Los Angeles, CA – TGA Premier Junior Golf, one of the leading initiatives to grow the game of golf and the only national after-school golf enrichment program in the country, honored five of its leading franchises this week by awarding the annual TGA Premier Junior Golf “5 E’s for Excellence Awards”. The awards were presented at the TGA National Conference held at the Wigwam Resort in Phoenix, Arizona.
“TGA HQ is very proud of this year’s winners and the commitment they have given in 2011 to students across the country and to the growth of golf through our five-level enrichment program that transitions students to the golf course,” said Joshua Jacobs, founder and CEO of TGA Premier Junior Golf. “We look forward to honoring our franchises every year for their continued hard work and commitment in running a successful self-sustaining business growing golf.”
The 5 E’s are engrained into TGA’s business culture as well as the TGA curriculum, which guide the interaction of the youth. The 5 E’s include Educate, Embrace, Empower, Enhance, and Engage. The following TGA franchise owners earned the honors this year:
Educate Award – Matt Lacues and Chris Dawkins, TGA of Peninsula Valley in California earned the Educate Award, which is given to the territory who impacted the most enrichment students over the course of the year. Matt and Chris, who also operate two other franchises in San Diego, impacted 1,578 students in 2011 through after-school enrichment programs and summer camps.
Embrace Award – Kevin Rooney – TGA of Bergen County in New Jersey, earned the Embrace Award, which is given to the territory that transitioned the most students to the golf course from enrichment programs at schools. Rooney, who operates one of the most successful franchises in the country, transitioned over 500 kids to the golf course, a record among TGA franchises. TGA partners with over 200 courses nationwide to transition students from schools to the golf course creating new customers and revenue opportunities for area golf courses.
Joe Holiday Empower Award – Kevin Rooney – TGA of Bergen Country in New Jersey, earned his second of the 5’s awards, the Empower Award, which is given to the territory that generates the most revenue during the calendar year. Rooney was the youngest franchise owner in the company at just 22 years old five years ago. Since then, he has developed one of the top franchises in the company, and the leading revenue producer among franchises this year through his many after-school enrichment programs and summer camps.
Michael Jacobs Enhance Award – Michelle Rockholt, TGA of Beach Cities, California, earned the Enhance Award, which is given to the territory who greatly impacts and develops community relationships through TGA over the course of the year. Rockholt, who runs one of the largest junior golf programs in Los Angeles, has made a significant impact in her community by partnering with area foundations and developing summer camp scholarship programs for students whose families fall below the poverty line. She partnered with local governments and area businesses to create opportunities for at-cost afterschool enrichment programs for community families, as well as developing internship programs for high school students to earn community service hours. She also created after school programs for Japanese exchange students through the Takaishi Japan Sister City Organization.
Lee Warner Engage Award – Dave Robinson, TGA of East Oakland County and TGA of Macomb and Grosse Pointes, Michigan, earned the Engage Award, which is given to the territory who gives back to the TGA organization as a whole, for the benefit of the national organization and the betterment of the brand and the franchises. This is the second year in a row that Robinson has earned this honor. Robinson, who has been with TGA the past four years, has become one of the TGA franchise industry leaders for the company by providing advice and consulting with fellow franchisee’s. Robinson is a member of the TGA Franchise Advisory Committee, which works with TGA HQ on strategic initiatives and on operational issues.
About TGA Premier Junior Golf
TGA Premier Junior Golf is an affordable franchise opportunity for self-starters who enjoy working with children in a business venture that provides a unique entry into youth sports, education, and the golf industry. TGA makes golf affordable and accessible to the masses directly through Physical Education and Afterschool Enrichment Programs at elementary and middle schools, child care centers, and community based organizations, as well as transitioning students to golf courses through camps, clinics and private lessons.
TGA, which was named by Entrepreneur Magazine as a Top 10 Best Franchise Deal, moved up in the Magazine’s Franchise 500 rankings from No. 450 in 2009 to No. 319 in 2010. TGA was also ranked 4th among Children’s Fitness Franchises.
TGA is a national supporting organization of the After School Alliance and Lights on After School and is a corporate advocate and national partner of the President’s Challenge on Physical Fitness, Golf Coaches Association, as well as the National Council of Youth Sports. TGA’s curriculums are also approved by the United States Golf Association (USGA) under the Rules of Amateur Status.
For more information about TGA Premier Junior Golf, visit www.golftga.com.
Contact:
TGA Premier Junior Golf
Joshua Jacobs – Founder and CEO
(310) 333-0622
joshua@golftga.com
Fusion Media Strategies
Kevin Frisch
(989) 614-0241
kevin@fusionmediastrategies.com
