Junior Skills Competition
Drive, Chip and Putt Qualifying for 2027
A guardian enters one Local Qualifier online at no charge. The deadline, age-six exception, variable Local advancement, and different National Finals scoring format all matter before a family registers.
Tournaments & Events · Updated August 28, 2026
The short version
- A guardian registers online at no charge. A player may enter one Local Qualifier.
- Entry closes at 4 p.m. ET five days before that Local Qualifier. Onsite entry is not accepted.
- Up to the top three in each Local division advance depending on participation and the number of events. Subregional advances the top two; Regional advances the champion. Scores restart at each stage.
- Local, Subregional and Regional rounds use three attempts per skill. The National Finals uses two attempts per skill plus a possible pace-of-play bonus.
What Drive, Chip and Putt is
Drive, Chip and Putt is a free skills competition. It tests driving, chipping and putting rather than a round of golf.
Who can enter
The 2027 cycle uses four age bands for boys and four for girls: 7 to 9, 10 to 11, 12 to 13, and 14 to 15. Division is set by the player's age on April 4, 2027, and a player who is 6 may enter if the player turns 7 by that date.
Source: Drive, Chip and Putt Rules and Regulations, Eligibility 1 to 3.
The 2027 age divisions guide works through the April 4 date and the age-six exception in full.
How to enter a Local Qualifier
- A parent or guardian completes the entry online.
- There is no charge to enter.
- A player may enter one Local Qualifier.
- Entry closes at 4 p.m. ET five days before that Local Qualifier.
- Onsite entry is not accepted.
Source: Drive, Chip and Putt Rules and Regulations, Entries 1 to 10.
For many juniors this is a first competitive day, and the first golf tournament checklist covers general preparation.
The qualifying ladder
- Local: up to three advance in each division, and the allocation may vary.
- Subregional: the top two advance.
- Regional: the champion advances.
- National Finals.
Scores restart at every stage. Local advancement depends on participation and the number of events, so treat three as a ceiling rather than a fixed number.
Source: Drive, Chip and Putt Rules and Regulations, Schedule of Competition and the advancement provisions.
How the three skills are scored
| Stage | Attempts per skill |
|---|---|
| Local, Subregional and Regional | Three attempts per skill. |
| National Finals | Two attempts per skill, plus a possible pace-of-play bonus. |
Source: Drive, Chip and Putt Rules and Regulations, Local, Subregional, & Regional Scoring; National Finals Scoring.
How to pick your qualifier
A player may enter one Local Qualifier, so the choice is a logistics decision for the family:
- The date, and whether it clashes with school.
- The distance and the travel burden of getting there.
- Whether registration is still open at that site.
- That entry closes at 4 p.m. ET five days before that Local Qualifier.
What the official rules do not establish
These rules establish eligibility, entry, scoring and advancement. They do not establish ranking credit, recruiting value, or developmental outcomes.
Your next move
Confirm the 2027 age division
Use the April 4 age date and age-six exception before choosing the one Local Qualifier.
Confirm the 2027 age divisionFrequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to enter Drive, Chip and Putt?
- Nothing. A guardian registers the player online at no charge. Source: Drive, Chip and Putt Rules and Regulations, Entries 1 to 10.
- Who registers the player, and when does entry close?
- A parent or guardian completes the entry online. Entry closes at 4 p.m. ET five days before that Local Qualifier, and onsite entry is not accepted. A player may enter one Local Qualifier. Source: Drive, Chip and Putt Rules and Regulations, Entries 1 to 10.
- What are the 2027 age bands, and can a six-year-old enter?
- The 2027 bands are 7 to 9, 10 to 11, 12 to 13, and 14 to 15, run separately for boys and girls, and division is set by age on April 4, 2027. A player who is 6 may enter if the player turns 7 by that date. Source: Drive, Chip and Putt Rules and Regulations, Eligibility 1 to 3.
- How many players advance from a Local Qualifier?
- Up to the top three in each division, depending on participation and the number of events. Subregional advances the top two and Regional advances the champion. Scores restart at each stage. Source: Drive, Chip and Putt Rules and Regulations, Schedule of Competition and the advancement provisions.
- Is the scoring the same at every stage?
- No. Local, Subregional and Regional rounds use three attempts per skill. The National Finals uses two attempts per skill plus a possible pace-of-play bonus. Source: Drive, Chip and Putt Rules and Regulations, Local, Subregional, & Regional Scoring and National Finals Scoring.
- Does Drive, Chip and Putt help with college recruiting?
- The organizer rules do not establish recruiting value. They establish eligibility, entry, scoring and advancement, and nothing in them speaks to ranking credit or recruiting outcomes.
Keep reading
Sources and review
- What it covers
- Drive, Chip and Putt eligibility, entry, advancement, and scoring for the 2027 competition cycle, checked August 28, 2026.
- Checked
Primary sources
What this page cannot tell you
- Local availability, allocations, dates, and the annual rules can change. Check the organizer's current registration page before entering.
- The rules do not prove ranking, recruiting, performance, or developmental outcomes.
Verify this season. These terms are reissued on a cycle. Confirm the current version with the governing body above before you rely on it for a deadline or a decision.