The Association’s Foundation has granted the City of Long Beach’s Junior Golf Association $5,000.00 for the conduct of a pilot program geared toward introducing the game of golf to the very youngest of children. “We have lots of junior programming designed for older children, particularly 11-17 year olds, but we really have no programs appropriate for kids in the 4-7 year old range,” said Lisa Georgeson, Director of the Long Beach Junior Golf Association (LBJGA). “We hope this program (designed by a local LPGA Golf Professional) will fill that programming gap.”
The program will be run out of the Long Beach Junior Golf Academy Building on the East side of the Heartwell Golf Course parking lot. Heartwell, the place where a 3-year old Tiger Woods first started playing the game, is the home of the Long Beach Junior Golf Association. The night-lighted 18-hole 3-par golf course with large driving range and ample short game / putting practice facilities is an ideal location for introducing youngsters to the game.
If all goes well with the pilot project, the city plans to incorporate it into its regular fare of junior golf programming. While the PLGA Foundation is wholly funding the pilot project and by implication will continue a measure of funding in future years, once the project goes from “pilot” stage to permanent feature of Long Beach junior golf programming, the city can tap myriad other sources of funding to both expand the program and complement the Foundation’s funding.
PLGA FOUNDATION
GUARANTEEING PUBLIC GOLF’S FUTURE
The PLGA Foundation, created in the middle `1990’s by a start-up grant from the Public Links Golf Association, is in the middle of its most successful and aggressive year.
In 2007 the Foundation will support in whole or part the following specific initiatives:
- Long Beach Junior Golf Association Pilot Project for introducing the youngest of the young to the game;
- LA County / Public Links Junior Golf Championships – five (5) regional tournaments culminating in one (1) final Championship at Santa Anita County Golf Course in September;
- Boy’s CIF Southern Section High School Regional Championships at Lakewood County Golf Course on May 7;
- Girl’s CIF Southern Section High School Individual Championships at Diamond Bar County Golf Course on November 8;
- Los Angeles Junior Chamber of Commerce (LAJCC) Urban Youth Golf Program at Hansen Dam Golf Course in Pacoima;
- Knabe Cup High School Boys and Girls Tournaments;
- LA City Junior Golf Championships;
- Long Beach Junior Golf Association;
- Academic scholarships and junior golf program scholarships; and
- Provision of complimentary Handicap Indexes and membership services to junior golfers who are members of PLGA golf clubs and junior specific golf programs.
The Foundation’s mission is simple – to ensure the future of the public game in Southern California by providing support and scholarships to junior golf. “Nothing is more important or a better use of our time and energy,” says Foundation President Gary Grommett
The Foundation is wholly dependent upon the generosity of member clubs, individuals and the corporate community to carry out its mission. Among the Association’s largest annual donors are Alliance Bank, APV Manufacturing & Engineering, and Snak Club. Every donation counts. Every donation is appreciated. Clubs, members and companies interested in helping the PLGA Foundation ensure the future of the public game need only call the PLGA office at (800) 272-7542 or E-mail the Association’s Executive Director at ckessler@justgolf.org to do so. As a 501 (c) (3) corporation, contributions, both monetary and in-kind, are tax deductible
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