U.S. National Development Program Grant: 2026 Fast Facts

The United States Golf Association (USGA) is excited and proud of the growth of the U.S. National Development Program (USNDP). The mission of the USNDP is to identify, train, develop, fund and support the nation’s most promising junior athletes.

As part of our demonstrated commitment to ensuring that American golf is the global leader in the game, the USNDP Grant will serve these promising athletes regardless of cultural or geographical background – and provide them with financial resources and opportunities to progress through the sport's developmental pathway. In addition to funding, the program provides player development resources to athletes, including free access to Accel Golf, a user-friendly stat-tracking app, and athlete development webinars led by the USNDP Coaching and Athlete Development team.

If your family is selected as one of the 2026 USNDP Grant recipients, the below outlines some fast facts about what to expect, with the purpose of providing a high-level understanding of what financial support you can expect if selected. It is to only serve as general information to prepare you as these terms are not negotiable and subject to change. If selected, more extensive and comprehensive guidelines will be provided via DocuSign within the USNDP Grant Acceptance Packet that selected families will receive once the selection announcements are made during the week of Jan. 19, 2026.  

• The USNDP Grant is a reimbursement-based grant to be managed by and distributed to a parent/guardian of athletes who have applied and been selected for such grant award. If selected, the USGA requires that one parent/guardian complete and submit an Internal Revenue Service Form W-9, Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification. 

• Award decisions are guided by financial need parameters as determined by the USGA, with final award determinations made at the discretion of the USNDP Grant Committee.

• The USNDP Grant is awarded in increments of:

• $2,500 

• $5,000 

• $7,500

• $10,000 

• $12,500 

• $15,000 

• Funding can be used towards actual and incurred golf and athlete development-related expenses, such as tournament entry fees, tournament travel, coach fees, practice/green fees and equipment, up to a defined monetary limit for each type of expense.  

• Monetary Limits for each category:

• Tournament entry fees are reimbursed up to and not to exceed $300 per tournament and/or eligible qualifier.

• Tournament travel is reimbursed up to and not to exceed $1500 per tournament.

• Equipment is reimbursed up to and not to exceed $2500 within the 2026 USNDP Grant period.  

• Practice/green fees are reimbursed up to and not to exceed $2000 within the 2026 USNDP Grant period. 

• Coach fees are reimbursed up to and not to exceed $4000 within the 2026 USNDP Grant period.

• Previous grant award recipients are not guaranteed a grant award in future years and must reapply each year for a new USNDP Grant.