ITHACA, NY–One of the top 50 women golf instructors in the country has joined Total Golf Adventures as the newest licensee, operating in upstate New York, it was announced today by Joshua Jacobs, founder and CEO of the fastest-growing junior golf program in the country.
Darlene Sommer, voted a top 50 teacher by Golf for Women and nominated to the "Top 100 Golf Instructors" list by Golf Magazine, purchased the license to operate TGA programs in five counties in upstate including Monroe, Ontario, Schuyler, Tompkins and Steuben.
This includes Ithaca, Rochester and Corning.
She joins a growing list of 32 licensees operating junior golf programs in 18 states including territories. In total, there are 17 other licensees who are certified teaching pros throughout the country. Since launching in fall of 2004, TGA instructors have introduced golf to more than 25,000 children in more than 600 schools.
An award-winning Class A teaching member of the Ladies Professional Golf Association, she is best known for her work with juniors, running junior clinics for the last 12 years at the LPGA Corning Classic. These programs helped introduce golf to more than 300 juniors each year. In addition, Darlene started a junior league at Hillendale in Ithaca, a course she helped design, which introduced the game to 120 kids every year.
"Every one of our licensees is unbelievably committed to TGA’s concept of bringing youngsters into golf," said Jacobs. "But to add someone with the statue and credentials that Darlene has is further endorsement that our programming is on target. We are delighted to have Darlene as our licensee in upstate New York. We are confident that she will add a new dimension to our skill set." "Golf needs to bring young people into the game early in their developmental years, and there is no better way to start than with kids. The earlier you start them, the better the chances of keeping them in the game for life. Who knows, we may uncover another Tiger Woods or Michelle Wie," Ms. Sommer’s said. "TGA is a perfect fit for me. Once the winter cold hits New York, golf is gone and forgotten until the next thaw. With the addition of TGA, I can now provide instruction to kids all year long with its at-school, after-school curriculum. I guess I won’t be wintering in Florida any more," she said with a smile.
Darlene developed her "teaching skills" as high school history teacher in New Jersey before moving to the golf course. She began her golf career as an assistant pro at private clubs in New Jersey. In 1985, she became head professional at Hillendale and has been there for 21 years, establishing one of the best golfing environments for juniors and beginners in the country. In 2001, Golf for Women Magazine once again honored her as one of the five "movers and shakers" in golf who are "changing the face of golf for the better."
Ms. Sommer plans to recruit local teaching pros to help handle various parts of her territory. "It will be impossible for me to cover the entire territory so I will turn to some of the teaching pros I know in certain communities," she added.
TGA’s programs extend beyond learning the game of golf and honing the golf swing. A child’s passion for the game of golf grows with a program that expands and improves their motor skills and coordination, encourages their advancement, and builds their confidence and self-esteem.
In addition, the TGA program promotes and teaches life values intrinsic to the game of golf: respect – for the game, their partners, and the golf course: honesty; teamwork – classes include competition, and skills contests; sportsmanship – good sportsmanship is fundamental to the TGA curriculum and is rewarded in classes; commitment and Integrity.
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 from 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. (www.totalgolfadventures.com).
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:
FOR GOLF ADVENTURES:
ALAN TAYLOR (alan@alantaylorconsulting.com, 516 8351151)
LOCAL: Darlene Sommer: Office: 607 330-0574; cell 239 398-8375 (dargolf@aol.com)
