International Jaycee Junior Golf Tournament

In 1946, the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce – with encouragement from Herb Graffis, publisher of Golfing and Golfdom magazines – agreed to develop a golf program providing supervised competition for boys on a local, state and national level.[1] Initially modest in significance, only 27 boys from seven states participated in the first International Jaycee Junior Golf Tournament held in Spokane, Washington, which was won by Al Mengert.[1]

Jerry Greenbaum is presented with the championship trophy after winning the 13th International Jaycee Junior Golf Tournament in 1958.

Publicity photo from 13th International Jaycee Junior Golf Tournament held in Tucson, Arizona, in 1958. Team Minnesota (L-R): Bob Balega, Tom Maas, Bruce Hall and Jon Hoffman.

For the second annual tournament, however, full-time personnel worked with local and state sports chairmen to organize and promote the tournament in an effort to raise it to national prominence. Over subsequent tournaments, the International Jaycee Junior Golf Tournament (known as the National Jaycee Junior Golf Tournament prior to 1953) grew in status and was rivaled only by the U.S. Junior Amateur Golf Championship and the Western Junior Championship in importance. Jack Nicklaus, the 1957 International Jaycee winner, remarked that "No other tournament in junior golf forces the best from the young golfers and maintains the interest and enthusiasm as does the Jaycee International. The toughest of the world's junior golf tournaments."[2] By 1958, approximately 35,000 boys competed for 220 spots at the 13th International Jaycee.[1]

The format of the International Jaycee evolved over time. From 1946-1951, 36-hole medal play determined the “cut” for those players moving on to compete for the title under match play competition. Beginning in 1952, match play was eliminated and 72-hole medal play was instituted. A Class B Championship was established for players who did not make the 36-hole cut of the lowest 100 scores. States competed for team titles and a Junior Chamber International match was staged between the top entries of each of the countries entered. Participants qualified for the International Jaycee first though local and then state Jaycee competitions. The top four (some years five) players from each state competition were eligible to play at the International Jaycee Junior Golf Tournament with expenses paid by grants and sponsors.

The golfing talents of the International Jaycee competitors were among the best in the world with many players eventually turning professional. Among winners of the tournament, four players were elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame: Gene Littler, Jack Nicklaus, Raymond Floyd and Ben Crenshaw.

Despite the continued popularity of the tournament among players, financial backing of the International Jaycee became problematic. Unable to secure a sponsor in 1967, the tournament was not held (although local and state events continued).[3] The tournament was conducted in 1968 but lack of sponsorship caused the U.S. Junior Chamber of Commerce to not hold the tournament for 1969.[4] In years following, the International Jaycee Junior Golf Tournament was not renewed.