Bloomington to host a national golf tournament in April

Written by Jade Roth on February 13, 2026

Image courtesy of the City of Bloomington

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Some of the nation’s top junior golfers will soon compete in Bloomington as the city prepares to host an American Junior Golf Association tournament.

The AJGA is a nonprofit organization founded in 1978 with a mission to develop junior golfers who aspire to earn college scholarships. The organization hosts competitive tournaments for young athletes across the country and serves approximately 10,000 members.

Each year, the AJGA conducts around 150 events nationwide, providing opportunities for junior golfers to compete at a high level and gain exposure. The organization provides a national stage for young athletes aiming to compete at higher levels.

Jason Wingate, director of golf for Bloomington Parks and Recreation, said the event will highlight the community’s strong reputation in the golf world and will bring both elite competition and economic impact to the area.

The City of Bloomington was chosen as the host site because of its strong golf tradition and proven track record of hosting major tournaments.

“I think we have a great community for golf. Golf is well supported here,” said Wingate. “We have fantastic courses. We have a history of hosting big events, as we’ve had the IHSA state golf finals here in town for more than 20 years.”

The tournament will be held at The Den at Fox Creek Golf Course, an Arnold Palmer Signature Course that opened in the late 1990s. Designed by golf legend Arnold Palmer, the course has earned a reputation for excellence and championship-level play.

Beyond the competition, the event is expected to make a significant economic impact.

“We will have players and their families in town that entire week,” Wingate said. “The majority of these players will not be from our community, which means they’ll be staying in hotels and going to our restaurants and going to our movie theaters and shopping areas.”

The effort to bring the tournament to Bloomington was a collaborative one.

“We had some help from the Bloomington Normal Convention and Visitors Bureau,” said Wingate. “They were instrumental in making those contacts, connecting us together, the AJGA and the City of Bloomington.”

Former IHSA executive director Marty Hickman is also playing a key role.

With top junior golfers from across the country set to compete on a championship-caliber course, the upcoming AJGA event will deliver elite competition while also serving as a weeklong showcase of community pride and economic opportunity for Bloomington.