More than 50 students who started with the Detroit area TGA program in schools and community centers find success in one of golf’s leading junior initiatives
Detroit, MI – The Motor City and its large metropolitan area has a new glowing and growing reputation, thanks in part to TGA Premier Junior Golf (TGA).
It’s a place where the game of golf is growing. Southeast Michigan is one of 57 markets across the country where thousands of youth are in full swing with TGA chapters through its introductory school and community based golf programs.
This couldn’t be more evident than the numbers from the 2016 local Drive Chip and Putt competition in which more than 50 Motor City area TGA students participated, and 14 kids qualified to the next stage. More are expected for the 2017 event.
“I was really thrilled to see so many TGA kids participate in Drive, Chip and Putt this year,” said Dave Robinson, director of TGA of Southeast Michigan. “Some of the qualifiers are experienced tournament players who qualified last year or have had significant success in competitive golf. But some were competing for the first time. We work very hard in creating the pathway for these kids to learn the game and be able to grow with it and become lifelong golfers.”
Detroit has often been associated with a struggling economy, but has been showing signs of recovery with the comeback of the auto-industry. Golf rounds are up 3.2% over last year and Robinson’s TGA program is doing an impressive job planting the seed for the future. His golf programs are growing the game in 90 schools in the Metro-Detroit area. During the 2015-2016 year he has had nearly 3,000 kids go through TGA with 2,124 kids participating in after-school golf enrichment programs and over 800 youngsters in summer camps at local golf courses.
Amy Timpf’s daughter, Lauren, has been participating in TGA programs in the Detroit area since she was in the first grade and is now a 5th grader. She has participated in numerous programs, camps, tournaments, and leagues, and Amy says TGA has prepared Lauren to play competitively and have a lifelong love of the game.
“TGA programs and camps are structured to teach the game while having fun, and the coaches have been very encouraging,” Amy said. “This has prepared her to play competitively on the Michigan Junior Tour and participate in Drive, Chip, and Putt, as well as be exposed to peers who share the same love of the game.”
Drive, Chip and Putt is a joint initiative founded in 2013 by the Masters Tournament, United States Golf Association and The PGA of America. It is a free nationwide junior golf development competition open to boys and girls ages 7-15 focusing on the three fundamental skills employed in golf.
The TGA model, with its focus on youth ages 6-13, fits perfectly with the Drive, Chip, and Putt demographics, and has become a growing feeder system and pathway to introduce kids to the competition.
TGA, (Teach, Grow, Achieve), first launched its Player Pathway in 2003. TGA begins by delivering extended-day golf enrichment programs at Pre-K, Elementary and Middle Schools putting golf on the same menu for kids as the mainstream core sports. Parents are given the option to enroll their children in the sport through a before or after-school golf program they otherwise may not have considered.
About TGA Premier Junior Golf
TGA Premier Junior Golf (TGA) is one of the leading industry models bringing new players into the game. The franchise business model, the only one of its kind and 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.
For more information about TGA Premier Junior Golf, visit www.playtga.com or follow @TGAJuniorGolf on Twitter.
Contact:
Media Contacts:
TGA of Southeast Michigan
Dave Robinson – Owner/Chapter Director
(248) 252-0208
DRobinson@golftga.com
www.playtga.com/semichigan
TGA Premier Junior Golf
Kevin Frisch – Public Relations
(989) 614-0241
kevin@playtga.com