Event will Serve as Official Launch for “Cart Smarts” Safety Program
Woodland, Calif.- The 4th Annual Bill Dougherty Memorial Junior Golf Tournament is set for Friday, July 10, 2009 at Yolo Fliers Club in Woodland, Calif. This tournament (with its JGANC “Premier” ranking) will attract a full field of competitors ages 12-17. The event will also serve as the “official launch” for Cart Smarts, an education program that promotes golf cart safety for youth and adults.
This innovative Cart Smarts program was co-founded by junior golfers Mia Dougherty and Will Scarlett (both from Woodland, Calif.) who’ve conducted research and created an informative brochure which lists Do’s and Don’ts when operating a motorized golf car. Besides helpful tips, the collateral material includes images (displaying proper cart etiquette), statistical information about accidents/injuries, and personal testimonials from golfers whose lives (and/or that of their loved ones) have been altered due to injuries sustained in a golf vehicle mishap.
According to Co-Founder Mia Dougherty, it was the unexpected loss of her grandfather that served as the impetus for her, and family friend Will Scarlett to establish a program whose mantra is: Be Smart in a Cart! “Our Cart Smarts program was established in memory of my grandfather who loved the game of golf,” shared Dougherty. “Unfortunately, due to a golf car accident he is no longer with us, but we continue to hold an annual tournament in his memory and are committed to sharing important information on how to be safe when driving or riding in a golf cart.”
The Smart in a Cart initiative informs players about an overwhelming statistic– that approximately 1,000 Americans are injured each month in golf car-related accidents, with children involved more than 30% of the time.
“Our goal is to help save lives by sharing all we know about golf cart safety with our friends and other golfers,” stated Co-Founder Will Scarlett. “As we continue to share these safety tips, we hope other golfers will take what they learn and share it too. The more golfers that are informed, the more lives we can save.”
While the upcoming tournament at Yolo Fliers Club is considered the “official unveiling” for the Be Smart in a Cart program, the founders (who are both active participants in The First Tee of Greater Sacramento) were given an opportunity to present golf cart safety tips to fellow junior players at a recent chapter tournament held at Granite Bay Golf Club.
In addition to The First Tee of Greater Sacramento and the JGANC, Dougherty and Scarlett have reached out to other golf organizations about sharing their safety news. The response has been positive and Cart Smarts brochures will be distributed at Northern California Golf Association (NCGA) Junior Tour Tournaments, Future Collegians World Tour (FCWT) Junior Golf Tour events, and at an upcoming event in Arkansas hosted by The First Tee. In addition, the Cart Smarts education initiative has received endorsement from The National Council for Better Health Through Golf, more commonly known as Doctor’s Orders: Play Golf.
“I enthusiastically join family, friends, and Yolo Fliers Club members in support of what Mia and Will are doing through their educational initiative,” stated PGA Host Professional Jeff Burger. “Because of its poignant educational content, each member at our club will receive a copy of the Cart Smarts brochure.”
For more info about the Bill Dougherty Memorial Junior Golf Tournament and/or to download the Be Smart With a Cart brochure visit: http://billdoughertymemorial.com/index.html.
Contact:
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