THE WOODLANDS, TX-Move over Sarah Palin and all the hockey moms…here come the golf moms–Julie Monzingo and LPGA Professional Sally Harris as they acquire the North Houston-area franchise for Total Golf Adventures, the only at-school, after-school golf enrichment program that is growing rapidly with programs already in 23 states.
“We certainly qualify as golf moms,” say Monzingo, who is proud mother of Elizabeth, a -month old, and Harris, who is a veteran golf mom with Chase, 10, Drew 7 and Rachel 5. Unlike hockey moms or soccer Moms, Monzingo and Harris will not be driving their youngster around from golf course to golf course…at least not just yet.
Instead, they will be driving to various elementary schools, day care centers and other similar facilities where they will be teaching golf to children in K-8th grades. Their territory covers Conroe, Tomball, The Woodlands, Magnolia, Montgomery, Cypress, North Houston, Spring and Klein.
“This is a totally unique situation for us,” says Joshua Jacobs, president and founder of the fast-growing youth golf program. “We have never had a partnership of two individuals acquiring a Total Golf Adventures franchise. What makes this unique and viable is their backgrounds in golf and their commitment for helping grow the game while being able to raise families. We know that The Woodlands and Houston area are a hotbed of golf and we will impact a number of families within the community there.”
Monzingo comes to the North Houston area from the small west Texas town of Snyder were she was raised and taught the game of golf at the age of 11 by her first coach, her Dad. Julie received a scholarship to play golf on the collegiate level for the University of Mary Hardin Baylor. She played all 4 years and attended the NAIA and NCAA Division III national tournaments four consecutive years. In 2000 she participated on the team which won the national NAIA division tournament.
After graduating from UMHB in 2001 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Julie came to The Woodlands as an assistant golf professional to the Club at Carlton Woods in June of 2001. In her six years of service to Carlton Woods Julie was responsible for many things including heading up the junior and ladies programs as well as running tournaments and events. Julie left Carlton Woods to start a family with her husband Jamey in 2007. Julie and Jamey now have a little girl named Elizabeth “Ellie”. Julie has always enjoyed the game of golf and looks forward to helping the game become more accessible to kids and adults of all ages.
“I met Sally at The Club at Carlton Woods in the Winter of 2008 and knew short after meeting her that she and I would be a great team for a TGA program in the North Houston area. We both have many years of golf instruction exposure, a love of children and a passion to grow the game. We aspire to instill a love and respect for the game of golf into as many children and adults as we possibly can.”
Harris relocated to The Woodlands from San Saba, Texas where she was Head Pro and General Manager of San Saba Golf Club in January of 2008. She also taught golf for Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas.
Active in the community, Sally served on the board of the San Saba Chamber of Commerce. Sally has been an LPGA member for over seven years and has taught lessons and clinic for over 3,000 students in affiliation with Empowered Women’s Golf, University of Arkansas Extended Learning Programs, and in private lessons and clinics. Sally played golf on a full scholarship for two years at Baylor University. Sally has three children Chase age 10, Drew age 7 and Rachel age 5.
“Golf is a skill that helps children with self-esteem, problem solving and also a viable asset to a child’s future in any business they pursue. It is said that 8 out of 10 people that play golf are in a business decision making position and that playing golf with business associates offers an 85% better chance of securing a business deal than other conventional avenues of marketing or promoting ideas and products,” Harris said.
“These impressive statistics make a strong case for including golf in a child’s learning, but due to parents deficiencies of time and the lack of accessibility to the golf course many kids never get the opportunity to pursue golf. TGA is unique in that we can teach almost every aspect of golf in a mobile unit that can go to schools, parks and recreation facilities. Julie and I are so excited to reach children through our efforts and give back to a game which has opened many doors for us throughout our lives.”
Total Golf Adventures (www.totalgolfadvenures.com) was founded in 2003 with a mission to provide all K-8th grade students with access to the game of golf through the first national at-school, after school Golf Enrichment Program and other transition programs. TGA has put more than 40,000 K-8th grade students through its after-school enrichment programs and golf camps. At the present time, there are 44 TGA programs in 22 states with more than 1,500 schools and 225 golf camp locations participating. There are also two programs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
TGA is one of the fastest-growing sports franchises and junior golf companies in the nation, as it breaks down the traditional barriers of convenience and cost that prevent 90% of children from playing the game when golf is brought to the schools.
TGA’s 5 Level Golf Enrichment Program, developed by golf professionals and education experts, teaches the fundamentals, rules and etiquette of golf, while promoting golf’s life values through its character development initiative, “Play the Fair Way with TGA.” TGA transitions students from their schools to the golf course by offering camps, tournaments, clinics and private lessons.
TGA supplies its territory owners with the tools they need to succeed while building a strong base of corporate supporters that supply a variety of services and products to TGA territories. Just added to a growing list of corporate partners/sponsors is Staples®, which provides printed marketing solutions for all TGA territories. Already participating with TGA are Nicklaus Golf Equipment, the official provider of junior golf clubs, and Garb, Inc., the official provider of apparel for participants and staff.
Total Golf Adventures 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 and Lights on AfterSchool, and is a corporate advocate and a partner of the President’s Challenge on Physical Fitness.
Contact:
Total Golf Adventures of North Houston
Julie Monzingo or Sally Harris
(281) 475-3265
6700 Woodlands Parkway Suite 230-325
The Woodlands, TX 77382
For TGA: Alan Taylor (516) 835-1151
Visit: www.totalgolfadventures.com
