The 67th Annual Divot Derby Championship
July 14-18, 2024
For Skills Challenge Roster, Tee Times, and Results: CLICK HERE
FOR ANY QUESTIONS, please contact Tournament Director Ty Aulger at [email protected]. Or call The First Tee Gulf Coast office from 9:30-4:30 Monday through Friday, 850-456-7010
Tee times and the skills challenge roster will be posted at the above link by July 12.
Registration is FREE until July 5 and will become $25 until July 10 at 5 pm when registration closes.
*REGISTRATION HAS CLOSED FOR THIS EVENT*
ABOUT THE DIVOT DERBY:
Credit to: Bill Vilona, Pensacola News Journal
Golf has a rich history in Pensacola. The Divot Derby, which launched the career of world golf star Bubba Watson, along with many other professional golfers in this area will take place July 14-18, 2024, and will utilize five area golf courses. The week will begin Sunday, July 14, with a Junior Skills Challenge at The First Tee Gulf Coast Golf & Life Skills Facility in Pensacola where more than 100 players will compete in a pitch, putt, drive and rules competition. On Monday through Wednesday, players will compete at area golf courses. On Thursday, July 18, the Divot Derby will have an awards banquet at Sanders Beach Community Center. This tournament, which is presented by Bubba Watson Foundation, Pensacola Sports Foundation, and Andrews Institute has so much history behind it. Watson, the Pensacola resident and two-time Masters Champion, has helped with other area pro golfers to ensure the tournament remains the same as when they played and became a multiple age division champion. There is no entry fee for the players and they get to compete for trophies, prizes, and have a dinner in their honor. The tournament has divisions for youth ages 5-18. Joe Durant, who has three PGA Tour Champions victories, played in the Divot Derby when he was a kid and has been another active supporter of the First Tee Gulf Coast which organizes and stages this event. Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum, who were teammates on the Milton High team, preceding Watson's arrival at Milton, were also active in the Divot Derby and have risen into becoming multiple winners on the PGA Tour. The Divot Derby was founded in 1958 by the Pensacola Sports Association and has been organized by the GPJGA since 1995. The Derby is a five-day event held on a Sunday-Thursday each July with a Skills Challenge, three days of tournament play and a Thursday Gala Banquet. Since 2010, the event has been presented by PGA Tour star Bubba Watson, who was the champion of the 1994 event. Thanks to Bubba, and the other sponsors, for keeping this event is free to all area juniors.
67th ANNUAL DIVOT DERBY SCHEDULE
Kick-off Skills Challenge - July 14
(Pitch, Putt, Drive and Rules Quiz)
Sunday, July 14 First Tee Gulf Coast Golf & Life Skills Facility (3924 Navy Blvd, Pensacola, FL):
Ages 5-9, 1:00-2:00 PM
Ages 10-13, 2:00-4:00 PM
Ages 14-18, 4:00-5:00 PM
*Medal ceremony will immediately follow each age division competition
Tournament Day One, Monday, July 15
Ages 6-13, Six & Nine Hole Divisions: Tanglewood Golf Club
Ages 14-18, 9 & 18 Hole Divisions: Marcus Pointe Golf Club
Tournament Day Two, Tuesday, July 16
Ages 6-13, Six & Nine Hole Divisions: Osceola Municipal Golf Course
Ages 14-18, 9 & 18 Hole Divisions: Perdido Bay Golf Club
Tournament Day Three, Wednesday July 17
18-Hole Players Only: Lost Key Golf Club
Divot Derby Banquet, Thursday July 18, 6-9 pm, Sanders Beach Community Center
ALL SUMMER TOUR AND DIVOT DERBY PLAYERS ARE INVITED!
