Annual Junior-Development Awards
Five programs for others to emulate
August 2009
Since 1984, Golf Digest has honored those who make outstanding contributions to junior golf with our annual junior-development awards. Categories include an association, corporation, course, individual and municipality (see list of winners below).
FIRST TEE OF ATLANTA | Category: Association
Annually helps 750 kids (ages 7 to 17) get golf instruction and life skills. A $25 registration fee covers its programs, which run 40 weeks throughout the year, including an eight-week summer camp. Juniors use the driving range, practice green and bunkers at the First Tee facility at the nine-hole John A. White Park Golf Course. The First Tee's core values -- responsibility, perseverance, courtesy, judgment, honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect and confidence are integrated into the golf lessons. Now in its tenth year, the program is so popular that graduates regularly come back to visit.
August 2009
HEWLETT-PACKARD | Category: Corporation
Sponsors the Scholastic Junior All-America Teams (pictured) and the HP Boys Championship. Along with underwriting scholastic awards and a major AJGA tournament, the world's largest technology company, also endows an ACE Grant, the AJGA's financial assistance program for underprivileged kids, and donates significant amounts of computer equipment to the AJGA.
COTTONWOOD CREEK | Category: Course
Kids play all day for $2 at this 551-yard, nine-hole course where the holes range from 37- to 92-yards. Designed pro bono by noted architect Dr. Mike Hurdzan on 10 acres adjacent to the 18-hole Cottonwood Creek Golf Course, the project was conceived and overseen by Jim Moore, Director, USGA Green Section. To keep expenses to a minimum, materials were purchased at cost or donated and community volunteers did most of the construction. For $15, Waco juniors get two hours of instruction per week for eight weeks, lunch, snacks and a tee shirt.
RENEÉ FLUKER | Category: Individual
Single mom started Midnight Golf program in Detroit in 2001 to give kids an alternative to street life. Patterned after the city's successful Midnight Basketball, the golf counterpart starts its program at 5:30 pm with a three-course, sit-down dinner. Kids learn good manners, golf skills and personal development. A highlight of the schedule is the annual college tour. The trip includes visits to a variety of schools and allows Midnight golfers to experience campus life.
PHILADELPHIA | Category: Municipality
City programs introduce the game to 3,600 children each year through year-round clinics and tournaments. Since 1978, under the leadership of John MacDonald, opportunities for Philly youngsters to learn the game have continued to grow. First Tee programs operate at the FDR Park and Walnut Lane golf courses as well as at 17 city schools. Local kids are also involved in a work program introducing them to jobs in the golf industry.
