With 36,000 participants across 2,900 teams nationwide last year, The PGA of America’s youth grow-the-game initiative has seen a 300% increase in participants compared to three years ago. The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation has also committed $500,000 to The PGA of America to provide underprivileged kids with the opportunity to play golf.
PGA Junior League Golf featured a record-setting 36,000 participants across 2,900 teams nationwide last year, led by the more than 2,000 PGA and LPGA Professionals who served as captains. The growth represents a 300% increase from the 9,000 kids who participated on 740 teams nationwide just three years prior.
“PGA Junior League Golf continues to be one of the most dynamic, youth-focused initiatives led by the PGA of America,” said PGA President Paul Levy. “Thanks to the leadership of PGA and LGPA Professionals nationwide, we expect this exponential growth to continue in 2017.”
The foundational youth growth-of-the-game program of The PGA of America, PGA Junior League Golf offers boys and girls—ages 13 and under of all abilities—a fun, social and inclusive opportunity to learn and play golf in a recreational team setting with their friends, complete with numbered jerseys.
Registration for the 2017 season opens February 1. Consumers can visit PGAJLG.com to learn more, search for programs by ZIP code and register online.
PGA and LPGA Professionals serve exclusively as captains, providing kids with expert coaching and instruction. With parents and family members encouraged to assist as coaches and volunteers, PGA Junior League Golf involves the entire family.
PGA Junior League Golf utilizes a two-person scramble format for competition, which reinforces the team concept and creates a nurturing environment for learning the game. Teams play four, nine-hole matches in a game; Captains can substitute players every three holes, allowing everyone on the team a chance to participate. Teams typically play between four-to-six games in the regular season, which runs from April 1- July 31.
Following the regular season, 10-player all-star teams are formed from a combination of players in each league. Teams move through a series of sub-regional competitions to advance to one of eight regional competitions held across the country. Eight regional champions advance to the PGA Junior League Golf Championship, to be held for the second year at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., November 16-19.
The program also has the support of some of golf’s biggest names, including Rory McIlroy, Michelle Wie, Rickie Fowler and Lexi Thompson, who serve as Official Ambassadors for PGA Junior League Golf.
PGA Junior League Golf is the flagship internal program for the youth pillar of PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America. PGA REACH helps ensure that youth in need have access to PGA Junior League Golf by removing cost-associated barriers.
“PGA Junior League Golf is for everyone, and we are committed to providing all kids the opportunity to learn and play,” said Ryan Cannon, Senior Director of PGA REACH.
The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation and The PGA of America have announced a partnership to bring the game of golf to thousands of underprivileged youth across the country through scholarships to PGA Junior League Golf.
Over the next three years, The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation will commit $500,000 through a Sports Matter grant to The PGA of America to provide thousands of underprivileged kids at Boys & Girls Clubs, The First Tee and other communities across the country the opportunity to learn to play golf. Additionally, participants will receive the benefits of coaching from PGA Professionals and the life lessons the game of golf can provide in a team-based environment.
“The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation Sports Matter grant, combined with additional scholarship funds from the PGA of America, will be used to help offset participation fees for youth golf, introducing thousands of children to the game who may not otherwise have been able to play,” said Pete Bevacqua, CEO for The PGA of America.
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