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Player Pathway

Southern Ohio PGA Junior Golf Player Pathway

Created based on the American Development Model (ADM)

For any questions on where your junior golfer fits in the Southern Ohio Junior Golf Player Pathway, click here to email SOPGA Junior Golf Manager Alex Heban.

New to Golf

Learn fundamental movements and link them together in play

Developing the fundamentals of the game early in an athlete’s experience assists in providing the best
opportunity in creating a long-term athlete. As golf is a game that can be played at every age, an active start
includes learning the fundamental movements of the swing and linking them together in play.

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Learn the Basics

Continue to develop fundamental movement skills and start to develop fundamental golf skills

Now it’s time to learn the basics, young golfers are continuing to develop fundamental movement skills and
beginning to develop fundamental golf skills. At this stage, it is recommended to work with a local PGA
Professional instructor to ensure your junior golfer is learning the correct fundamental golf skills.

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Develop Your Skills

Continue to reinforce basic movement and fundamental golf skills & introduce competitive experiences

At this stage, young golfers are continuing to reinforce both their basic and fundamental golf movement
skills. As they build these skills, junior golfers should be introduced to competitive experiences on the
course.

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Ready to Compete

Establish and implement programs to ensure the technical, tactical and supporting skills are improved to meet competitive expectations

At this level, junior golfers are establishing and implementing programs to ensure the technical, tactical
and supporting ancillary skills of the individual player are improved to meet current and future competitive
expectations.

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Time to Win

Reinforce, refine and optimize skills so that competitive performance of the golfer meets expectations

At the play to win level, junior golfers are reinforcing, refining and optimizing technical, tactical and
ancillary skills so that competitive performance meets their current and future expectations.

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