RIDGEWOOD, NJ– Where is the next Tiger Woods or Michelle Wie? And where will they come from? One Bergen County resident is betting they might be somewhere in this golf-rich community, and he is going to make an effort to find them by building a Total Golf Adventures program throughout this county.
Kevin Rooney just acquired the rights to operate a Total Golf Adventures territory in Bergen County for one of the leading companies that reaches out to youngsters in grades K through 8 with the only national at-school, after-school golf enrichment program.
Rooney, a New Jersey native, joins 32 others, operating junior golf programs in 20 states. Since launching in fall of 2004, TGA instructors have introduced golf to more than 25,000 children in more than 600 schools by using a unique teaching method that supports and reinforces 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.
"When I learned about TGA and what the company has done in a short time, I became completely fascinated by it," said Rooney, who at the age of 22 becomes the youngest territory director. "TGA is nearly three years old and growing. Where else can a 22-year-old get in on the ground floor of a growing business? TGA will enable me to combine my two major interests and educational background—golf, working with children and Sports Management and Marketing. What better way for a youngster to learn about life than through golfâ?¦whether these youngsters become great golfers or not, doesn’t matter. They will take away from the TGA programs valuable life-long lessons."
"I was very fortunate growing up," Rooney said. "My father introduced me to golf when I was 10 years and I have been playing regularly ever since."
Rooney earned his degrees in Sports Management and Marketing at the University of Tampa. "It is amazing what you can learn by watching the pros play and by being around the business end of golf. Now I want to put that to use in getting as many youngsters in Bergen County involved in golf as possible. TGA provides school age children both in golfing and non-golfing families a great opportunity to take up the game and be part of a youth movement that has just seen the tip of the iceberg," he 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:
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 Kevin join our team. Not only is TGA a solid business venture, it provides our programs 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 nearly three years is primarily due to several facts. "First, the entrepreneurial energy of our territory managers; second, there is strong interest among the youth of America for a golf program and lastly, schools are craving for at-school, after-school, realistic programs."
"We know that there are new stars like Woods and Wie out there; maybe our territory directors, like Kevin, will be instrumental in finding the next superstar."
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?¢, a 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 initiatives.
Total Golf Adventures (www.totalgolfadventures.com) is endorsed and named as the official junior golf initiative by the Golf Range Association of America (GRAA); is 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
516 835 1151
BERGEN COUNTY: KEVIN ROONEY
krooney@totalgolfadventures.com
201-230-9502
