ASHBURN, VA—The White House may play a little longer than your typical par five from this suburb, but Eddie McGlamery isn’t interested in teaching youngsters how to drive the ball that far as much as he is in introducing them to the finer points of the game. That’s what led this Ashburn-resident to acquire the Northern Virginia territory for Total Golf Adventures, the fastest growing at-school, after-school program of its kind in the country.
"It’s not just how far you drive the ball," says TGA’s newest territory manager. "It is how you arrive on the green and get it in the hole," says this former Marine.
That’s going to be his mission in working with youngsters K-8 in after-school, at-school programs in his Northern Virginia territory.
Eddie’s teaching style will duplicate the style his father employed when he began playing golf at the age of five. "My father impressed upon me that golf is a game of fundamentals, mechanics and values."
He has been playing golf since he was five and he hopes to bring the same learning experiences to the youngsters he will enroll in the Total Golf Adventures programs throughout his Northern Virginia territory.
"Golf is still an integral part of our family life and often the central theme of family outings. "My son is only four and you can bet I am going to have him out there when he turns five."
Prior to joining TGA, Eddie spent 10 years at America Online headquarters in Dulles, overseeing software development initiatives, programming, premium services, member support and at the end, he was technical director of new product and premium services sales and support.
Eddie was a New Englander until age 18 when he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps serving six years of active duty with decorated tours in Desert Storm, Kuwait/Iraq and the Bosnian War.
Last year, he felt the urge to leave the corporate world and try his hand at running his own businessâ?¦enter Total Golf Adventures. Love for golf and running a business.
"It’s a great combination for us," says Joshua Jacobs, founder and president of Total Golf Adventures, an El Segundo-California based company. "When we look for new territory managers, we look for someone deeply rooted in golf with heavy business experience. Someone who has the passion for the game while having the ability to grow their business and introduce youngsters to the game."
"Eddie certainly has that, and we are looking for good growth in the Northern Virginia territory. It is an opportunity to bring golf to youngsters at an early age."
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 contest
â?¢ Sportsmanship – good sportsmanship is fundamental to the TGA curriculum and is rewarded in classes
â?¢ Commitment and Integrity
"We are excited to have Eddie join our team. Not only is TGA a solid business venture, it provides our managers with the opportunity to give something back to their community," said Jacobs. "Our success is primarily due to several facts. First, the entrepreneurial energy of our territory managers; second, there is 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 authentic golf clubs from Nicklaus Golf Equipment, 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) 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, are a corporate advocate and a partner of the President’s Challenge on Physical Fitness.
Contact:
For Total Golf Adventures:
Alan Taylor (Alan@alantaylorconsulting.Com), 516 835 1151
For Northern Virginia:
Eddie Mcglamery (mcglamerye@aol.com), 571 264 7898