The TRC Junior Golf Ranking System

… It is the first INTERNATIONAL (USA, Canada, Mexico) point based ranking system for all major Junior Golf Tours and Tournaments combined.  There are many successful point based systems for adult amateur golfers, like the R&A World Golf Ranking system, however this is the first time a point based system has been brought to the junior landscape inclusive of all junior golf tournament and tours.

Point based systems are straight forward in their calculations, and for junior golfers they will encourage play.  The TRC assigns Levels to tournaments (as associated point scales) based on yardage, slope and course rating.  The more events junior golfers play in (and perform well), the more points they will be awarded.

Many individual tours across the country have a point based system for their individual tournaments and players.  We have built upon this concept, built our own version of an International system and standards, including all the Tour events across the USA, Mexico and Canada, into one point based system.  Point based systems, unlike handicap systems, encourage play which is essential for junior golfers preparing to play collegiate golf.

The TRC Junior Golf Ranking System will use the results from tournaments designated in the TRC’s top junior golf Levels 1 through Level 3.  Those levels are staged based on the following guidelines:

Chart of TRC tournaments standards by TRC levels for Boys and Girl Junior Golfers

Each Level represents different tournament yardage and difficulty of slope and course rating. There are always exceptions to these levels, but having a common guideline for all tours and their tournaments allows players to focus on mastering yardage and then moving to more difficult play. 

Why this new standard?

The main goal of this new ranking system is to create equal opportunity for all tournament directors and junior golfers alike. 

The landscape of junior golf has changed. 

There are currently only two other national junior golf ranking systems available.  Both of these ranking systems are based on a rating or handicaps.  There are loopholes and drawbacks in those systems for junior golfers.  The TRC Junior Golf Ranking system was developed to fill the void by simply using yardage, slope and course rating as the ranking criteria. 

HOW is this ranking different? Better?

What makes the TRC Junior Golf Ranking System unique and different is that it delivers a transparent ranking; the junior golfer abilities are evaluated based on course yardage, slope and course rating at different and defined levels of competitive play. 

The new TRC Junior Golf Ranking system was created to enhance the playing opportunities and standards of all junior tours, giving more junior golfers the ability to find top ranked events in their state or region.

The TRC Junior Golf Ranking System will encourage a state or regional tour to host larger, more demanding “college equivalent” events to earn a “top level” rating.  Juniors will not have to incur the added expense of traveling across the country, which is costly in these economic times, just to find a highly ranked competitive tournament. 

 How are Junior golfers awarded Points for their ranking?

Junior golfers will know how to earn points and how to create their own ‘destiny’ with good play.  It is clearly defined, as in most point based systems, how rankings and points are achieved. 

Golfers are ranked based on their talent and performance of the tour and the college coach can use the ranking as an effective measurement tool for recruitment.  College coaches will be able to finally review a golfer’s ability to play and score well at the yardage and scale of an event more in line with the college golf tournaments and conditions.

With this new TRC Junior Ranking Point based system the TRC hopes to inspire and help junior golfers improve their game with more competition while defining an easy to use method of success.