Former technology executive invests in youth sports business to grow golf in local schools, community centers and at golf courses
Wake County, NC – TGA Premier Junior Golf (TGA), ensuring golf’s future as the nation’s leading introductory and recreational golf program, has become a strong investment and career opportunity for those who have a passion for sports.
Maryann Von Seggern, a former executive for Riverbed Technology, Cisco Systems and IBM, is the latest entrepreneur to invest in the TGA franchise model in Wake County, North Carolina that encompasses Raleigh. She acquired the franchise business (two golf franchises) from Paul Maskill, who has joined the corporate headquarters at TGA.
Maskill first launched the franchise business in 2011 and since has successfully grown and expanded with additional TGA golf franchise operations generating $325,000 of revenue. Von Seggern recognized the success of the business model and quickly made the career change.
“I have worked for 30 years in corporate America and have had some great careers, but was looking for the next big thing, and an opportunity to own my own business and give back to the community impacting youth, was just perfect for me,” Von Seggern said.
“Paul built a fantastic business, and after doing my due diligence I believed it was an excellent investment and career opportunity. I felt that with my skill sets in business, sales and finance operations, along with being a mom and a golfer, I could continue growing TGA and take it to a new level in Wake County.”
Von Seggern is very familiar with getting youth involved in the game. Maryann and her husband introduced the game to their two children at age seven, with one of them becoming a PGA Professional.
TGA of Wake County is already one of the top TGA territories in the country having more than 6,000 youth to date going through its golf programs. Von Seggern will continue to grow TGA and impact youth through the areas 174 public schools and 79 private schools having access to over 175,000 students.
TGA (Teach Grow Achieve) is scaled throughout the United States through a unique franchise business model. It introduces youth (ages 3-13) and their parents (ages 25-45) to the game of golf through a before- and after-school multi-level enrichment program that incorporates educational subjects like math, language and history, as well as character building, life skills development, health and physical fitness. TGA is also the first youth golf program to include STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) in its curriculum.
The success of the model is two-fold: First, introductory golf programs are brought directly into schools and community centers and put on a level playing field with other mainstream sports by placing it on the menu of activities for elementary and middle school students. Second, following the introductory programs, TGA ushers students and their families to golf courses to participate in recreational programs such as camps, leagues and parent-child events.
“Bringing the game of golf directly onto school campuses and community centers make it convenient for working parents and fun for the kids as they can take the programs with their classmates,” Von Seggern explained. “In addition, camps and leagues where kids actually play golf in a fun, structured, and non-competitive environment was a key differentiator to me versus other youth golf programs in our market.”
About TGA Premier Junior Golf
TGA Premier Junior Golf (TGA) is the leading industry model bringing new players into the game and ensuring its future. The franchise business model, recognized by Entrepreneur Magazine as a “Top 10 Franchise Value,” empowers entrepreneurs, PGA Professionals, PGA Sections and Golf Management Companies to activate youth (ages 3-13) and their parents (ages 25-45) through introductory programs at elementary and middle schools, childcare centers and community centers. TGA’s curriculum focuses on instilling a passion and skills development of golf while incorporating character development, STEM core academics, and physical activity. Introductory programs feed into recreational programs at golf courses that include camps and leagues. TGA has taught over 500,000 juniors while making the sport available to 1.5 million families nationwide.
Contact:
TGA of Wake County
Maryann Von Seggern – Chapter Director
(919) 267-5789
mvonseggern@playtga.com
Playtga.com/wakecounty
TGA Premier Junior Golf
Kevin Frisch – Public Relations
(989) 614-0241
kevin@playtga.com
