The Allied Golf Associations of Colorado are confident that the golf-in-schools program that they formally announced on Saturday will pay dividends over time. But for his part, CGA executive director Ed Mate points to a personal experience he had as a youngster as one of the main reasons he believes this new initiative will take hold.
“The reason I am an amateur juggler is because some people came to my school when I was a kid and showed us how to juggle,” he said. “So I am confident the in-school program will make an impact. “
The Colorado Section PGA Golf in Schools Program, presented by the Colorado Open Golf Foundation, is one of the most concerted growth-of-the-game initiatives undertaken in the state. Through it, officials from the Allied Golf Associations believe they will reach 9,000 students in 60 schools by the year 2015. The goal is for the program to involve 20 schools and 3,000 students in 2011, then add 10 schools per year the following four years.
The idea is to bring golf to the kids — during physical education classes at school — and expose the game to youngsters who wouldn’t otherwise get to experience golf, then to make the follow-up efforts necessary for them to enjoy the game for a lifetime. And along the way, kids will learn the positive life skills golf espouses. Ideally, this effort not only will pay long-term benefits for the youngsters, but it will bolster the sport of golf in Colorado.
Golf in Schools will put two Colorado PGA professionals in a P.E. class, and they will provide the students golf instruction — at first indoors, but later at a golf course. The program also will provide equipment, including some clubs and BirdieBalls, which are ideal for indoor play but also can be used outdoors.
“This is the first step in a strategic plan to get more kids to play golf,” Colorado PGA executive director Eddie Ainsworth said. “In the past, it was more of a feel-good with no follow-up. This has a built-in follow-up. “¦ I don’t see how the program can fail. Golf is fun, it’s outdoors and you get to hit something. And it’s a sport that you can play from 8 to 80.”
All of the participating PGA professionals will go through certified training for the program, with 2007 PGA of America national Junior Golf Leader award winner Danny Harvanek leading the training. Harvanek, a PGA Master Professional, may also attend some of the P.E. sessions.
Golf in Schools will include field trips to the golf course for participating students, and family golf days for students and their families. Another goal of the program is to help the participating youngsters get into summer programs at nearby golf facilities. There’s even an opportunity for students to learn about ecosystems at golf courses.
Among the Colorado schools participating in Golf in Schools in 2011 (listed with the Colorado PGA professional coordinating the specific programs) are: Adams City High School (Dan O’Shaughnessy), Aurora Academy (Gary Davis), Clear Creek High School (Kyle Heyen), Golden High School (Steve Patterson), Martin Luther King Jr. Early College (Kenny Anderson) and Mead Elementary (Tray Shehee).
Several of the state’s golf organizations, including the Colorado PGA, have worked separately in the past on various in-school programs, helping lay the groundwork for this joint initiative. But now, the weight and resources of all the Allied Golf Associations will be behind the effort, and the program will be more uniform from school to school.
Though the PGA of America has had a Golf in Schools program since 1985, this isn’t an outgrowth of that national program, per se, Ainsworth said. It was more borne out of the efforts of Colorado PGA professionals such as Harvanek, Davis, Shehee, Heyen, Alan Abrams and others who have worked on golf programs with schools over the years.
“We’re taking the best of what they’ve done, the best of what the First Tee does “¦ and tying all the pieces together to grow the sport,” Ainsworth said.
“Our (Colorado Open Golf Foundation) board is very excited about the prospects of this program being successful, and for it having longevity to it,” said Kevin Laura, the chief executive officer for the Foundation. “In the short- and the long-term, we’re excited about the kids we’ll reach and turn on to the game. And with this being an effort of all the allies, we’ll bridge the gaps where other previous programs haven’t been successful.”
The Allied Golf Associations of Colorado include the Colorado PGA, the CGA, the CWGA, the Colorado Open Golf Foundation, the Golf Course Owners Association, the Club Managers Association and the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America.
The Golf in Schools program, which is offered at no cost to students or schools, will be funded by the Colorado PGA Foundation, Colorado Open Golf Foundation sponsors, the CGA and CWGA, and various grants. Contributions to the program would be appreciated, organizers said. Those interested in supporting the program financially should contract RT Nelson from the Colorado PGA at rnelson@pgahq.com or by phone at 303-681-0742.
