Bridgeview Golf Course Hosts Memorial Youth Clinic
COLUMBUS, OH -- USA Network has teamed up with the PGA TOUR to develop youth clinics at three major PGA TOUR tournaments throughout 2002: The Bay Hill Invitational, The Memorial and The International. In conjunction with this year's Memorial Tournament, Columbus State's Bridgeview Golf Course was selected to host the 5-week youth clinic May 13 through June14.
The USA Network/PGA TOUR Golf Clinic is designed to introduce multicultural youngsters to golf and provide them access to the game, facilities, equipment and instruction. The clinic will include 300 youth (7-17 years old) from Columbus and the surrounding areas.
This event is being coordinated through The First Tee of Columbus, Time Warner Cable Columbus Division - USA Network Affiliate, PGA TOUR and the Multi-Cultural Golf Association of America (MGAA).The MGAA has been conducting clinics for more than 10 years. Established in 1991, the MGAA has reached over 100,000 children in 38 states through its 200 youth clinics.
The MGAA will be working in conjunction with The First Tee of Columbus instructors to operate these clinics, which are focused not only on introducing and teaching the game of golf, but also teaching life skills, such as self-discipline, academic achievement and self-reliance. Bridgeview's head PGA professional and director of The First Tee of Columbus, Gerry Hammond, along with a number of Columbus area teaching professionals, will facilitate the Columbus clinic.
"I'm excited to be involved with this event," said Hammond. "It will be a great follow-up to last year's Tiger Woods Clinic at Bridgeview. This clinic provides an extraordinary opportunity for youth that have not been exposed to the game or to the atmosphere of a PGA tournament like The Memorial."
Over a five-week span each junior will participate in four clinics and one competition. All 300 youth, parents and participating teaching pros will be invited to attend the Memorial Junior Exhibition facilitated by TOUR professionals on Tuesday May 21st at Muirfield Village Golf Club. The 5-week clinic will conclude with a graduation ceremony where the participants will receive awards, a full set of FirstTour golf clubs and certificates signed by PGA TOUR Commissioner,
Tim Finchem.
Bridgeview Golf Course, 2738 Agler Road, is owned and operated by Columbus State Community College, which proudly supports their Chapter of The First Tee. The First Tee of Columbus is a non-profit life skill and junior golf program that is dedicated to helping youth develop character, discipline, self-esteem and other skills through golf and education.
The First Tee is a World Golf Foundation initiative dedicated to providing affordable golf access for everyone, especially kids, who otherwise might not have an opportunity to play. Because The First Tee mission is broader than simply teaching kids how to play golf, The First Tee experience includes a strong life skills component that involves community service and mentoring opportunities. The First Tee of Columbus is one of 85 First Tee golf-learning facilities currently open and operating across North America. The PGA TOUR is one of five organizations that make up The First Tee's Oversight Committee.
May 10, 2002