with the intention of providing junior golfers the opportunity to compete in a competitive environment as well as to play top tier courses. The tour hosted their first tournament in Pensacola, FL at The Moors Golf Club and from there continued to grow. In the first year, the HJGT was able to host 25 events across the SE in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.
Moving into years two, three, and four the HJGT continued to grow. The tour expanded into multiple states and cities and started to captivate junior golfers across the East Coast. The HJGT was driven by continuously providing unique opportunities to junior golfers of all ages, all skill levels, and all backgrounds. It was imperative that the HJGT was focusing on inclusion rather than exclusion during these years because of the opportunity they were giving to junior players.
In the coming years of 2011 to 2016 the HJGT expanded the opportunities even more by creating team events, academy cup events, regional invitational events, and what now is the largest junior golf national championship in the world. The HJGT again focusing on opportunity and exposure for all junior golfers across the nation. As the tour began to grow during this time, the HJGT became the largest multi-day junior golf tour in the United States hosting more 2-day nationally ranked events than any other tour.
2017 was a massive year for the HJGT as they lead the junior golf industry with technology. The HJGT was leading with innovation when they announced that they were removing all paper scorecards and going all electronic. The first tour of its kind to make this move and blazing the trail for many other tours to follow. This was the beginning of the bold outside of the box thinking the tour is globally known for. The new technology pushed innovation by allowing all players, families, coaches, and all public eyes to be able to watch live what was happening at each event for that weekend and for players to be able to communicate with staff members anytime; anywhere.
In 2020, the COVID-19 year, the world was struck with one of the biggest obstacles a small business had to overcome. However, this did not stop the HJGT from leading the junior golf industry yet again. When business were shutting down and waiting for the world to open back up, the HJGT was being proactive and enhancing the junior golfers experience. The HJGT started a #SaveGolf foundation to assist with players and families that were struggling with COVID-19 as well as, the tour credited a virtual tour on Xbox and PlayStation with the launch of their e-league. On a weekly basis, the HJGT was prepared for the call saying they could host events. In May of 2020, that call came and the HJGT was the first junior golf tour to host events in a safe manner.
The HJGT has always and will always look to expand into areas that give opportunity to grow the game of golf. This happened in 2022 when the HJGT expanded into Texas. Adding it’s 26th state on the map, moving into Texas showcased the determination of the HJGT to continue their mission and to enhance the junior golf space over the country. This didn’t stop in 2022. The HJGT made two historic announcements in 2023 with their partnerships with the Canada Junior Golf Association and HJGT China. Turning HJGT from a national tour to an international tour.
Moving forward to what’s to come, the HJGT has big plans in store for world’s largest multi-day junior golf tour. With constant technology updates, expansions into new states and countries, and always leading in customer service it is quit noticeable that the HJGT is a natural innovative company always looking to strive in the junior golf space.
Our Impact
In a $19 billion U.S. youth sports market (more than the value of the NFL), amateur competition and youth sports travel are gaining traction because they provide family entertainment while improving the skills of youth players. From 2019 to 2022, the largest area of growth in the game of golf has been among youth 6 to 17 years old (over 900,000 new on-course participants / 36% growth). In 2020 alone, junior golf grew 24%, the largest gain since Tiger’s 1997 Masters victory.
With over 3 million kids now competing in junior golf, this is an emerging market with no end to growth in sight.
And more than ever, HJGT continues to set the standard for the entire junior golf community. With its multi-year expansions into China and Canada, its steady increase in tournament participation at over 300+ national events, and its evolution of the Hurricane Experience through innovative strategic partnerships, HJGT continues to challenge the status quo and redefine the space for aspiring young golfers worldwide.
As a result, HJGT is in a class by itself from all other junior golf tours.
The Hurricane Tour annual membership is the best value in junior golf! Whether you are brand new to competitive junior golf or a seasoned veteran hoping to impress college coaches, HJGT’s exclusive membership will enhance your tour experience.