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2025 U.S. National Development Program™ Grant Application Overview

By USGA Staff

| Jun 25, 2024 | Liberty Corner, N.J.

The 2025 application will be open late July 2024 through October 31, 2024.

The U.S. National Development Program Grant is designed to mitigate barriers of cost to promising junior golfers who demonstrate both financial need and the potential to progress through the U.S. National Development Program (USNDP) pathway.

The 2025 application will be open late July 2024 – October 31, 2024 

Athletes for consideration must fit within the following criteria:

  • Age: Athlete must be between 13-18 years old with a projected high school graduation date (or GED) no earlier than 2025

  • Nationality and Residency: Athlete must be U.S. citizen and cannot be receiving support or funding from another country; The athlete and parent/guardian must currently reside in the U.S.

  • Handicap Index® Requirement: 
    • The maximum Handicap Index® eligibility will be consistent with the requirements for entry into the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship (2.4 or better) and U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship (5.4 or better). 
    • A minimum of a full scoring record consisting of 20 scores.
    • Within the previous 12 months, eight (8) competitive scores (“C” scores) must be posted to the scoring record.

  • Financial Needs Requirement: The athlete’s family must meet the financial need parameters as determined by the USGA.

During the open application period:

APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED VIA USNDP GRANT MANAGEMENT CENTER  

Only application materials submitted within the secure application portal, the USNDP Grant Management   Center, will be considered for the grant. Emailed submissions will not be considered for the Grant.

NEW APPLICANTS

Must first fill out a pre-screening survey to determine basic eligibility for a potential USNDP Grant. Athletes and their families that meet the basic eligibility to be considered for a USNDP Grant will be emailed a link to a secure application portal, the USNDP Grant Management Center, to complete an application.

RETURNING APPLICANTS

To complete a 2025 application, use your current login for the application portal, the USNDP Grant Management Center.

FAMILIES APPLYING FOR MULTIPLE ATHLETES

Our secure application portal, the USNDP Grant Management Center, is designed for families to conveniently manage multiple athletes under one household account or one user login profile. Families should manage their athletes’ applications under one account.  

To prepare for the application, the following items are needed to apply:

  • Handicap ID (i.e. GHIN #)

  • All filed 2023 U.S. Federal Tax documentation (Grant FAQs)
    • Athlete must be listed as a dependent on the taxes of the parent/guardian applying on their behalf 
  • Share a link to a YouTube Channel, Google Folder, or Vimeo Folder containing videos less than 60 seconds in length or shots edited together (less than 2 minutes total) of the following:
    • Full Swing Video (1 video for all shots edited together)
      • 2 Clubs 
        • Driver
        • 6-iron
      • 2 angles 
        • Down the target line
        • Face on
    • Short Game Video (1 video for all shots edited together)
      • 3 shots 
        • Putt
        • Chip
        • Bunker
      • 1 angle 
        • Down the target line 
  • Recommendation Letter from either the athlete’s coach, school counselor, teacher, instructor, tournament organizer, Allied Golf Association or PGA of America Section representative, who can attest to the athlete’s character, work ethic, sportsmanship, and golf ability. The letter should note the relationship and level of interaction with the athlete. Please make sure the athlete’s reference includes their contact information (email address and phone number) as part of their recommendation letter. The recommendation letter cannot be from the athlete’s parent or guardian or family member or family friend. 
    • Please ensure that the reference listed in the application is also the person who writes the reference letter and that their letter is written specifically for this USNDP grant opportunity.
  • Family Statement of Intent written by the parent/guardian and/or the athlete.  The family statement of intent should outline:
    • How the family intends to use grant dollars to further the development of their athlete 
    • Their motivation for applying for the grant 
    • Why they desire to be a part of the U.S. National Development Program
    • Athlete’s golf aspirations immediately after the completion of high school

Applications submitted within the secure application portal are reviewed based on the following steps: 

  1. Financial Needs Assessment
  2. Performance Assessment
  3. Grant Committee Evaluation

The total number of grants awarded will be determined by the total number of qualified athletes and availability of funds.

For questions, please visit our 2025 USNDP Grant Application FAQs or contact us at USNDPGrants@usga.org.