ORANGE COUNTY, CA—Will there ever be another Tiger Woods or Lorena Ochoa? Two junior golf programs are being launched in Orange County, CA to help find out! Total Golf Adventures, The Premier Junior Golf Program and the only national at-school, after-school golf enrichment program, has opened Orange County, with two territory managers, hoping to introduce golf to as many youngsters as possible and maybe even find the next super star.
In most markets when Joshua Jacobs, president and founder of Total Golf Adventures, opens a new territory he finds the appropriate territory manager. Because of size of Orange County from a geographical standpoint as well as it being the hotbed of junior golf, he realized the need for two territory managers to handle the potential capacity.
Hence, Total Golf Adventures, based in El Segundo, announced today that Robert Barretto will serve as the North County TGA territory manager and Anthony Leone, PGA Apprentice, as the South County manager.
To put this into perspective, Total Golf Adventures has put close to 37,000 K-8th grade students through its at-school, after-school programs in four years. With the addition of Orange County, Total Golf Adventures has 42 programs in 24 states.
In North County, school districts include: Costa Mesa, Tustin, Orange, Placentia/Linda, Fullerton and Anaheim.
In South County, school districts include: Saddleback Valley Unified, Irvine Unified and Newport Mesa Unified.
"Orange County is a hot bed of golf." says Jacobs. "It has produced many prominent junior golf stars such as Tiger Woods from its area. Schools are receptive to TGA not only from the educational aspect, but from the golf emphasis of our curriculum as well. Based on the sheer number of youth interested in golf, it would be difficult for one person to manage the county and we are fortunate to have found two people such as Robert and Anthony with the enthusiasm for our youth and understanding of the game."
Leone had the benefit of working in TGA’s headquarters when he decided he had been "smitten" by the bug to get into the field with his own territory. Armed with headquarters training, a degree from Rio Hondo College he decided to take the leap. Anthony had previous work experience in junior golf when he established a junior program for Industry Hills Golf Club in the City of Industry. He competes in professional tournaments and is working toward his Class A PGA pro status.
"My passion is for teaching and inspiring young people. There is no greater satisfaction," says Leone. "Working with Orange County youth will give me that satisfaction."
Robert has been self employed since 1997 and has successfully run three business’ ranging from 5 to 75 employees. He also has over twelve years of experience teaching Martial Arts to kids and adults with ages ranging from 5 years to 60 years of age. Robert has been playing golf for over 34 years and played competitive high school and college golf and currently carries a 3.1 index at The Retreat Golf & Country Club.
"What truly attracted me to the TGA program was the fact that we’re able to introduce the greatest character building sport to kids at such a young age where they’re probably the most impressionable. And unlike other team sports where honesty and values aren’t necessarily taught on the playing field, golf not only demands it, but the TGA program instills them with each and every class. It’s not very often that you get an opportunity where your career can not only make a positive impact on your own family’s lives, but also for the endless number of kids that go through your program," said Barretto.
With schools already in session, both Leone and Barretto have signed commitments from districts and schools in their territories and are beginning the search for instructors to work in the program. "We know we have to take baby steps," both men echoed, "this unique territory and business has tremendous potential from a business standpoint, in addition to impacting children’s lives."
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).
TGA has built a strong corporate base of supporters which are supplying a variety of services and products. Just added to a growing list of partners/sponsors is Staples which provides the territory managers with an easy way to produce printed materials. 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, 516835 1151
Orange County: Anthony Leone (626) 641-1973; anthony@totalgolfadventures.com;
Robert Barretto: (714) 745-5139 rbarretto@totalgolfadventures.com
