2023 News

2023 News

 

February 23

Pepsi Little People’s is delighted to announce that Southern Airways is a new sponsor of the 2023 Golf Championships!

            Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships is an international event for boys and girls ages three through 18, and has been held annually since 1974 at golf courses in Quincy, IL.

            “Southern Airways is proud to partner with and support the Little’s People’s Golf Championships,” said Mark Cestari, Chief Commercial Officer at Southern Airways.  “As Quincy’s new hometown airline this fantastic event will give attendees and participants from Chicago, St. Louis and beyond a chance to experience Southern’s special style of customer service first hand.  Our aircraft can easily accommodate the players’ golf bags.

            “We are very happy to bring Southern Airways on board as one of our sponsors,” stated Nan Ryan, Founder and Executive Director of Pepsi Little People’s.  Their commitment to support Little People’s offers our players and parents a great opportunity to fly to Quincy.”

            Southern Airways is offering Little People’s five pairs of round-trip tickets to/from Quincy, St. Louis or Chicago O’Hare.

            Pepsi Little People’s will celebrate its 50th year June 18-21.  Festivities start on Sunday, June 18 with the ever-popular Applebee’s Parent-Child event.  Monday is practice round day for all players, followed by the Family Celebration Picnic.  Competition will be held at the KC Par-3 course on Tuesday and Wednesday for players ages 3-7, while those ages 8-18 will play their competition rounds at Westview Golf Course in Quincy.

            Players competing in Little People’s have the opportunity to gain Performance Stars for AJGA events, and try to qualify for the IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships, Future Champions Golf, PLAY Junior Golf Tour of Canada, and the Notah Begay Regional.

            In addition, Little People’s tournament results contribute to Junior Golf Scoreboard, GolfWeek/Sagarin and Global Junior Golf Rankings, important factors in the ability of players to earn college scholarships.

            Additional information on Pepsi Little People’s, can be found at www.littlepeoplesgolf.com, or emailjrgolfer@littlepeoplesgolf.com, or text or call Nan Ryan at 217-257-5718.

 

February 6

CALLING ALL ADAMS COUNTY JUNIOR GOLFERS!

            Now is the time to sign up for the 50th annual Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships, being held June 19-21 at Westview Golf Course and KC Par-3 in Quincy.

            And, it’s time to take advantage of the Quincy Breakfast Optimist Club’s offer to provide scholarship funding to assist Adams County golfers who want to play Little People’s.

            “With one of the top youth golf tournaments in the world held in our own backyard, we want local young golfers to have every opportunity to play against the best competition in the world.  We want to make sure the entry fee is not an obstacle for any child who wants to compete,” said Mike Wensing, chair of the Optimist Club’s golf committee.  

            “Little People’s is delighted that the Quincy Breakfast Optimist Club is helping make it possible for more Quincy and Adams County golfers to participate in our tournament” stated Nan Ryan, Little People’s Executive Director.  “Although Little People’s is an international tournament, we encourage local participation, as it gives Adams County youth an opportunity to compete in a national junior tournament with players from around the World.

            “In addition, it gives our local golfers an opportunity to try to qualify for other major junior events, such as the American Junior Golf Association, IMG Junior World, FCG, PLAY Golf Canada and Notah Begay Regional, and gain rankings from Junior Golf Scoreboard, Sagarin and Global Junior Golf Rankings – so important for their college resumes,” added Ryan.

            The tournament will be preceded by the ever-popular Applebee’s Parent-Child event on Sunday (Father’s Day), June 18, at Westview, and includes putting and driving contests, as well as a Best Dressed Team contest.

            Practice rounds are Monday, June 19, with competition at Westview and KC Par-3 on Tuesday and Wednesday.  The tournament is open to boys and girls ages 3 through 18.

            For more information on the discounts that the BOC is offering to Adams County players, please go to www.littlepeoplesgolf.com/registration  then click on BOC Discounts.

            Entry forms for the 2023 tournament will be available at www.littlepeoplesgolf  on February 1. All divisions fill up fast, so get your entry in NOW. For further information, please contact Nan Ryan at jrgolfer@littlepeoplesgolf.com, or call or text 217-257-5718.

January 16,  2023

Little Peoples Golf Championship in Quincy IL - 50th Year Anniversary
Applebees

             Pepsi Little People’s is pleased to announce that Applebee’s will again sponsor the ever-popular Parent-Child tournament, Closest to the Pin Contest,  and associated events in 2023, and this year with very special gifts for all players!

            The optional 9-hole Applebee’s Parent-Child will be played Sunday (Father’s Day), June 18, 2023, on holes #19-#27 at Westview Golf Course, Quincy, IL.  The alternate shot event is the kick-off to the 50th Anniversary of the Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships, which will be played June 19-21 at Westview and the KC Par-3 Golf Course.  The Parent-Child annually draws 60+ teams made up of one current Little People’s player and a parent, sibling or friend, and many Alumni-Child teams.

            Applebee’s will also sponsor the Putting, Driving and Best Dressed Team contests, held in conjunction with the Parent-Child event on June 18.

Applebee’s is ‘stepping up’ it’s sponsorship this year in observance of the 50th anniversary of Little People’s, by offering every contestant two meal cards for 50% off each meal at Applebee’s, PLUS they are providing a $100 gift coupon for each of the six winning Parent-Child age division teams.

In addition, on Monday, June 19 , practice round day, Applebee’s will hold a Closest to the Pin contest on the 9th hole at Westview, with a $50 Gift Certificate from the Westview Pro Shop going to the winner.