TOURNAMENT REGISTRATION INFORMATION:
IMPORTANT:
This Divot Derby is open to all area youth ages 5-18 as follows:All residents of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, Bay Counties in Florida; Mobile, Baldwin, Escambia Counties in AlabamaAll participants of the current year Greater Pensacola Junior Golf Association Summer Tour;All active (calendar year) participants of First Tee Gulf Coast in the Florida/Alabama Service Area;All prior Overall Divot Derby Champions and/or prior year Divot Derby tournament participants who are otherwise still eligible.All players who are 19 on or before July 30, 2023 and are graduating seniors in the Class of 2024 are eligible to play in all GPJGA Summer Tour, Divot Derby, and A Downing Gray tournaments unless enrolled full-time in college.Any questions on eligibility must be addressed to the office of First Tee Gulf Coast prior the early registration deadline.
Questions? Email Tournament Director Ty Aulger: [email protected] or call 850-456-7010
BANQUET INFORMATION:
The 67th Annual Divot Derby Banquet will be held at Sanders Beach Community Center on Thursday evening July 18 at 6pm. Doors will open at 5pm. Divot Derby and Summer Tour players are free; each adult guest (18+) is $20, each youth guest (17 & under) are $15 (5 and younger are free). You must RSVP for the banquet on the form below.
DIVISIONS: All age divisions are determined by the golfer's age on or before 7/30/2024. Division options:
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Ages 5-6: six-holes per day/two days (Mon-Tues)
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Ages 7-18: nine holes per day/two days (Mon-Tues)
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Open Division: Ages 16-18 and 15 & Under; 18 holes per day/three days (Mon-Wed). (Players under the age of 14 may attempt to qualify in the 18-hole division, but they must have a proven ability to shoot under the cut* and must remain in the upper division all three days of competition if they qualify. *THE CUT: All players must qualify to compete in the Open Division by making a “Cut” on Monday. On the player’s first attempt, he/she must score a 54 or better on their front nine in order to proceed to the back nine. If this score is not accomplished, they must end their round and drop into a 9-hole division for Tuesday. Players may elect to play only in the 9-hole (two-day) division prior to the tournament. 54 Plays and 55 Stays–No Exceptions. (If player is moved to the nine-hole division, score will be adjusted if any individual hole score exceeds double par.)
STUDY GUIDES FOR RULES QUIZ at SKILLS CHALLENGE:
5-13 Year Olds Skills Challenge Study Guide
14-18 Year Olds Skills Challenge Study Guide
RULES SHEETS:
Junior Masters Rules Sheet
Future Masters Rules Sheet
TOURNAMENT FORMAT:
Individual stroke play within age groups. (USGA rules apply). There will be modified rules and tees in place for the 6 and 9 hole divisions. All age groups will be flighted after the first round. Rules & Policy sheet is attached below.
PRACTICE POLICY: Practice rounds must be scheduled through the participating golf courses anytime prior to the tournament and are also allowed on Monday and Tuesday afternoon/evening following play.
TEE TIMES: Tee times will be scheduled to begin approximately at 8 AM each day. Tee Times for Monday July 15 will be posted on Friday July 12 by 5 pm at the top of this webpage. For the remainder of the week, they will be posted the evening before play on this webpage and sent to the email listed on your registration.
RESULTS: Results will be posted after play.
CODE OF CONDUCT: First Tee Gulf Coast & GPJGA Participant Code of Conduct
AWARDS: Awards will be presented to the top 3 competitors overall in each flight of age divisions. following play; Plus the overall Male & Female winner will be presented with the Stan Stanovich and Sybil Augustine Awards! Also, the top 3 finishers in each Championship Flight will receive an invitation to the season championship tournament at Pensacola Country Club, July 29 & 30, to compete for the A. Downing Gray Cup. (This does not include runner up flights or the age 14-18 9-hole division).
GPJGA RAFFLE: As a fundraiser, we are selling raffle tickets. They are $20 each. This year, the grand prize is a customized golf cart from Kool Karts. There will also be runner up prizes. Details about this fundraiser will be distributed throughout the summer by the Tournament Director. The deadline to turn in tickets will be July 18 at 5 pm. The drawing will take place at the Divot Derby Banquet, July 18, 2024, at 6 p.m. (winners do not have to be present to win).