ROCKLAND COUNTY, N.Y. -- What does Total Golf Adventures and support for Kenyan Aids Orphans have in common?
At first blush, you would automatically say nothing. At second blush, you need to only know Mark Thornewell, owner of the Total Golf Adventures' franchise for Rockland County, never misses an opportunity to build his business.
He was asked by Mrs. Mwende Edozie to package three private lessons for auction to help raise money to help Kenyan Aids Orphans.
Mark did so and they were auctioned by the Twana Twittu Organization, which raises money for the orphans. The winner was Zachary D. Muburi-Muita, the Kenyan ambassador to the United Nations. As a 14-handicapper, the ambassador convinced Mark to forgo the lessons for a round of golf instead. That round of golf will take place this Sunday at 2 p.m., with Spook Rock Golf Club, NY, run by the Town of Ramapo, kindly acting as the host town for this special day.
Why did the charity ask Mark to participate? There are several reasons. First, as owner of the local Total Golf Adventures franchise, he is well-known in the community for providing golf enrichment programs in the only at-school, after-school program for K-8th graders. Second, he also provides private lessons for Jaden, Mrs. Edozie's son.
"We have a diverse community in Rockland County and I felt this was a great opportunity for me to gain exposure for Total Golf Adventures within the adult community, which, of course, has direct bearing on the success of our school programs. I am extremely happy and proud to be supporting Kenyan Aids Orphans and also very excited to play golf with such an important world figure," says Thornewell
Mark joined the TGA family as a coach in the Bergen County, New Jersey territory, where he learned the business from Kevin Rooney. Already well-smitten in the golf industry, Mark decided it was time to branch out on his own with one of the fastest growing sports franchises in the country.
Total Golf Adventures came to life close to five years ago, and to date TGA has put close to 45,000 K-8th grade students through their at-school, after-school golf enrichment programs and camps. With the addition of Rockland County, Total Golf Adventures has 43 programs in 22 states.
A resident of Suffern, Mark has a strong golf background, dating back to his native England where he not only started playing golf when he was five, but through high school and college where he was captain of the golf teams. He was graduated from Buckinghamshire University with a bachelor degree in sports management and golf studies.
In addition to his instructional work for TGA of Bergen County, Mark also worked for two years as a golf assistant at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, FL and for a year at the Ridgewood Country Club in NJ.
"While I was teaching TGA classes in Bergen County, I was blown away with the quality, strength and popularity of this golf enrichment concept. Teaching golf is one thing, but working with children as early as K-8, is a fantastic opportunity to help grow the game while instilling into the students a meaningful variety of other skills, whether they stick with golf or not," added Thornewell. "The TGA curriculum focuses on character development and self-esteem, wrapped around with some education components including math. But most importantly, it's about just having fun."
Total Golf Adventures (TGA) was founded in 2003 with a mission to provide all K-8th grade students with access into the game of golf through the first at-school, after school Golf Enrichment Program. TGA is one of the fastest-growing sports franchises and junior golf companies because the traditional barriers of convenience and cost that prevent 90% of children from playing golf are eliminated when golf is brought to the schools. TGA's 5 Level Golf Enrichment Program, developed by Golf Professionals and Education Experts, teaches the fundamentals, rules and etiquette of golf, while promoting golf's life values through their character development initiative, "Play the Fair Way with TGA." TGA transitions students from their schools to the golf course by offering camps, tournaments, clinics and private lessons.
TGA supplies its Territory Owners with the tools they need to succeed while building a strong base of corporate supporters, which supply a variety of services and products to TGA territories. Just added to a growing list of corporate partners/sponsors is Staples®, which provides printed marketing solutions for all TGA territories. Already participating with TGA are: Nicklaus Golf Equipment, the official provider of junior golf clubs, and Garb, Inc., the official provider of apparel for participants and staff.
Total Golf Adventures is endorsed and named as the official junior golf initiative by the National High School Golf Coaches Association (NHSGCA) and the Golf Range Association of America (GRAA); is a national supporting organization of the After School Alliance and Lights on AfterSchool; and are a corporate advocate and a partner of the President's Challenge on Physical Fitness.
MEDIA CONTACT:
For Total Golf Adventures: Alan Taylor, 516 835 1151
For Rockland County:
Mark Thornewell: 845-558-0599
rockland@totalgolfadventures.com
