TAMPA–Where is the next Tiger Woods or Annika Sorenstam? And where will they come from? They are out there, for sure, and one organization is making a concerted effort throughout the United States with a unique at-school, after-school program not just to find the next super star, but to get as many youngsters involved in playing golf.
Tom Egan, a PGA teaching pro in the area, is going to take the challenge to find the next star when he launches the Total Golf Adventures program in the Tampa Bay area. More than 25,000 youngsters have already gone through TGA programs since the company started. TGA, a California-based company, is one of the leading organizations reaching out to school-age (K-8) children with golf programs at-school, after-school. Using a unique five-level teaching method supporting and reinforcing educational concepts taught in school, TGA has created opportunities for children to develop life enhancement skills, learn and improve their golf game while having fun.
"Tom Egan has been a PGA Member since 1998. He has taught several junior programs in the Tampa area, including Cheval, Tampa Palms, Bloomingdale and River Hills. He is currently teaching at the Ace Driving Range in Riverview. His exposure to the youth programs made him the TGA opportunity a perfect match"
"There is nothing like being an owner of your own ‘thing’ and that was one of the big attractions for me with TGA," Egan said. "I already work with youngsters and the after-school, at-school program just was a perfect fit. My own business, and teach youngsters. Not a bad package."
There well may be another Woods or Sorenstam out there, but the TGA programs extend beyond learning the game of golf and honing the golf swing. A child’s passion for golf grows through a program that expands and improves his /her motor skills, coordination, encourages advancement, and builds confidence and self-esteem.
In addition, the TGA program promotes and teaches life values intrinsic to the game of golf:
â?¢ Respect – for the game, their partners, and the golf course
â?¢ Honesty
â?¢ Teamwork – classes include competition, and skills contests
â?¢ Sportsmanship – good sportsmanship is fundamental to the TGA curriculum and is rewarded in classes
â?¢ Commitment and Integrity
"We are excited to have Egan operating a program in the Tampa Bay area. He joins a long list of golf pros who have answered the TGA call. Not only is TGA a solid business venture, it provides our licensees with the opportunity to give something back to their community," said Joshua Jacobs, President and CEO of this fast-growing national youth program.
"Our success in two short years is primarily due to several facts. "First, the entrepreneurial energy of our territory managers; second, the strong interest among youth of America for golf programs and lastly, schools are craving for at-school, after-school, realistic programs."
The TGA curriculum was developed with input from PGA Professionals and PhD’s in Child Development and Education. Their input has ensured that TGA reinforces educational concepts such as arithmetic and reading, while teaching golf. Students learn to: keep score, count strokes (addition/subtraction); judge distances to the golf hole; (visual perception); and, study golf rules and etiquette (reading rule books by the National Golf Foundation or in the case of younger children, identifying with pictures).
TGA uses junior golf clubs in four different sizes and the Almost Golf Ballâ?¢, new practice ball designed to be safe for children and easy to hit. Students’ sense of achievement and accomplishment is fostered as they move through a five level program designated by the TGA colors. In addition to instruction during the five levels, students are introduced to the rules, etiquette, and fundamentals of golf; then transitioned to learning how to play on a golf course. Finally, the advanced level students are prepped to play competitively through TGA and PGA Section teachings.
Total Golf Adventures (www.totalgolfadventures.com has 33 national programs in 24 states. Since launching in Fall of 2004, TGA instructors have taught more than 25,000 children in over 600 schools. TGA is endorsed and named as the official junior golf initiative by the Golf Range Association of America (GRAA); a national supporting organization of the After School Alliance, is a corporate advocate and partner of the President’s Challenge on Physical Fitness.
Contact:
Alan Taylor
Alan Taylor Consulting, Inc.
561-3921740
alan@alantaylor.com
