Fuente: © PGA of America
http://www.pga.com/

GOLF: PGA OF AMERICA: PGA pledges to support Kauai Junior Golf and Hawaii State Junior GA

The groups provide learning and playing opportunities for junior golfers and involve juniors with the PGA Grand Slam of Golf.

/noticias.info/ PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- The PGA of America announced they will be donating a combined $50,000 to Kauai Junior Golf and the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association. The PGA Foundation will pledge $35,000 to the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association, which will benefit junior golf throughout the state of Hawaii. Meanwhile, Kauai Junior Golf will receive $15,000 from the PGA Grand Slam of Golf for the organization's involvement with the annual tournament.

"The PGA of America has helped us build the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association by providing seed money, while their members have helped with their time and talent," said Mary Bea Porter-King, president of both Kauai Junior Golf and the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association. "These generous donations will help both Associations by providing more opportunities for our juniors to learn and play this great game and move up to the next level."

The Hawaii State Junior Golf Association presents an environment where any junior golfer, male or female, ages 7-18, can enjoy golf and progress at their own rate -- from beginner to a proficient level -- while learning to preserve the traditions and integrity of the game. Since 1998, the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association has built a reputation of being one of the best in the country in preparing junior golfers for the future.

The Hawaii State Junior Golf Association provides its junior members instruction by PGA Professionals, equipment and playing opportunities around the state. In addition, they hold workshops on the Rules of Golf and Amateur status, mental training, physical training and college seminars to help prepare their high school-age members to become eligible for college scholarships, both for academics and golf.

"We are pleased to be able to give back to the juniors in the state of Hawaii who have, over the years, been such an integral part of the success of the PGA Grand Slam of Golf," said PGA of America President Roger Warren. "With these donations, we can help grow the game of golf through the efforts of the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association and Kauai Junior Golf."

Since 1997, Kauai Junior Golf has partnered with the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, which features golf's major Champions, to involve junior players with the tournament. During the four weekends prior to the PGA Grand Slam of Golf, Kauai Junior Golf members and their parents walk the fairways of the Poipu Bay Golf Course filling divots to assist superintendent C.J. Rebb in getting the course ready for the tournament.

In addition, during the PGA Grand Slam of Golf Pro-Am, Kauai Junior Golf members serve as forecaddies for the amateur groups -- allowing them an opportunity to mingle with both the major Champions and corporate business leaders, by assisting them with their round of golf through tending the flagstick, cleaning clubs and balls, helping with yardages and replacing divots.

The organization also sells the PGA Grand Slam of Golf Official Journal for $5, with 100 percent of all the proceeds going to Kauai Junior Golf. The parents of Kauai Junior Golf members manage the PGA Grand Slam of Golf's admissions gate ticket sales, Will Call, tech check and the tournament's scoring system.

This year, the PGA Grand Slam of Golf and the County of Kauai will team up to provide a Pro-Am opportunity for Kauai Junior Golf's Players of the Year. Mayor Bryan Baptiste donated the County of Kauai Pro-Am playing spot to Kauai Junior Golf -- which the PGA Grand Slam of Golf matched -- providing Kauai Junior Golf's Boy & Girl Players of the Year Travis Toguchi and Miki Ueoka an opportunity to showcase their game to the major Champion they are paired with during the Pro-Am tournament.

The PGA Grand Slam of Golf is a 36-hole event televised by TNT, with coverage beginning Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2006, from 7-10 p.m. EST. Coverage on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2006, will begin one-hour earlier at 6-10 p.m. EST.

This year's major Champions will compete for a new purse of $1.25 million, with the winner receiving a record $500,000, second place $300,000, third place $250,000, and fourth place $200,000.

Tickets to the PGA Grand Slam of Golf are available for purchase at 800-PGA-GOLF (742-4653) or online at www.PGA.com.

Celebrating its 90th anniversary, The PGA of America was founded in 1916, and is a not-for-profit organization that promotes the game of golf, while continuing to enhance the standards of the profession. The Association is comprised of more than 28,000 men and women PGA Professionals who are dedicated to growing participation in the game of golf. notas_de_prensa_archivo