With a major golf championship on our doorstep in Michigan’s Great Southwest again this week, the reach and impact that golf has is increasingly evident, especially in light of action Monday by the Michigan PGA Foundation and PGA REACH, which is the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America.
They jointly announced at the opening of the 79th KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship the launch of three national foundation programs that will impact the lives of youth, military and diverse populations locally and across the region.
The announcement brings elements of the PGA Jr. League for youth, PGA HOPE for military veterans, and the PGA WORKS Fellowship for diversity and inclusion, to our doorstep. All are impactful national programs offered within the Michigan PGA Section, designed to reach individuals and improve lives by enabling access to PGA Professionals, PGA Sections and the game of golf.
Ryan Cannon is Senior Director for PGA REACH. He says, “At our spectator Championships, it is always our goal to highlight the year-round charitable efforts of the host PGA Section.” He adds, “As it relates to this week’s KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, PGA REACH is working closely with the Michigan PGA Foundation to grow national foundation programming in the area, and it’s exciting to see our national programs establish local roots.”
Each of the key pillars are sharing a day in the spotlight at this week’s Championship.
This afternoon, PGA HOPE, an acronym for Helping Our Patriots Everywhere, was in the spotlight. That is the flagship program for the military pillar, as it introduces golf to Veterans with disabilities to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. Led by PGA Professionals, PGA HOPE has helped thousands of Veterans assimilate back into their communities through the social interaction that the game of golf provides. PGA HOPE was the focus today with a formal photo session in front of the Championship’s Monster Board scoreboard at the first tee with the President of the PGA of America, Paul Levy and Whirlpool Chairman Jeff Fettig sharing a moment with former U.S. Marine Corporal Chris Nowak, the Liaison for PGA HOPE’s contingent of military and veteran personnel. Also sharing that photo op were Kyle Holmes, the General Manager of Harbor Shores and Tyler Jablonski, First Assistant Professional at Harbor Shores.
The Michigan PGA Section has one longstanding PGA HOPE program run by Bob Bales, PGA in Battle Creek, Michigan.
In 2018, Harbor Shores will conduct its first PGA HOPE program, run by Head Golf Professional Kyle Holmes, PGA and First Assistant Professional Tyler Jablonski, PGA.
Donations to develop programs will be accepted all week at the Championship Shops.
The PGA WORKS Fellowship is the flagship program of the PGA’s diversity and inclusion pillar, aspiring to be the most valuable entry-level employment opportunity for individuals from diverse backgrounds to garner experience in all facets of the golf industry. The PGA WORKS Fellowship will be the focus tomorrow, on Wednesday, May 23rd, all day, when Michigan Section PGA WORKS fellow Hanna Marcusse will conduct a social media takeover.
o In conjunction with the championship, Marcusse will do an Instagram takeover of @PGAWORKS on Wednesday, sharing her perspective of this unique opportunity for diverse populations.
The Michigan PGA Section recently introduced Hannah as its first PGA WORKS fellow; she is a graduate of Central Michigan University and a resident of Lake City, near Cadillac.
Launched in 2017, the PGA WORKS Fellowship will host 10 fellows across the country this year in the Michigan, Connecticut, Gateway, Middle Atlantic, Metropolitan, New Jersey, Northern Ohio, Southern Ohio and South Florida PGA Sections; the long-term goal of the program is to have fellows in all 41 PGA Sections nationwide every year.
The third focal point this week will be on the PGA Jr. League, which is a fun, social and inclusive opportunity for boys and girls ages 13 and under to learn and enjoy the game of golf from PGA and LPGA Professionals. It is the flagship program for the youth pillar, and Saturday is PGA Jr. League Day.
On Saturday, May 26th the Championship will feature a wide range of Kids Day Activities, open to all Juniors in attendance. Here’s what the schedule includes:
- 10-11:15 a.m. — KitchenAid Junior Cooking Event at KitchenAid Fairway Club…
- 11:15-11:30 a.m. — PGA Jr. League team photo at the KitchenAid Fairway Club…
- 12-1 p.m. — Inside the ropes at the first tee for PGA Jr. League members in uniform…
- 1:30-2 p.m. — Snack at the YMCA Kids Zone…
- 2-2:30 p.m. — John Dudley Magic Show at the YMCA Kids Zone…
- 2:30-3 p.m. — Golf Ball decorating competition at the YMCA Kids Zone…
- 3-4 p.m. — “Feed the Gator” competition at the YMCA Kids Zone…
In 2017, the Michigan PGA Section had over 1,200 PGA Jr. League participants, while this year, in 2018, Harbor Shores will have its first PGA Jr. League team in coordination with First Tee of Benton Harbor, with all juniors receiving scholarships to participate.
For more information on PGA REACH, visit PGAREACH.org.
The PGA of America is one of the world’s largest sports organizations, composed of PGA Professionals who daily work to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. For more information about the PGA of America, visit PGA.org, follow @PGA on Twitter, and find them on Facebook.
