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

Scroll down to begin online registration... Tee times and the skills challenge roster will be posted here by 5pm on Friday, July 15.

Registration is closed. Any late entries that can still be accommodated will be charged a $25 late entry fee. To see if there is an opening left in your division, you can email [email protected]

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 17-21, 2022, and will utilize five area golf courses. The week will begin Sunday, July 17, 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 21, 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 6-18. 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.

65th ANNUAL DIVOT DERBY SCHEDULE 

Kick-off Skills Challenge and Lunch Presented by Andrews Institute
(Pitch, Putt, Drive and Rules Quiz/Study Guide below)
Sunday, July 17 First Tee Gulf Coast Golf & Life Skills Facility (3924 Navy Blvd, Pensacola, FL):
Ages 6-9, 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 18
Ages 6-13, Six & Nine Hole Divisions: Marcus Pointe Club
Ages 14-18, Nine & 18 Hole Divisions: Scenic Hills Country Club

Tournament Day Two, Tuesday, July 19
Ages 6-13, Six & Nine Hole Divisions: Osceola Municipal Golf Course
Ages 14-18, Nine & 18 Hole Divisions: Perdido Bay Golf Club

Tournament Day Three, Wednesday July 20
18-Hole Players Only: Tiger Point Country Club

Divot Derby Banquet, Thursday July 21, 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 6-18 as follows:

 

All residents of Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, Florida;

 

All 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 prior year Divot Derby tournament participants.

 

All participants must meet the USGA definition of a Junior Golfer (not yet turned 19 or attending college full time).

 

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 65th Annual Divot Derby Banquet will be held at Sanders Beach Community Center on Thursday evening July 21 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. This year, there is an option to purchase a ticket without a dinner for $5.

DIVISIONS: All age divisions are determined by the golfer's age on or before 8/1/2022. Division options:

• Ages 6-7 six-holes per day/two days (Mon-Tues)

• Ages 8-18 nine holes per day/two days (Mon-Tues)

• 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.)

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 and are allowed on Monday and Tuesday afternoon/evening following play. However, practice rounds are NOT ALLOWED the morning of a tournament at the course you are scheduled to play. Penalty of disqualification from tournament.

TEE TIMES: Tee times will be scheduled to begin approximately at 8 AM each day. Tee Times for Monday July 18 will be posted on Friday July 15 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.   

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, August 1-2, 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 21 at 5 pm. The drawing will take place at the Divot Derby Banquet, July 21, 2022, at 6 p.m. (winners do not have to be present to win). Participants who help us sell just $200 worth of tickets will receive a FREE pair of Nike Golf Shoes! Additionally, the Top 10 sellers will be announced at the Divot Derby Banquet on July 21. Top sellers will receive high-value gift cards valued up to $500!! Over $2,000 in prizes to top sellers! If you would like to sell tickets email [email protected] or call 850-456-7010.

Special Thanks To these great tournament sponsors: Bubba Watson Foundation, Pensacola Sports Foundation

Divot Derby Skills Challenge Presented By: The Andrews Institute