By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer

High school golfers who put the clubs in the closet after the fall high school season ended now have a local avenue to stay in competition throughout the year.

The Citrus Junior Golf Tour, headed locally by Royal St. Cloud Golf Links professional Doug Holloway, holds tournaments on some of the area’s finest courses.

St. Cloud, Disney’s Magnolia course, Falcon’s Fire, Southern Dunes, North Shore, Ridgewood Lakes and Rio Pinar Country Club in Orlando were all on the 2010 schedule.  

Holloway said that the CJGT focuses on providing its players — there are groups for ages 6 to 18 — with an upscale playing experience.

“We try to play all over at quality venues. The kids feel like they’re playing in a professional event,” he said. “We want to be the junior golf capital of Florida.”

Most events are two-day tournaments, and players age 9-under play nine holes each day, the older players play 18-hole rounds on age-appropriate tees. Boys 16-18 play at 6,800 yards while 13-15 year-olds play 6,200-6,600.

Two-day events offer national ranking points, and in the summer period (June-August), the tour has a very-competitive college division for both men and women.

“We want to appeal to a wide range of junior golfers, kids of all abilities and levels,” Holloway said. “In many ways we’re introducing many kids to tournament golf – show up for your tee time, know the rules and pace of play and learn the etiquette. We want to feed the bigger tours like the American Junior Golf Association and Florida Junior Tour.”

Instead of trophies for winning or placing high in events, players earn Nike Bonus Bucks (top winners in each division are presented with the “Big Check” like on the PGA Tour) that they can use for equipment and apparel. The CJGT will reward any player who gets a hole in one on a designated par-3 with a custom set of Nike irons.

“The parents love it,” Holloway said.

THE CJGT has testimonials and is endorsed by locally respected teaching pros like Fred Griffin (Grand Cypress Resort), Mike Bender (Timucuan) and Brad Brewer (Shingle Creek).

CJGT players can expect tournament entry fees for most of the year to be $125 (for a two-day 18-hole event); $80 (for a two-day 9-hole event); $75 (for a one-day 18-hole event); and $45 (for a one-day 9-hole event).

After taking a break in January and February, the tour has released its 2011 schedule, which can be found, along with registration information, at www.citrustour.com.

Events at Harmony, Royal St. Cloud, Falcon’s Fire, Eagle Creek and Reunion give the tour an Osceola County flavor, but it also will visit Disney’s Magnolia and the Grand Cypress Resort this summer.

The next event is scheduled for next weekend at Mission Inn Golf Resort in Howey-In-The-Hills.

For more information, Holloway can be reached at 407-406-4077.