CHARLOTTE, NC—Champ Detamore’s four boys want to know when "Dad’s going to get a real job?" That’s a tough question for Champ to answer because he spends all his time on the golf course. But now he can finally turn to his boys and say, "I’ve got a real job!"
But that real job is in what industry? Golf, of course, as the new owner of the Total Golf Adventures Charlotte territory! So, he can even tell his boys that he is working in schools throughout the Charlotte area because that’s exactly what TGA doesâ?¦teach golf to youngsters K-8 in the only after school, at-school program in the country.
"I love what I do, so it’s not like work at all. In fact, it is as if I am going on vacation every day of the year," Detamore says who just moved to the Charlotte area this year.
His golf career began in Arizona in 1993 and he obtained PGA Membership in 1998. Champ has experienced every position in the golf business, from washing carts at a public course in Arizona, to becoming the Director of Golf at an upscale Private Golf Club in Rancho Santa Fe, Ca. He is an accomplished player and instructor and continues to seek ways in which to give back to a game which has given him so much.
Champ was actively involved with the Southwest Section PGA Assistants’ Association and was nominated and held every officer’s position on the Board of Directors. He also spent his spare time volunteering as a Director for the Squaw Peak Junior Golf Tour. Champ was honored with the Horton Smith award, which recognizes a PGA professional, dedicated to educating the PGA professionals in his chapter.
After growing up in a golfing family and spending his summers at the local country club with his club pro and other friends playing golf, he has happy, vivid memories which he would like to create for other children. He and his family reside just south of Charlotte in Fort Mill, SC.
Total Golf Adventures, TGA of Charlotte, is his avenue to do just that. Golf is a sport that is meant to be fun, exciting and rewarding. Lifelong skills can be learned through the game of golf and quality time with friends and family is endless. Students, both young and old, enjoy spending time with Champ to learn or improve their game of golf.
As owner of a TGA territory, it will be Detamore’s responsibility to build programs in as many schools as he can.
"His spirit and aggressiveness is what we want from our territory managers," said Joshua Jacobs, CEC and founder of this three-year-old California-based company. "In the short time we have been operating at-school, after-school programs, we have introduced golf to more than 25,000 youngsters in more than 600 schools in 20 states with 34 territories.
"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 business experience. Someone who has the passion for the game while having the ability to grow their business and introduce youngsters to the game."
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 Champ 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 TGA OF CHARLOTTE
CHAMPDETAMORE: champ@pga.com, Phone:803-547-2917; Cell: 803-981-2199