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GOLF TEACHING PRO%u00ae 54 WINTER 2O26The year began with Daily Mail World Junior Golf Championship in Anantara Villa Padierna (Marbella) from February 19th to 21st, which brought together 214 players from 37 countries. The national spotlight intensified in June, when talents like %u00d3liver de Wint and Diego Gross claimed titles at the Spanish Infantil Championship, while the Global Junior Golf Open at Emporda Golf (Girona) took place in March.What%u2019s truly transforming the junior landscape this season is the rise of hybrid competition formats. The Faldo Virtual Series, launched on January 1, 2025, allows juniors aged 7 to 21 to compete via TrackMan simulators, playing monthly virtual tournaments on iconic courses like St. Andrews, Wentworth, and Moonlight Basin. Though global participation has included %u201chundreds of juniors,%u201d Spain specific figures have yet to be released. Similarly, Toptracer-powered ranges across Spain, such as the 40-bay facility at Centro Nacional de Golf in Madrid, are drawing thousands into the sport. Monthly Toptracer Challenges at clubs further broaden access to structured, gamified competition with low entry costs. While participation data for Spanish juniors in these new formats is still emerging, the shift is already clear: golf is becoming more accessible. Kids can now train and compete in meaningful ways without long-distance travel or elite club memberships. This mix of live events and virtual tournaments fueled by innovations is breaking down the traditional barriers of cost and geography. Spain%u2019s next generation of golfers is no longer limited by where they live or what they can afford but just by how much they want to play.STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD SPAINNEWS FROM SPAINIn 2025, Spain%u2019s junior golf calendar has been packed with high-profile events that continue to elevate the country status in youth development. By Camille Paris, USGTF Member