OAKLAND COUNTY, Mich.-Who says golf isn’t growing? While statistics indicate a flat to somewhat downward trend in the sport, one element of golf continues to thrive. Dave Robinson is proving that junior golf is alive, healthy and growing in Michigan.
Shortly after Robinson gave up his newspaper career of 32 years – 22 with at the Detroit Free Press – he acquired the Macomb County and neighboring Grosse Pointes franchise for Total Golf Adventures, the national premier provider of at-school, after-school golf enrichment programs.
Today, just six months after he began operations in Macomb and the Grosse Pointes, he is already expanding by acquiring the East Oakland County franchise from its previous owner, Rich Coatta. In addition to Robinson’s two franchises, Total Golf Adventures has new owners in the Western Wayne and Washtenaw area with David and Jamie Coley.
“Golf is not just a sport, but a valuable lifelong experience,” Robinson said. “The Total Golf Adventures curriculum is a perfect fit for exposing children – even kindergarteners and preschoolers – to a sport they can play the rest of their lives, with friends, parents, grandparents and then their own children and grandchildren.”
Robinson has 28 winter classes scheduled in Macomb and the Grosse Pointes, plus a full schedule of summer camps at Sycamore Hills Golf Course. He will begin with at least seven after-school classes in East Oakland, with many more scheduled for spring. He’s also pursuing a golf-course partnership for summer camps in East Oakland.
Robinson was sports editor of the Free Press from 1985 to 1993, then deputy managing editor through 2007. He coordinated coverage of many international sporting events, including the Olympics from 1996 through 2004, the 2004 Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills and the 2006 Super Bowl at Ford Field. His work also focused on students. Robinson was one of the founders of the Yak’s Corner program for children and worked closely with high school journalists from Detroit Public Schools whose newspapers were published by the Free Press.
“I’ve always loved working with kids – from 10 years coaching my son and daughter’s Liittle League teams, to working with young journalists at the Free Press,” Robinson said. “I’m really looking forward to seeing the smiles as TGA students learn to play golf.”
“Dave is a quick study in grasping what TGA is accomplishing throughout the country,” said Joshua Jacobs, President and CEO of TGA. “He stepped right in developing programs in Macomb County and the Grosse Pointes schools. These are wonderful golf communities and were always high on our radar as growth opportunities for TGA and the game of golf. His acquiring East Oakland County is further proof of Dave’s commitment to the TGA concept, and it greatly broadens his opportunities. TGA is excited at the progress he has made and we know he will succeed in his entire territory.”
TGA has put more than 38,000 K-8th grade students through its programs, and there are 42 TGA programs in 22 states, with more than 1,500 schools participating.
Total Golf Adventures (TGA) 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.
TGA is one of the fastest-growing sports franchises and junior golf companies because the traditional barriers of convenience and cost that prevent 90% of children from playing golf are eliminated 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.
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Macomb/Grosse Pointes and East Oakland County: Dave Robinson, 586-489-8332 or 248-252-0208; drobinson@totalgolfadventures.com.
For TGA: Alan Taylor 516-835-1511
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