Team Colorado is Colorado’s state junior golf team that exists to expand the pipeline for elite local golfers into the U.S. National Development Program (USNDP), an initiative launched by the United States Golf Association (USGA).
The USNDP is designed to ensure that American golf is the global leader in the game by focusing on six key pillars: talent identification, access to competition, national teams, athlete resources, player development and relations and athlete financial support. Team Colorado focuses on creating a developmentally appropriate, aspirational pathway for athletes in Colorado to compete at the highest levels of the game.
Team Colorado Eligibility
Colorado residents who are 13 years old by January 1, 2026, have not reached their 19th birthday by July 19, 2026, and are not enrolled in college for the 2025-2026 school year. Players must be a member of the Colorado Golf Association and have an established Handicap Index® and should enter all eligible scores.
Team Colorado Selection
Team Colorado is led by an oversight committee who work with the USNDP to meet the requirements of this program. One of the most important responsibilities of the oversight committee is to select Team Colorado members every year. The committee takes this responsibility very seriously and looks at many factors to determine these selections. Such factors include, but are not limited to, the Team Colorado Points Lists, COPGA Junior Points Lists, junior rankings (Junior Golf Scoreboard (JGS), American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR), etc.), top-finishes at events, strength of field in events played, trending indicators, graduation year, and, on-course observations in both tournament play and practice. For Team Colorado – 2026, this process will begin early in 2025 and will continue throughout the season and will include many thoughtful discussions. Final team selections are made at the sole discretion of the committee.
Selecting a team for such an elite program is difficult given the number of very talented junior players in Colorado. It is our hope that both those who are selected, and those who are not use this program as motivation to achieve their full potential in the game of golf.
Team Colorado Points Lists & Information
A list of events and their point allocations that will be used in creating the Team Colorado Points Lists can be found HERE.
Team Colorado FAQs
Who is on Team Colorado?
The Team Colorado Committee will annually name eight boys and eight girls to Team Colorado.
When will Team Colorado be named?
Team Colorado will be named in November of each year. Team members will participate in Team Colorado programming and benefits the following year. Players must earn their way onto the team each year.
What are the benefits of being on Team Colorado?
Once an athlete commits to Team Colorado, they can expect to receive team gear, invitations to state camps, Junior Americas Cup team eligibility, support and mentorship from the Team Colorado staff, and access to other resources as needed.
If an athlete is part of Team Colorado, are they automatically a part of the USNDP?
Yes! Once named to Team Colorado, athletes are a part of the USNDP for the following calendar year. The USNDP will provide benefits and recognition to Team Colorado participants. These benefits may include recognition on the USGA/USNDP website and social media, expedited USNDP grant program access, consideration for local exemptions to AJGA events, invites to future USNDP camps, and access to the official USNDP statistical platform (Accel Golf). Read more about the USNDP HERE.
If an athlete is part of Team Colorado, are they automatically on the National Junior Team?
No. The National Junior Team will be for a select and relatively small number of athletes compared to the number of athletes on State Teams and is solely selected by the USGA.
I have further questions. Who should I contact?
Contact Ashley at aharrell@coloradogolf.org or Cayla at cregnery@coloradogolf.org.
Who is on the Team Colorado Committee?
Colorado Golf Association: Ed Mate, Ashley Harrell, Cayla Regnery
Colorado Section of the PGA: Samantha Crawford, PGA
At Large: Mark Crabtree, Chris Nordling, Steve Ivan, Roger Prenzlow
USNDP Grant Program
The USNDP offers a Grant Program for junior golfers with financial need, whether or not they are members of Team Colorado. Learn more HERE.
Team Colorado – 2025
Inaugural Team Colorado Announced as Part of USGA’s U.S. National Development Program – Read the full press release HERE.
