Photo: Minnesota Golf Association
Aspiring golfers in the state have a new opportunity for training and competition. As part of the United States National Development Program (USNDP), Team Minnesota is the state’s first elite junior golf team, created to identify and provide critical development to elite high school golfers between ages 13–18.
“The goal of the state team program is to expand and diversify the pipeline for elite local junior golfers by creating critical development, competitive and talent identification opportunities and strengthen junior golf programs across the country,” says Holly Noble, Team Minnesota captain and Minnesota Golf Association’s women’s golf manager.
Players earn their spot on the team every year by competing in specific tournaments and earning points based on their performance, and being part of a team of similarly focused players has its benefits. “It can be a really solitary game, especially when you’re an elite player. Bringing elite athletes together to spend time together … to share in their successes and to have somebody to turn to when things are challenging, is huge,” Noble says.
Noble utilizes a mix of monthly team training as well as resources the golfers incorporate into their individual training programs. Earlier this year, the team went through team-building activities, media training and individual development around their future goals.
“I think this is a huge opportunity, and I’m really excited about what this will do for junior development within our state,” Noble says. “We have a huge opportunity to build bigger pipelines and provide more resources to more players, specifically from the USNDP. So, I’m hoping in the future, we’ll see that trickle-down effect and really start to expand these resources beyond just the 24 Team Minnesota athletes.”
Meet the local Team Minnesota athletes, who are also part of Minnetonka High School’s 2025 championship golf team.
“I’m honored to be a part of such an amazing program and for it to be its very first year makes it even cooler,” says Elizabeth Fong, 16. She points to her favorite part of being on a team to the “community it builds and all the people I’ve gotten to know better throughout this experience.”
“It means everything … especially to be on the first team and being a role model to the younger girls in Minnesota,” says Kieley Hanson, 17, about being on Team Minnesota. She points to the way players challenge each other to work hard. “Also, just representing the U.S.A. and Minnesota is so special to me because it’s so rare for golf to have a team like this,” she says.
“I personally feel like Minnesota is very underrepresented as far as golf goes, yet we have lots of talent in this sport,” says Ruby Reding, 18, who graduated this year. “To be a representation for the entire state means a lot.” She highlights how teammates improve each other’s games. “It’s very important to surround yourself with people that are better than you … I can’t wait to continue to build off my teammates to get better,” she says. (Look for Reding on the University of St. Thomas’ golf team.)
“It has been so awesome to see this team come together after playing with and against each other for so long. It offers an amazing place for junior golf in Minnesota to shine,” says Mila Sloan, 17. Shared experiences through being part of a team stand out to Mila. “We all go through really similar things on and off the course, and it’s been amazing to be able to have a support system of really like-minded people. I also love the aspect of playing for something more than yourself, which just adds a whole new layer of meaning to the game,” she says.
“It is a great honor that acknowledges my consistent high-level performance throughout all of last year, and I am grateful for this opportunity to learn and improve alongside the state’s best players,” says Selena Wu, 18, who graduated this year. “I personally enjoy the connectedness of playing on a team because it adds an additional layer of resources and support that you can rely on beyond just yourself.”
Minnesota Golf Association
Instagram: @mngolfassn
