SW Section of PGA's Jr. Golf Day & FUNdamental Golf Program

In their ever-continuing efforts to promote the game of a lifetime, golf, to juniors throughout Arizona and Southern Nevada, the Southwest Section of the PGA of America will stage its inaugural Junior Golf Day on Saturday, May 3rd. Golf courses and PGA Golf Professionals throughout the Section are providing special offers on junior and adult greens fees, practice balls, and other junior golf related programs such as golf clinics. Information on host facility junior golf programs along with information on the SWSPGA Junior Golf Programs, the JGAA Golf Programs and the 1st Tee Junior Golf Programs will be made available.

“Junior Golf Day is a great way for juniors and their parents to explore the many wonderful opportunities that our PGA Professionals provide young people at their facilities and how anyone can get involved in golf, the game of a lifetime, through the SWSPGA, JGAA, and 1st Tee,” said Eddie Grant, Junior Golf Director of the SWSPGA. “All of the junior golf organizations have the same goals and we all work together to bring golf to as many juniors as possible, with PGA Golf Professionals at the cornerstone of these efforts.”

Junior Golf Day is being held in conjunction with the opening round of the SWSPGA/PING Junior Players Series – Scottsdale City Junior Golf Championship at the Westin Kierland Resort and Golf Club. All participating facilities and golf courses for Junior Golf Day will be listed under the junior golf link on the SWSPGA’s website at www.southwest.pga.com.

The Southwest Section – PGA of America has also recently introduced its FUNdamental Golf Program to hundreds of young people. FUNdamental Golf equips the junior golfer with the training to play the sport in Fast, Safe and Courteous manner, regardless of their age or level of skill. Juniors learn such things as how to shake hands, how to make tee times, how to carry their clubs, how to keep up with the group in front, how to walk on the greens, how to rake bunkers, how to write thank-you notes, etc. After learning these skills in a 2 ½ hour program, the juniors earn an annual card that entitles them to many incentives throughout a variety of golf facilities in the Section, including free golf, free range balls, discounted golf lessons, etc. as long as they follow the guidelines set forth.

“With the emphasis being placed on the behavior of golfers and not their swing mechanics, the SWSPGA wants to develop our junior players into becoming polite, respectful, confident and productive members of our society,” said Grant, a former NFL lineman with the Detroit Lions and ASU graduate. “What we are going to accomplish through the FUNdamental Golf Program is a growth of game program that teaches youngsters that the game is bigger and more important than its players and that you should respect the game, its rich history and be a positive influence on the game today, tomorrow and beyond. The juniors who complete this program are actually becoming model golfers for many adults that they come in contact with, changing how we all behave and interact, on and off the golf course, for the better.”

For more information on Junior Golf Day or FUNdamental Golf, visit the SWSPGA website at www.southwest.pga.com or call their office at 480-443-9002.