sport
Drive Chip and Putt Finals Boost Augusta Youth Sports Registrations
The April 5 event at Augusta National Golf Club drew record young talent and now feeds into registration for flag football, soccer and cheerleading across local programs.
How we reported this
The 2026 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals took place April 5 at Augusta National Golf Club and featured 6-year-old Sophia Eagan as the event's youngest qualifier ever along with local native Kipp Madison finishing in the top three.
Why the timing matters for families now
Augusta's youth sports calendar runs three distinct seasons each year, and the April golf showcase arrives just before Fall registration opens for flag football, soccer and cheerleading. Augusta Recreation & Parks keeps Winter basketball registration open now for boys and girls ages 5-17, which builds fundamentals, teamwork and self-respect before the next slate begins. Parents who watched the Drive Chip and Putt coverage can use the momentum to sign children up for the Fall cycle that follows Spring baseball and softball.
Local groups ready to absorb new players
The Augusta Sports Council maintains a directory of more than 30 youth organizations that include the GA-SC Bulls for soccer, Martinez-Evans Little League for baseball and North Augusta PAL for multiple sports. Nike partnered with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Augusta in April 2026 for an interactive clinic that reached more than 4,700 youth across nine counties and removed barriers to golf and life skills. i9 Sports runs multi-sport leagues for flag football, soccer, baseball and basketball throughout the metro area.
Fall sports registration for North Augusta youth programs opens July 21, 2026, for ages 4-18. Augusta Recreation & Parks Department coordinates the three annual seasons and directs families to the listed groups through its recreation division. The same network that hosted the Drive Chip and Putt qualifier now channels participants into the next set of team schedules without added cost barriers noted in the Nike clinic.
Interested families can check the Augusta Sports Council directory at augustasportscouncil.org/community-sports-groups or contact Augusta Recreation & Parks for Winter basketball slots that remain open. Those steps connect directly to the three-season calendar already posted for the coming year.