Optimist International Junior Golf Championship

The Optimist International Junior Golf Championships (commonly referred to as THE OPTIMIST) is one of Optimist International’s major youth programs for boys and girls ages 10 – 18 and is one of the largest and best-known junior golf events in the world. More than 3,000 boys and girls across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and several dozen other foreign countries compete in official Optimist qualifying tournaments.  The best of these junior golfers, along with additional international junior golfers from around the globe, advance to THE OPTIMIST. 

Each year, THE OPTIMIST is held at Trump National Doral Resort – Miami FL and fields over 600 of the world’s best junior golfers from more than 28 countries around the globe.   In addition to top-level tournament golf, junior golfers have the opportunity to make new friends and to have a great deal of fun.  What makes THE OPTIMIST unique from other tournaments, junior golfers and their guests are housed, play golf, enjoy group meals, special events, entertainment, and fun all at a world-class resort.  College coaches come from all over the U.S. to scout some of the best junior players in the world.

Past age group winners at THE OPTIMIST (and its predecessor, the Optimist Junior World Golf Championships) include Denver’s own Mark Hubbard, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Davis Love III, Lorena Ochoa, Beth Bauer, Nancy Lopez, Brittany Lincicome, Lexi Thompson, Brooke Henderson, and Jason Day, among dozens of prominent PGA and LPGA golfers.

Other Denver area golfers that have played in THE OPTIMIST include PGA and LPGA stars Wyndham Clark and Jennifer Kupcho.

The Colorado-Wyoming District Optimist Junior Golf Program is recognized as the best Junior Golf Program in all of Optimist International and serves about 400 junior golfers each year.  The best of these golfers will qualify for THE 2025 OPTIMIST.

Information on the 2024-25 Optimist Junior Golf program is coming soon! If you need immediate assistance, please contact the CO-WY District Junior Golf Chairperson.