USNDP’s State Junior Team Program Gains Momentum Through Notable Leadership

As part of the U.S. National Development Program’s (USNDP) sweeping initiative to nurture junior golf talent across the country, the State Junior Team Program is quickly emerging as a vital bridge between grassroots competition and national-level excellence. 

Launched to complement the U.S. National Junior Team, the State Junior Team Program accelerates athlete development through mentorship, development camps and competitive opportunities led by elite captains and coaches who have shaped the game themselves. 

Notable leaders among the captains and coaches are former LPGA standouts Alison Walshe (Team Massachusetts) and Mo Martin (Team Southern California), alongside PGA professional and current Director of Championships at Merion Golf Club, Scott Nye (Team Pennsylvania). Each brings a unique perspective to their role, but all share a belief that this Program will be a game-changer for American junior golf.

What Is the State Junior Team Program? 

The State Junior Team Program is part of the USGA’s USNDP. The Program’s goal is to expand, strengthen and diversify the junior golf pipeline by creating critical development, competitive and talent identification opportunities within each state for elite athletes ages 13-18 through close collaboration between the USGA, its Allied Golf Associations (AGAs), PGA of America sections and relevant state junior programs.

Launched in 2024 with seven pilot states, the State Junior Team Program already is growing rapidly; by the start of 2026, there will be 16 State Junior Teams. The long-term goal is ambitious but clear: to have a State Junior Team in all 50 states by 2033. While there is no set timetable for each state's onboarding, the momentum is undeniable. 

"By creating state-level teams, we’re filling a gap that has existed in U.S. junior golf for far too long," said Martin, winner of the 2014 AIG Women’s British Open. "Now we have a Team USA structure that parallels what other countries have had for years, and it’s only going to elevate the global standard of the game."

Why They Said Yes

Each captain expressed no hesitation in joining the effort when asked by their respective State Committee.

"It took me two seconds to say yes," said Walshe, a 2008 USA Curtis Cup competitor. "My fondest memories as a golfer came from representing Team USA. This is a chance to give that same sense of purpose and camaraderie to the next generation."

Martin’s decision was equally instinctual and deeply personal. 

"I was the first grant recipient in Southern California through SCPGA,” said Martin. “That support kept me in the game. Now we’re creating a system-wide net to support kids like me. It’s emotional for me and it’s an honor to be part of it."

Nye, a long-time professional with deep ties to Pennsylvania golf, saw it as an opportunity to make a lasting impact. 

"We're not just developing great golfers,” Nye said. “We're creating an aspirational system where every junior in the state can see a clear, local path forward. It's about proximity, access and patience. If we get the foundation right, the results will follow."

The Role of State Junior Team Captains and Coaches: Beyond the Swing

Rather than coaches who focus primarily on the ins and outs of the golf swing, state junior team captains and coaches are there to help fill the gaps in a golfer’s game beyond the swing and are seen as guides and motivators towards their state junior team members.

"I told my players, ‘Bug me. Be annoying. Use me as a resource,’" Walshe said. "It doesn’t have to be about golf. If something’s affecting your mindset, your confidence, that matters too."

Martin added: "It’s about seeing the whole person. It’s not just about a better golf swing. It’s about giving them the tools to thrive on and off the course."

For Nye, the emphasis is also on access and navigation. "These kids may already have coaches. My job is to connect the dots. It’s to get them onto better courses, into the right events, and help them understand what resources are out there."

More Than a Team; A Blueprint for Growth

Various junior golf circuits have created competition across the top. However, the State Junior Team Program now gives those same athletes something to inspire them to have on their résumés. It starts with making their State Junior Teams and then hopefully the ultimate goal of being on the National Junior Team.

"There’s something powerful about seeing those bags and uniforms," said Nye. "Even kids who don’t make the team yet will draft off it. They’ll aspire to it. That’s how you grow the game down to the grassroots."

Walshe described the system as a motivational ladder. "You check the box -- best player in the state. But now you’ve got another rung to chase. It’s motivating. It’s like chasing candy. And that’s how dreams get real."

Developing Athletes who THRIVE®: Building Golfers and People

Led by Dr. Beth Brown, USNDP Senior Athlete Development Specialist, THRIVE® is the Program's blueprint for supporting the development of American golfers toward excellence and wellbeing. The framework emphasizes holistic athlete development across six domains: Training, Health, Relationships, Individual Development, Values, and Equipment.

USNDP THRIVE® Training was introduced during a March 3–5 training event amongst the State Junior Team coaches and captains in Pinehurst, N.C. The programming resonated deeply with all involved.

"The THRIVE® model is brilliant," said Walshe. "It tackles character, mental strength, even kindness. I was applying it to my own life. I can only imagine what it’s doing for these 15-year-olds."

Though Martin missed the March training due to illness, she has fully embraced the THRIVE® blueprint in her coaching. "It supports juniors with a wide lens, not just to succeed in tournaments but to stay healthy, be emotionally resilient and eventually give back to their communities. That’s the real win."

The next USNDP THRIVE® Training will be held Sept. 10-12 at the USGA’s headquarters, in Liberty Corner, N.J.

Looking Ahead

All three captains emphasized a long-term commitment to reshaping golf development in the U.S. amongst the juniors and how it can grow to shape the future for American golf in the collegiate and professional ranks.

"We’re already seeing results," said Martin, who played at UCLA. "And in five to ten years, this will redefine the talent pipeline in American golf."

"I want these players to be better golfers, sure," she added. "But I also want them to be better people. The type that will give back, lead and lift others. That’s what this Program is designed to do."

As the USNDP continues to invest in national, regional and state-level athlete development, captains such as Martin, Walshe, and Nye are not just leading state junior teams; they’re shaping futures. For many juniors, this will be the team that changes everything.

A New Era for American Golf Development

For decades, many international golf federations from the Republic of Korea to Sweden to Australia, have operated centralized development systems that identify and support top junior talent from an early age. These models often include national academies, consistent training camps, and integrated coaching pipelines tied directly to Olympic and professional goals.

In contrast, the U.S. has long relied on a decentralized approach, where junior development was primarily driven by parents, coaches, local tournaments and individual financial capacity. The USNDP aims to change that.

"This is the first time we've truly had a unified system to identify, support and elevate talent across every state," said Nye. "We’re finally matching the infrastructure that other countries have had for years but doing it with our own American spin: rooted in community, built through opportunity."

The State Junior Team Program serves as the gateway, offering early exposure to elite competition and values-based development, while still providing a visible pathway to potential regional level opportunities in the future, the National Junior Team, collegiate golf, the USNDP’s Elite Amateur Program and beyond.

"This isn’t just about competing with other countries," said Walshe, a three-time All-American at the University of Arizona. "It’s about creating a more equitable and sustainable system where talent isn’t defined by zip code or access, but by potential and support."

By localizing talent discovery while aligning with national goals, the USNDP is not only leveling the playing field, but also redefining what golf development in the U.S. can look like. The State Junior Team Program is more than a new layer of junior competition as it’s a national investment in the future of American golf. 

With experienced professionals guiding the way, a proven developmental model in THRIVE®, and a long-term vision for national expansion, the Program is redefining how talent is cultivated and supported. As more states come online, the USNDP is building a system where geography no longer limits opportunity, and every young golfer has a team and a future to aspire toward.

Torry Rees is a coordinator with the U.S. National Development Program. Email him at trees@usga.org.