School-based model of growing the game joins forces with Southern Texas PGA
Spring, TX – The Southern Texas PGA (STPGA) has partnered with TGA Premier Junior Golf (TGA) to bring TGA’s innovative Player Pathway to the STPGA and seamlessly transition new and current golfers from schools to STPGA programs, tournaments and PGA Professionals at golf courses.
This is the latest and third partnership of its kind between TGA and PGA Sections. The Northern Texas PGA and Southern California PGA previously partnered and endorsed one of the nation’s leading junior golf programs and initiatives to grow the game at the grass roots level.
“The STPGA is excited to partner with TGA to help grow junior golf in south Texas. The model that TGA has implemented in our local schools is a perfect starting point for potential STPGA Junior Golfers,” said Thomas Hutton, Director of Junior Golf for the STPGA. “If we are able to successfully transition juniors from golf in schools to golf at facilities and tournaments with PGA Professionals, our game has a very bright future.”
Through joint marketing and branding efforts, both the STPGA and TGA will work together to promote each other’s programs. This includes TGA’s school, community and camp programs and STPGA’s Team Golf, Little Linksters, and Junior Links tournaments. STPGA will also promote TGA’s franchised business model to its Professionals and parents of its participants. The partnership will funnel students and families from schools and community center programs to STPGA facilities and STPGA Professionals.
“Creating a player pathway for parents and juniors has become attractive to PGA of America Sections in their bid to grow participation and retention while impacting local PGA Professionals, “said Joshua Jacobs, CEO of TGA. “This starts with TGA by making golf available to all demographics through a self-sustaining school and community based activation model that creates a pipeline of players, both youth and adults, that seamlessly feeds into STPGA programs and tournaments.”
About Southern Texas PGA
The Southern Texas Section of the PGA of America is comprised of over 800 golf professionals representing over 200 facilities in Southern Texas. The geographic area includes Beaumont, Houston, Bryan-College Station, Austin, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande Valley. The STPGA Foundation also introduces and provides youth in south Texas broad opportunities to experience the game of golf, develop their talent as players and themselves as individuals and promote scholarship benefits to as many qualified candidates as possible.
For more information about the Southern Texas PGA visit www.stpga.com
About TGA Premier Junior Golf
TGA Premier Junior Golf (TGA) has been enriching the lives of youth for more than 10 years through its school-based youth golf programs. It is an innovative franchise model 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 through consistent programs that offer physical education and after-school programs at elementary and middle schools, childcare centers and community centers.
Entrepreneur Magazine named TGA a “Top 10 Franchise Value” in 2010 based on total startup costs, as well as No. 295 on the Magazine’s Franchise 500 rankings in 2012. In addition, the publication has ranked TGA among the top children’s fitness, low-cost and home-based franchises the last few years.
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.playtga.com.
Contact:
Southern Texas PGA
Thomas Hutton, PGA
Director of Junior Golf
Southern Texas PGA
(832) 442-2404
THutton@pgahq.com
TGA Premier Junior Golf
Kevin Frisch
Public Relations
(989) 614-0241
kevin@playtga.com