EL SEGUNDO—You’ve just finished playing on the LPGA Tour and you’re going into teaching, or you’re an established LPGA teaching pro looking to expand your current clientele. There is a list of entrepreneurial scenarios an ambitious pro can undertake, but one which is unique and offers opportunities that can grow a teaching business, regardless of the state of the industry, is Total Golf Adventures.
Several LPGA members have already joined the new teaching and business concept of Total Golf Adventures’ (TGA) golf instructional enterprise for youngsters. In only three years of operation, TGA, based in El Segundo, Calif., has already opened more than 30 territories across the country with more than 600 schools, 90 camp sites and has registered more than 25,000 students.
Two of TGA’s territories are operated by LPGA teaching pros and several other LPGA members have committed to teaching classes at TGA programs across the country. Juli Hilton, former LPGA Tour player, owns and operates the Placer County (Sacramento Area) territory, while Darlene Sommer, voted a top-50 teacher by Golf For Women magazine, operates in the Finger Lakes region in upstate New York.
Hilton and Sommer both agree that the TGA business model affords them increased teaching opportunities year round and builds relationships with new golfers and their families at an early age that will be long lasting.
"TGA is not only a great business opportunity for me, but I get tremendous satisfaction from seeing results in our kids’ eyes," said Hilton.
Ms. Sommer, on the other hand, is faced with "down time" in the winter months. "TGA allows me to extend my teaching season to virtually year round. I now can teach in schools during what is typically quiet time. The exposure to the children and their families in the winter months will also give me more of a flow through into the summer with camps and even family programs."
"We are opening new territories on a regular basis," said Joshua Jacobs, founder and president of Total Golf Adventures’ unique business. "We are excited about getting more LPGA teaching pros involved in our program. Having teaching pros with the LPGA credential adds to the value of the territory and gains instant credibility with the school systems as well as students and their parents."
"We are welcomed by school systems with enthusiasm. The ability for an LPGA teaching pro to step into this ready-made program is wide open. It is ready made for LPGA Teaching Professionals of all ages who know how to teach golf, work with young people and build a new business or extend their existing teaching business," adds Jacobs.
"Bringing the golf course to schools enables pros to grow the game, teach year around, gain incremental income, establish a stronger community presence, as well as create opportunities for camps, tournaments and clinics," concludes Jacobs.
TGA’s programs extend beyond learning the game of golf and honing the golf swing. Children’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 – when learning the rules and etiquette of golf;
â?¢ Teamwork – classes include competition, and skills contests;
â?¢ Sportsmanship – good sportsmanship is fundamental to the TGA curriculum and is rewarded in classes; and
â?¢ Commitment and Integrity – to complete the designated TGA level.
TGA uses junior golf clubs in four different sizes and the Almost Golf, 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 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; and is a corporate advocate and partner of the President’s Challenge on Physical Fitness.
Contact:
For Total Golf Adventures:
Alan Taylor
Alan Taylor Consulting
alan@alantaylorconsulting.com
516 835 1151 (cell)
561 (Fla). 392 3311
