SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- One of the problems facing golf is the continued perception that it is a sport for those in a privileged class. One company helping to dispel that is Total Golf Adventures in general and its Silicon Valley territory manager in particular.

Total Golf Adventures is a four-year-old company that is committed to growing the game with its highly-successful at-school, after-school golf curriculum for youngsters K-8 with the parents of the students paying for the program.

However, when an opportunity presented itself to bring golf to underprivileged youngsters, Greg Dumlao, director of the Silicon Valley TGA, didn’t ask, he just said “let’s go and do it.”
Greg did do it for six weeks at two schools with 25 students per session this spring thanks to Arnie’s After-School All-Stars. Arnie’s All Stars is a program formed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for activities in lower income areas. And did it work? Just look at Andrea Montalvo, a seventh grader who had never picked up a golf club before the session. During the first week, she kept saying, “I can’t do this. It’s too hard.” But she stuck with it, showed up every week and really started hitting the ball with consistency. So much so that she earned a scholarship for TGA’s summer camp program.

This fall, as a complement to his already successful at-school, after-school curriculum throughout Silicon Valley, Dumlao and Arnie’s All Stars will add additional schools in the lower income areas. They provide each student with not only a wonderful experience but tee shirts with both the All-Stars and TGA logos on it.

Started four years ago, today there are TGA 35 territories in more than 750 schools are providing golf experiences for youngsters. Since its inception when Total Golf Adventures, it has become one of the fastest and most successful youth golf programs in the United States with more than 25,000 youngsters in grades K through 8 already going through the program.
What’s exciting about TGA’s programs is that it extends beyond learning the game of golf and honing the golf swing. A child’s passion for the game of golf grows with a program that expands and improves their motor skills and coordination, encourages their advancement, and builds their confidence and self-esteem.

In addition, the TGA program promotes and teaches life values intrinsic to the game of golf:
• Respect – for the game, their partners, and the golf course
• Honesty
• Teamwork – classes include competition, and skills contest
• Sportsmanship – good sportsmanship is fundamental to the TGA curriculum and is rewarded in classes
• Commitment and Integrity

TGA uses authentic golf clubs from Nicklaus Golf Equipment, and the Almost Golf Ball™, new practice ball designed to be safe for children and easy to hit. Students’ sense of achievement and accomplishment is fostered as they move through a five level program designated by the TGA colors. In addition to instruction during the five levels, students are introduced to the rules, etiquette, and fundamentals of golf; then transitioned to learning how to play on a golf course. Finally, the advanced level students are prepped to play competitively through TGA and PGA Section teachings.

Total Golf Adventures (www.totalgolfadventures.com) is endorsed and named as the official junior golf initiative by the Golf Range Association of America (GRAA); is a national supporting organization of the After School Alliance, are a corporate advocate and a partner of the President’s Challenge on Physical Fitness.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
FOR TOTAL GOLF ADVENTURES:
ALAN TAYLOR (alan@alantaylorconsulting.com), 516 835 1151
FOR TGA, SILICON VALLEY: Gregory D. Dumlao, 408 850-7175