            An Applebee’s representative will be on hand at the Family Celebration Picnic on Monday night to present trophies and medals to the winners in all Applebee’s events.

            “We are extremely delighted to have formed this partnership with Applebee’s,” stated Nan Ryan, Little People’s Founder and Executive Director.  “Applebee’s has long been a strong supporter of the tournament with its Closest to the Pin contest.  Sponsorship of the Parent-Child and associated events solidifies their belief in junior golf and Little People’s.”

“Applebee’s has been part of Little People’s in Quincy for eight years and really enjoys the partnership with this great event,” stated Kevin Allardice Managing Partner of The Bloomin’ Apple, LLC, franchisee of Applebee’s.  “ I love seeing the lifelong bonds this parent-child event brings to the Quincy community.  We proudly support the Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships!

            “We are happy to continue our sponsorship of the Closest to the Pin Contest and the Parent-Child event,”  added Allardice.  “As a golfer myself, I am extremely happy to help up-and-coming young golfers in the hopes that we may see them in the pros in the future.”

ABOUT APPLEBEE’S

            Applebee’s is the world’s largest casual dining chain, with approximately 2000 locations in 49 states, 16 countries and one US territory.  Based in Glendale, California, Applebee’s takes pride in providing a welcoming, neighborhood environment where everyone can enjoy the dining experience.  All Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants are franchised.

            The Bloomin’ Apple, LLC is a franchisee of Applebee’s, based in Mt. Pleasant South Carolina, and operates 15 restaurants throughout the states of Illinois, Iowa, and Wisconsin, including the restaurant in Quincy, Illinois.

 

January 9, 2023

            The 50th  Annual Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships will be played June 19-21, at two Quincy, Illinois, golf courses.

            Pepsi Little People’s is an international event for boys and girls ages 3 through 18. During the past 49 years,  players have come from every state and some 39 countries.  It has been sponsored since its inception in 1974 by Refreshment Services Pepsi.

Players ages 3-7 will play their two tournament rounds at the KC Par-3 Golf Course, while golfers ages 8-18 will play their two competitive rounds at the 27-hole Westview Golf Course.

            Pepsi Little People’s offers players an opportunity to qualify for or gain points for many other major junior golf tournaments, such as the AJGA,  IMG Junior World, Future Champions Golf, Notah Begay Regional National Championship and PLAY Junior Golf Tour of Canada.  Players also gain rankings from Junior Golf Scoreboard, Sagarin, and Global Junior Golf Rankings – so important for their future college resumes.

            Play is in seven age divisions for boys and seven age divisions for girls (3-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13, 14-15 and 16-18).

            Trophies are awarded to the top three finishers in each division, with medals going to places 4-6 in the 10-18  age divisions.  All non-trophy winners ages 3 through 9 receive participant medals.

            Tournament events start on Sunday, June 18, with the annual Applebee’s Parent-Child tournament, an optional 9-hole alternate shot event featuring one adult or sibling and one Little People’s participant.

            Monday, June 19, is practice round day for all participants and includes the Applebee’s Closest to the Pin contest on the 9th hole at Westview.  The winner receives a $75 gift certificate from the Westview Pro Shop.  It is followed by the annual Family Celebration Picnic, sponsored by Pepsi, Hy-Vee, WGEM and See Quincy, for all participants, families, friends, alumni and sponsors, on the KC grounds.

            Competition in all divisions is on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 20-21,  immediately followed by prize presentations for each age group on Wednesday.

            The annual Pepsi Little People’s is an opportunity for players to gain competitive experience, gain entrance into other major junior events, be nationally ranked, and for player and families to reacquaint with old friends and make new friends.

            Entry forms and information on the 2023 Pepsi Little People’s will be available on the website at www.littlepeoplesgolf.com, on February 1.  Additional information can be obtained by contacting Executive Director Nan Ryan at jrgolfer@littlepeoplesgolf.com, or by texting or calling 217-257-5718.

December 14, 2022

The Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships is delighted to announce that the 2023 tournament will again be recognized by the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA).  Little People’s has been a part of the AJGA recognition system since 1987, with the winners and subsequent places in the boys and girls 14-18 and 12-13 divisions receiving Performance Stars.  Below are the Performance Stars given for each Division in 2023.

Boys
Age Rank Status
12 – 13 1 to 1 2 Stars
12 – 13 2 to 5 1 Star
14 – 18 1 to 1 8 Stars
14 – 18 2 to 5 4 Stars
14 – 18 6 to 10 1 Stars
     
Girls
Age Rank Status
12 – 13 1 to 1 2 Stars
12 – 13 2 to 3 1 Star
14 – 18 1 to 1 8 Stars
14 – 18 2 to 3 4 Stars
14 – 18 4 to 5 1Stars
     

It is important that Pepsi Little People’s is able to offer its golfers in these age groups an opportunity to gain AJGA Performance Stars, as it helps them to build a resume under the AJGA PBE system and helps with possible college scholarships.  In addition, it provides the AJGA an opportunity to recognize and provide opportunities to golfers who might not have had a chance to play in an AJGA event.

The 50TH annual Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships, for boys and girls ages 3 through 18, will be played June 19-21 at two golf courses in Quincy, IL.  Throughout the past 49 years, more than 24,000 young golfers have played in Little People’s.  Many of them are now instrumental in golf in some way, and a good number are now playing on one of the professional golf tours or on their college or high school teams.

Entry Form and additional information on the 2023 Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships will be available on February 1 at www.littlepeoplesgolf.com, or call or text Tournament Director Nan Ryan at 217-257-5718.