SALT LAKE CITY—The urge to own and build a business in the golf industry while making a difference in his community was the driving force that led Nate Olson to acquiring the Salt Lake City territory for Total Golf Adventures; the fast-growing at-school, after-school golf enrichment program.
Tired of the traditional marketing positions for major corporations and his love of golf were compelling enough reasons for Olson to bag the "shirt and tie" gig and take on the challenge of introducing golf to youngsters K-8 with the unique curriculum of Total Golf Adventures, a California-based company that has programs in close to 900 schools in 21 states.
Olson is currently working as an assistant PGA golf professional at The Jeremy Golf and Country Club in Park City, a position he hopes to keep as it will interface well with his new TGA territory.
"I am jumping into TGA full time," beams Olson. "I want to put golf clubs into the hands of as many kids as possible. I may reduce my teaching hours at the club, but will continue to use the facility for private lessons."
A graduate of the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science degree (Marketing Major), Olson has been playing golf since his father introduced him to the game at age 14. He played golf competitively at the junior and senior high school levels, including winning the Utah High School State Championship in 2000.
"I consider myself very lucky that I found TGA through the internet. The opportunity for me to stay in golf, build my own business and to work with youngsters to help grow the game is a dream come true. I know the youngsters and their parents in Salt Lake and surrounding areas will be excited to learn about this unique at-school, after-school enrichment program," he adds.
"You can’t beat Nate’s enthusiasm," says Joshua Jacobs, founder and president of Total Golf Adventures. "Not only do you need the entrepreneurial spirit, but a business background and knowledge on how to teach the game. We’re fortunate in the sense that Nate has all three traits."
Nate and his wife Cassie live in Coalville with their two-year-old son, Tucker.
The TGA curriculum was developed with input from PGA Professionals and PhD’s in Child Development and Education. Their input has ensured that TGA teaches golf in a manner that is easy for children to learn and retain while reinforcing educational concepts. In addition to instruction, 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 USGA and National Golf Foundation).
Total Golf Adventures, the rapidly growing junior golf organization that has put close to 30,000 K-8th grade students through its at-school, after-school programs in four years, just added Staples to a growing list of partners/sponsors. Participating with TGA are: Nicklaus Golf Equipment, the official provider of junior golf clubs; Garb, Inc., the official provider of apparel for participants and staff; Divix Golf, designer and manufacturer of a patented divot tool, Mini Hat Clip, and Groover; and Almost Golf Ball’s P3 Ball, providing a safe, practice ball for TGA programs, and IZZO which is providing golf teaching aids and practice tools to help make the game fun for students to learn.
Total Golf Adventures (www.totalgolfadventures.com) is endorsed and named as the official junior golf initiative by the National High School Golf Coaches Association (NHSGCA) and 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
(516) 835-1151
For Salt Lake City:
Nate Olson (435) 640-4808
saltlake@totalgolfadventures.com
