Drive, Chip and Putt, the free junior skills competition created by the Masters Tournament, the USGA, and the PGA of America, is in its fall regional qualifying season across the country. It may be the friendliest first competition a young golfer can ask for, and it celebrates exactly what we teach every week at Bronze Tee Junior Golf Club in New Haven, Connecticut: driving, chipping, and putting.
A Big Week for Golf on Television
Look at what is on television this week: the Presidents Cup at Medinah Country Club near Chicago, with matches from September 22 through September 27. Every deciding moment, the biggest drives, the clutch chips, the putts, comes from the same three skills juniors practice in Drive, Chip and Putt. Make it a launchpad: your young golfer can cheer the pros, then try the same shots at home or at the next lesson.
What Is Drive, Chip and Putt?
The format is wonderfully simple. Boys and girls ages 7 to 15 compete in four age groups, 7-9, 10-11, 12-13, and 14-15, and each player hits three drives, three chips, and three putts, nine shots in all. There is no entry fee at any level. Players who advance from host-site qualifying move on to regional qualifying, which runs from September through October at ten sites. The top 80 finalists, 40 boys and 40 girls, earn the trip of a lifetime: competing at Augusta National Golf Club the Sunday before the Masters, April 4, 2027. For many families, the best part is that it starts at a friendly local course, not a grand stage.
Why the Format Builds Confidence
Drive, Chip and Putt is scored on skill rather than distance alone, which makes it wonderfully fair for every kind of kid. A patient, precise player shines as brightly as a bold one. For many children it is the first time they hold a putter with a scorecard or hear family cheer nearby. That low-pressure experience does more than grow a swing: it builds confidence on and off the course. It is the heart of the junior golf New Haven families find at Bronze Tee, where every step from first grip to first competition gets a cheer, not a critique.
Growing the Game at Home
Parents can help at home with very little. A junior putter and a stretch of carpet turn a hallway into a putting studio. A soft foam ball and a laundry basket make a safe chipping game in the yard or garage. A right-sized driver gives a child the feel of a full swing. Keep practice short, five to ten minutes, and celebrate the try as much as the make. Safety first: plenty of room to swing, soft balls indoors, and a quick etiquette lesson when the family visits a real course.
The Three Skills at Bronze Tee
The same three skills sit at the heart of everything we do. In lessons, camps, and clinics, Bronze Tee Junior Golf Club helps young players learn the game step by step while making friends in a supportive environment. Kids golf Connecticut is growing fast, and there is a welcoming place in it for your family. Whether your child dreams of Augusta or just wants to enjoy the outdoors with new friends, we will meet them where they are.
Help your young golfer take a first step toward the green.
Reach out to Bronze Tee Junior Golf Club in New Haven, Connecticut, to learn about joining and how we help young players build skills, make friends, and enjoy the game. Call (203) 936-9004 or email rob@robandvicCT.com to get started.