Fort Walton Beach Golf Club to host Sothern Juniors Tournament for first time

In Brief:

🏌️‍♂️ Junior Golf Comes to FWB – Fort Walton Beach Golf Club hosts the Southern Juniors tournament for the first time June 30–July 1.
🎯 Historic Youth Event – The 58-year-old event is part of the GPJGA’s Summer Tour and includes nearly 90 junior golfers.
🏆 Developing Champions – The tournament has featured future golf pros like Bubba Watson and Boo Weekley.

FORT WALTON BEACH — The Fort Walton Beach Golf Club will welcome dozens of young athletes this summer as it hosts the 58th Annual Southern Juniors golf tournament for the first time in Okaloosa County history.

Presented by Ronny’s Car Wash and organized by First Tee Gulf Coast, the two-day event will take place Monday, June 30, and Tuesday, July 1, on the club’s Oaks Course. Approximately 80 to 90 junior golfers, ages 5 to 18, are expected to participate.

The Southern Juniors is part of the Greater Pensacola Junior Golf Association’s (GPJGA) 36th Annual Summer Tour — a five-week, five-tournament series designed to help young golfers develop their skills in a competitive but encouraging environment.

“This is a big moment for our club and for junior golf in our region,” said Golf Course Director Jacob Hill. “Anytime we can get junior golfers out on our course it’s a good thing.”

The GPJGA Summer Tour has produced several professional golfers over the past three decades, including Heath Slocum, Boo Weekley and two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson.

The tournament will feature two divisions:

The Future Masters Division is designed for developing players. Children ages 5–6 will play six holes, while those ages 7–18 will play nine.
The Junior Masters Division is tailored for more advanced players seeking tournament experience ahead of high school or college-level competition. While there is no minimum age, golfers must meet a performance “cut” to compete.

First Tee Gulf Coast, the nonprofit behind the event, has been providing youth golf programming at Fort Walton Beach Golf Club since 2013. The organization focuses on teaching life and leadership skills through the game of golf.

Originally established by Pensacola Sports in 1968 at Scenic Hills Country Club, the Southern Juniors has rotated among top Northwest Florida courses, including Pensacola NAS’s A.C. Read and Pensacola Country Club. This year marks the first time it will be held in Fort Walton Beach.

Tournament play is expected to conclude by 2 p.m. each day. The club’s Pines Course is currently undergoing renovations and is set to reopen in September.

Schedule: