P ga news The Professional Golfers’ Association of America
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GA News The Professional Golfers’ Association of America 100 Avenue of the Champions Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418 Tel: 561-624-8400 Fax: 561-624-8448 IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jamie CarboneMarch 13, 2007 561/624-8446 jcarbone@pgahq.com PGA GROWTH OF THE GAME GRANTS PROGRAM RENEWS $228,516 IN GRANTS TO 35 PROGRAMS PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – The eighth cycle of 35 PGA Growth of the Game grants totaling $228,516, was awarded from The PGA of America’s Growth of the Game Grant program. Touching 19 states and involving juniors, inner-city young adults, college students, the physically challenged and veterans, the program highlights The PGA of America’s commitment to partner with its PGA Professionals to grow participation in golf. These funds bring the total donation from The PGA Growth of the Game Grant program to more than $4.8 million among a combined 447 grants since 2001. The PGA Growth of the Game grants touch virtually every level of society and individuals of all abilities, including programs for U.S. troops and their families; the physically challenged, Latin Americans, seniors, women, Golf in Schools, Police Athletic League, collegiate-based Golf: For Business and Life programs, and junior programs. “Now in its eighth cycle, The PGA’s Growth of the Game grants serve a wide spectrum of our society,” said PGA of America President Brian Whitcomb. “This program continues to be an inspiration for PGA Professionals in achieving an invaluable connection with many within their respective communities. These grants enable PGA Professionals to maintain golf programs and add much to the enjoyment of a game that otherwise may not have been possible for so many.” The PGA Growth of the Game Grant program is one of a number of initiatives administered by The PGA of America through its PGA Foundation, which was established in 1954, as the Association’s charitable arm to provide resources and professional expertise to make golf more accessible to all segments of the population. The PGA Foundation receives donations from PGA members and apprentices, families of PGA members, philanthropists and individuals to further its philanthropic goals. For more information on The PGA Growth of the Game grant program, and to learn about the PGA Legacy Society and PGA Planned Giving Program, visit www.pgafoundation.com or call (888) 532-6662. The PGA of America is the world’s largest working sports organization, comprised of 28,000 men and women
Location: Rochester Hills, Mich. PGA Section: Michigan PGA Professional: Randy Erskine Program Director: Cynthia Kidder Grant Amount: $5,800 The primary goal of The Band of Angels Foundation is to advocate for the education and employment of people with Down Syndrome. The Foundation is dedicated to providing educational and inspirational materials to new families as soon as possible after birth or adoption. Persons with Down Syndrome and autism are encouraged to participate in sports and recreation within the community. Academic scholarship programs are utilized to increase the Band of Angels clients’ opportunities for growth in his/her career.
Location: Thompsonville, Mich. PGA Section: Michigan PGA Professional: Ina Davis Program Director: Ina Davis Grant Amount: $1,350 The Golf After School program targets Betsie Valley Elementary School in Thompsonville, Mich., which is 72 percent economically disadvantaged. The program is for 7-10 year olds, who are in the 2nd-5th grades, and is held on Wednesdays during May and two weeks in June. In addition, Crystal Tree Golf Course offers many affordable junior instruction programs and free golf to juniors Sunday-Thursday after 4 p.m., when accompanied by an adult. There are special forward junior tees at 200-, 150- and 100-yards to make the game more enjoyable.
Location: West Palm Beach, Fla. PGA Section: South Florida PGA Professional: William Decker Program Director: Keith Stuhler Grant Amount: $9,750 The Children’s Golf Foundation has been teaching golf to mentally and/or physically challenged children since 1988. In 2002, the Foundation completed the first facility in the nation designed from the ground up for mentally and/or physically challenged children.
Location: Naples, Fla. PGA Section: South Florida PGA Professional: Larry J. Gantzer Program Director: Larry J. Gantzer Grant Amount: $4,688 Collier Junior Golf Inc.’s mission is to introduce golf to every child at every elementary and middle school in the Collier County School System. The program is taught by
Location: Appleton, Wis. PGA Section: Wisconsin PGA Professional: Carolyn Barnett-Howe Program Director: Carolyn Barnett-Howe Grant Amount: $9,525 Fox Valley Golf Initiative’s target group is K-8 elementary and middle school children in the Appleton Catholic Education System (ACES). The students are taught during their physical education classes by both a PGA Professional and P.E. teacher in the gymnasium. On the last day, they take a field trip to either High Cliff Golf Course or Winagamie Golf Course at a cost of $2.50 per junior for the bus; and $3 each for the course access fee.
Location: Appleton, Wis. PGA Section: Wisconsin PGA Professional: Steve Howe Program Director: Steve Howe Grant Amount: $10,195 Fox Valley Golf Initiative also targets K-8 elementary and middle school students in the Menasha Joint School District – a blue collar district. The children are taught during their physical education classes by both a PGA Professional and P.E. teacher in the gymnasium. On the last day, they also take a field trip to either High Cliff Golf Course or Winagamie Golf Course at a cost of $2.50 per junior for the bus; and $3 each for the course access fee.
Location: Orlando, Fla. PGA Section: North Florida PGA Professional: TBD Program Director: Allen Perreault Grant Amount: $3,000 Future Masters was started in 2001, with the mission of teaching kids 3-18 years old how to play golf. Since then, Future Masters has grown from 25 to 200 kids. The introductory program is for children and parents. It is a six-week series, with the first four weeks dedicated to golf instruction; followed by a skills competition during Week 5; and a tournament and awards program in Week 6. There is a “Player of the Year” program to encourage the juniors to stay with them throughout the year.
Golf: For Business and Life is a PGA of America college initiative, designed to teach and improve the golf skills of students through instruction provided by PGA Professionals, and to suggest ways in which the students can use golf as a business tool as they enter the professional world. It is available to college juniors, seniors and graduate students. The PGA recommends a class of 24; three PGA professionals; 1.5-2 hour classes per session; and a minimum of 16 sessions. Listed below are the eight universities that are renewing during this cycle:
School: Clemson University Location: Clemson, S.C. PGA Section: Carolinas PGA Professional: Rick Lucas Program Director: Bob Brookover Program Established: 2004 Grant Amount: $18,750
School: Coastal Carolina University Location: Conway, S.C. PGA Section: Carolinas PGA Professional: Gil Feagin Program Director: Gil Feagin Program Established: 1998 Grant Amount: $16,600
School: Florida International University Location: Miami PGA Section: South Florida PGA Professional: Phil Argianas Program Director: Bill Beesting Program Established: 2006 Grant Amount: $19,400
School: University of Idaho Location: Moscow, Idaho PGA Section: Pacific Northwest PGA Professional: Dawes Marlatt Program Director: Dawes Marlatt Program Established: 2001 Grant Amount: $9,600
School: Ohlone College Location: Livermore, Calif. PGA Section: Northern California PGA Professional: Mike Cowan Program Director: Mike Cowan Program Established: 1985 Grant Amount: $31,100
Location: Rohnert Park, Calif. PGA Section: Northern California PGA Professional: Valentine Verhunce Program Director: Valentine Verhunce Program Established: 2005 Grant Amount: $12,750
School: Truman State University Location: Kirksville, Mo. PGA Section: Gateway PGA Professional: Jim Berrey Program Director: Jim Berrey Program Established: 2003 Grant Amount: $13,000
School: University of Minnesota Location: Coon Rapids, Minn. PGA Section: Minnesota PGA Professional: Jeff Otto Program Director: Jon Tollette Program Established: 2005 Grant Amount: $16,800
Location: North Olmsted, Ohio PGA Section: Northern Ohio PGA Professional: Trevor Hazen Program Director: Bob Wharton Grant Amount: $11,250 This year, free golf lessons were offered for golfers with disabilities. The response was tremendous and proved a need for the program. The program will be conducted at
Location: Sherwood, Ark. PGA Section: South Central PGA Professional: Joe Ralston Program Director: Joe Ralston Grant Amount: $7,500 The Eugene J. Tavkin Health Care Center is the North Little Rock (Ark.) branch of the Veterans Administration Hospital. The complex covers 1,100 acres, and includes Emerald Park Golf Course and Driving Range, which is operated by the Burns Park Golf Course and the City of Little Rock. There are more than 20 volunteers willing to donate their time and efforts to help make the Heart of Golf Program successful. The course is within safe walking distance from the hospital, which provides transportation if necessary.
Location: Huntsville, Ala. PGA Section: Dixie PGA Professional: Charlie Richardson Program Director: TK Richards Grant Amount: $6,919 The Huntsville Metropolitan Youth Golf Foundation is an outgrowth of a group of interested persons who had a vision that the children and youth of their city and county could benefit from golf instruction and learn from the core values associated with the game. In June 2004, they entered into an agreement with the City of Huntsville to conduct a five-day golf clinic. The clinic culminates with all of the children enjoying a three-hole scramble at a local golf course. The children are given a Rules book, a book of etiquette, cap and tee-shirt.
Location: Ft. Pierce, Fla. PGA Section: South Florida PGA Professional: Trent Stewart Program Director: Trent Stewart Grant Amount: $2,250 Indian Hills Country Club was a semi-private club, but was acquired by the City of
Location: Kiawah Island, S.C. PGA Section: Carolinas PGA Professional: Terri Almond Program Director: Harry McHugh Grant Amount: $24,400 The Kiawah/Sea Island Youth Golf Program was founded to provide golf course access and instruction for grammar school boys and girls. Sea Island school children are predominantly African American, with few opportunities for extra curricular activities. Access was secured to four golf courses on Kiawah Island – Cougar Point, River Course, Cassique and Oak Point – and they have enrolled 20 PGA professionals to provide instruction. In addition, the participation of the Island’s three grade schools and one middle school were coordinated.
Location: Boston PGA Section: New England PGA Professional: Jessie Hodges Program Director: Pat Shelton Grant Amount: $1,500 The LPGA-USGA Girls Golf of Greater Boston is a developmental junior golf program for girls ages 7-17, and has been in operation for six years. A majority of the girls are from low-income backgrounds. Program participation by African-American, Hispanic and Asian girls and their mothers/mentors has increased in recent years. Juniors are recruited from local after-school programs, middle schools and community churches.
Location: East Lansing, Mich. PGA Section: Michigan PGA Professional: Scott Barla Program Director: Tim Czelada Grant Amount: $24,560 The Midnight Golf Program continues to serve a neglected segment of the population of Detroit: 17-22 year old men and women. The grant money has benefited approximately
Location: DeKalb, Ill. PGA Section: Illinois PGA Professional: Pam Tyska Program Director: Pam Tyska Grant Amount: $1,000 The Northern Illinois University (NIU) Hook a Kid on Golf in the Schools Program is a collaborative effort that involves: the NIU men’s and women’s golf teams, DeKalb Elementary School District 428, DeKalb Community Foundation, Hook a Kid on Golf and other instructional opportunities that integrate golf into the local elementary school physical education programs. The program will expand into the summer through a camp (12 hours of instruction and three hours on the course) and clinic program (seven hours of instruction and three hours on the course). Approximately 40-50 percent of the families of these school children are classified as “low income” by School District 428.
Location: Wylie, Texas PGA Section: Northern Texas PGA Professional: Section Program Director: David G. Anderson Grant Amount: $14,063 The Golf In Schools program is designed to introduce and teach the game to youth in elementary, middle and high school physical education classes. Golf course and driving range access is a key component of the learning process for the students in the program. The after school initiative gives youth an opportunity to participate in the program through their school. Children receive transportation to a local golf facility via school district busses, to further enhance their introduction to the game. OMAHA PUBLIC SCHOOLS JUNIOR GOLF Location: Omaha, Neb. PGA Section: Nebraska PGA Professional: TBD Program Director: Bruce Lubach Grant Amount: $10,688 The mission is to introduce golf to 4th-6th grade children in the Omaha Public School System. The program is designed to be taught by local PGA professionals. Nearly 59 percent of the total population of the students in the School System are eligible for the National Free and Reduced Lunch Program. The goal is to make Omaha Public Schools Junior Golf an annual program. A long-range objective is to develop and implement a junior league program for the participants as the program grows.
Location: Elk Grove, Ill. PGA Section: Illinois PGA Professional: Christine Regenberg Program Director: Donna Strum Grant Amount: $15,000 The Revelation Golf program was developed to provide golf as a therapeutic tool -- socially, emotionally and physically -- for children with cancer, as well as adults and juniors with physical disabilities. It was previously offered for 12 years through a local rehabilitation hospital. The clinical therapist who was involved with the hospital and is now heading up this program feels that golf is the best therapeutic tool available to enhance the lives of
Location: Sacramento, Calif. PGA Section: Northern California PGA Professional: Ken Morton Sr. Program Director: Ken Morton Sr. Grant Amount: $9,300 SAVING STROKES is an American Stroke/Heart Association Program to rehab stroke victors through the game of golf. The program has grown from 30 to 136 people in Sacramento since 2001, and from one location to six locations. The Saving Strokes program gets stroke victims outdoors. to better build new relationship. as well as provide physical therapy rehab. The objectives are all about empowering stroke victors to learn and play the great game of golf.
Location: The Woodlands, Texas PGA Section: Southern Texas PGA Professional: Section Program Director: Louisa Bergsma Grant Amount: $10,625 In 1994, the Little Linksters Program started with the instructional sites in the Greater Houston area. By 2005, the program offered more than 46 instructional sites.
Location: Dallas PGA Section: Northern Texas PGA Professional: Leah Berst Program Director: Dana Dempsey Grant Amount: $3,750 Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children (TSRHC) is a world leader, serving children with orthopedic conditions, related neurological disorders and learning differences. The Hospital has never charged a patient’s family for treatment. The mission of the TSRHC Junior Golf Program is to develop programs which promote golf to beginners and experienced Texas junior golfers with physical challenges, as well as provide golf Professionals and allied healthcare professionals with the tools they need to instruct junior golfers with
Location: Apalachin, N.Y. PGA Section: Central New York PGA Professional: Bernie Herceg Program Director: Bernie Herceg Grant Amount: $5,109 The Hiawatha Golf Project “Adaptive Golf Program” is targeted at individuals who wish to use the game of golf as a tool of rehabilitation and/or recreation. The program is offered to an audience actively involved in rehabilitation from injury or illness, including people who have prosthetic and adaptive devices. The summer program (May-September) is scheduled for
Location: Atlanta PGA Section: Georgia PGA Professional: William Lewis Program Director: Jim Neal Grant Amount: $1,500 The First Tee of Atlanta provides public school students with a golf camp during their spring break. The program provides disadvantaged youth a free junior golf clinic, golf clubs, range access, range balls and course access. Breakfast and lunch is provided for these inner city kids in a safe, structured environment.
Location: Salt Lake City PGA Section: Utah PGA Professional: James Kilgore Program Director: James Kilgore Grant Amount: $3,750 Designed to expose youth to the game of golf through a weeklong day camp, the “U of U Junior Golf Academy” teaches fundamental skills, etiquette, Rules and the history of the game. Discount junior golf passes are offered to encourage students to patronize the facility and continue to play.
Location: Dublin, Ohio PGA Section: Southern Ohio PGA Professional: Derek Kinzer Program Director: Derek Kinzer Grant Amount: $3,100 The ViaQuest Foundation Golf and Life Skills Program was established to provide individuals with special needs -- as a result of mental retardation, developmental disabilities, mental health issues and behavioral challenges -- with alternative recreational activities that can be utilized to enhance their life skills. The program has provided a total of 432 hours of golf instruction to 36 adolescents. Two of these participants have gone on to win four gold medals in Special Olympics competition. In addition, two individuals have obtained employment at a local golf facility.
Location: Wexford, Pa. PGA Section: Tri-State PGA Professional: Robert Friend Program Director: Patrick Monaghan Grant Amount: $2,250 The Woodlands is a non-profit organization that is devoted to enriching the lives of children and adults with disabilities and chronic illness. In 2003, the Woodlands built the region’s first fully adaptive par-3 golf course for people with disabilities. Meanwhile, the Woodlands
Location: Atlanta PGA Section: Georgia PGA Professional: Leonard Jones Program Director: LeJean Gould Grant Amount: $3,938 The Youth Golf and Life Skills Program features two Summer Camp Sessions including golf skills and life skills. The Program’s target group is Africa American youth, ages 8-15. Support and training are provided for youth golfers (with an emphasis on females) that continues through college and entry into their chosen profession. The organization also focuses on the development of women’s collegiate golf teams, identifies career opportunities within the golf industry and helps women in general use the game as a tool to forward their careers. ### Download 65.67 Kb. Share with your friends:
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