By Rex Grayner, SVP Business Development at Hurricane Junior Golf Tour
The 2025 season marked a defining chapter in the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour’s evolution.
Across more than 300 multi-day tournaments nationwide, the Tour did more than grow. It clarified its role in the junior golf ecosystem. As a competitive platform. As a developmental pathway. And as a trusted partner to families navigating an increasingly complex junior golf landscape.
This was a year where scale met intention.
Landmark Partnerships That Changed the Conversation
Several partnerships in 2025 fundamentally shifted how the HJGT is viewed across youth sports and junior golf.
The addition of GEICO represents one of the most significant sponsorship investments in Tour history. GEICO’s commitment validated junior golf as a long-term investment category and reinforced HJGT’s position as a national platform capable of delivering meaningful family engagement at scale.
Education remained a priority through continued growth with Dwight Global Online School. For competitive junior golfers balancing national travel with academics, flexibility matters. This partnership provided families with a proven, world-class academic solution aligned with the realities of elite junior competition.
Access and affordability advanced through collaboration with Youth on Course. Discounted memberships, reduced entry fees, funded exemptions, and internship pathways worked together to ensure cost was never the reason a young golfer was left out.
The Tour also deepened its long-standing commitment to college recruiting education through a three-year extension with NCSA College Recruiting. The extended partnership reinforces HJGT’s focus on equipping families with trusted tools, education, and guidance as they navigate the college golf journey.
Continuity and trust were further reinforced when Srixon renewed its commitment as the Official Golf Ball of the HJGT. For families, that meant consistency and tangible value at events nationwide. For the Tour, it reflected alignment with a brand that understands junior development and long-term loyalty.
Championship Experiences Raised to a New Level
The competitive calendar in 2025 delivered some of the most memorable championship experiences in Tour history.
National Championship Weekend Presented by Foresight Sports set a new benchmark. Elite fields. Professional presentation. On-site activations. Partner integration. The weekend felt intentional from start to finish.
That tone was established immediately at the GEICO National Championship Kickoff Party at Island H2O Water Park. The most successful kickoff in Tour history, it was designed as a celebration rather than a formality. Families connected. Players relaxed. The pressure of the week eased before the competition even began.
Entertainment was driven by Dryvebox, whose simulator activation became a central gathering point. Food and hospitality were made possible by City Food Hall, which kept families together longer and extended the experience. Tournament swag was supplied by supporters at IMG Academy, Heritage Hills Resort, Srixon, and Cirkul, along with exclusive National Championship merchandise provided by OT Sports.
The Tour also hosted the Fore All Junior Golf Foundation Match Play Challenge at The Club at Ibis in August. The invitation-only event featured 48 junior golfers from across the country competing in a 24 vs. 24 team match play format. Players were selected based on performance, character, and contribution to the game.
The weekend carried special significance with a guest appearance by Jim Nantz, who announced the official player pairings. His presence elevated the moment and reinforced the event’s purpose. To celebrate the game, promote junior golf, and craft an experience players will remember long after the final putt.
The season continued with the Hurricane Cup and the 18th Annual Mid-Season Invitational at Reunion presented by Srixon. Both events reinforced HJGT’s ability to deliver team formats and invitationals that feel special while upholding competitive integrity.
Industry-Leading Equipment and Performance Ecosystem
Player development in 2025 was supported by one of the strongest equipment and performance ecosystems in junior golf.
A new two-year partnership with MGI Golf marked the brand’s first official collaboration with a U.S.-based junior golf tour. With a presence at 300+ events annually, the partnership emphasized accessibility, reduced fatigue, and long-term player wellness.
Bushnell Golf joined as the Official Rangefinder of the HJGT, providing trusted technology, member pricing, and sponsorship of premium events.
Performance-focused partners JumboMax Golf Grips, StrackaLine, Ryp Golf, and Meridian Performance Systems expanded access to tools that support more thoughtful preparation and on-course decision-making.
Meridian’s flagship smartphone app lets players turn virtually any space into a mobile putting studio, helping juniors develop feel, consistency, and confidence away from the course.
Elevating the Player Experience Nationwide
Beyond competition, the 2025 season focused heavily on details that families notice.
The partnership with Cirkul ensured hydration solutions and exclusive offers were available to players across the country.
Tee gift and registration item programs expanded significantly, delivering premium, functional products to thousands of junior golfers. Partners including Caddy Splash, SOLE, Sun Blessed Skin, forelinks Golf, andFull Metal Markers helped elevate the tournament experience at scale.
Retail and apparel engagement also grew through OT Sports, 2nd Swing Golf, and experiential activations like Dryvebox at championship events.
Growth, Marketing, and Momentum
The numbers behind the season tell an important story.
HJGT membership increased by more than 20% in 2025. Tournament registrations grew by 7%. Electric cart rentals rose 10% year over year, reflecting greater adoption and awareness across the Tour.
These gains reflected trust earned, not traffic chased.
Marketing reach grew alongside participation. Over 9.3 million emails were delivered, with a 45% open rate. The introduction of Moving Day on Saturday mornings created a consistent weekend touchpoint that helped families connect tournament play to long-term development and college recruiting.
The Mizuno Player Elite program provided 25 families with exclusive access to one of the best equipment values in junior golf, demonstrating HJGT’s dedication to education, accessibility, and opportunity.
College Prep Series: The Bridge to the Next Level
In 2025, HJGT hosted 22 College Prep Series events on college campuses nationwide, including the University of Notre Dame, the University of Louisville, Vanderbilt University, Penn State University, the University of Georgia, and Purdue University.
These events offered proximity, perspective, and preparation.
The series continues in 2026, with new host venues already confirmed, including Denison University, Illinois State University, the University of Maryland, Clemson University, and Virginia Tech.
The People Behind the Platform
The growth of 2025 was powered by people.
HJGT welcomed Frank Hernandez as Director of Marketing and Sales, Ryan Oates in Business Development, Javier Mendez in Growth Marketing, Sarah Higgins in Academy Partnership and Sales, and Joey Criscitello in Digital Marketing and Social Media.
On the operations side, the Tour welcomed new tournament directors Zach Binning, Anthony Flint, Niki Pehkonen, Joey Barenie, and Justin Ulizio to help ensure consistency, professionalism, and care at events nationwide. The organization also continued to invest in leadership growth. Tournament directors Tyler Grady and Michaela Ball were promoted to Regional Managers, reflecting both performance and long-term trust in their leadership.
Behind the scenes, the HJGT Internship Program reached new levels of scale and impact. More than 4,200 students applied in 2025. The Tour provided over 200 paid and unpaid internship opportunities nationwide, creating hands-on experience in tournament operations, marketing, media, and business development. 9 interns were ultimately hired into full-time roles, reinforcing the Tour’s commitment to developing talent from within.
Additionally, the Tour launched a new social media Influencer Program, empowering players and ambassadors to help tell the HJGT story from inside the ropes and extend the Tour’s voice through authentic, player-driven content.
Looking Ahead
The 2025 season was built deliberately. On trust. On relationships. On doing the work the right way.
As the Tour looks to 2026, the foundation is stronger than ever. More families. Better experiences. Deeper partnerships. And a clear understanding of what junior golf families value most.
The work continues.
