In This Issue… Letter from NJGT Director … 2 Tour News … 3 Tournaments … 4-5 Swoosh Moments … 6 GolfTEC Tour Tips … 7 Free Tracking/Rewards App … 8 PGM Summer Experience … 9 Photo Highlights … 10 Fitness Facts … 11 Fore! Program… 12
Welcome
From the Desk of NGJT Director Joe Canny, PGA Thank you all NJGT Athletes, Family and Fans registered for the 2014 season of the Nebraska Junior Golf Tour. The golf off-season is finally behind us and I couldn’t be more excited to get another season underway. Though long, we did have some fun this winter hosting new NJGT Programs such as College Golf Night and NJGT GolfTEC Open House. The 2014 NJGT Season is shaping up to be the best yet with many new additions. Highlights include:
• Addition of NJGT TEAM GOLF for golfers in the 9-hole divisions • More events and new locations for the NJGT Stroke Play Schedule ~ Sioux City Country Club (IA) ~ The Ridge Golf Club (IA) ~ Green Valley Golf Course (IA) ~ Awarii Dunes (NE) ~ Wildwood Golf Course (NE) ~ Two Rivers Golf Club (SD) • Central Nebraska Junior Amateur to be a Junior Golf Scoreboard national event
~ Great for those interested in college golf
• 18-Hole Division NJGT Championship hosted at The Prairie Club
~ Event features Parent/Child shootout, BBQ & available
practice rounds for the family
The above additions plus an overall improved tour is not possible without our great sponsors:
Nike Golf GolfTEC of Omaha Farmers Mutual of Nebraska The Prairie Club Five Points Bank of Grand Island Again, thank you for your continued support of and participation in the Nebraska Junior Golf Tour. If there is anything we can do to make your summer experience better please reach out to me directly or contact our NJGT Intern at Info@njgt.org. Sincerely, Joe Canny, PGA Junior Golf Director – NJGT (402) 730-8364 jcanny@njgt.org @theNJGT Cover Photo: 2013 NJGT Championship at Sand Hills Golf Club on July 24th. Follow all of the latest Nebraska Junior Golf action on Facebook!
Visit www.NJGT.org to check out the 2014 schedule and more!
Questions? Contact NJGT: Ph: (402) 730-8364 E: jcanny@njgt.org
Path to The Prairie Club This year’s 18-hole division NJGT Championship will be hosted at The Prairie Club in Valentine, Nebraska. The Prairie Club has received remarkable praise with both courses currently ranked in Top 100 Resort Courses (Golf Week), with the Dunes Course ranked as high as #19. It also received a spot on the Top 100 Courses You Can Play from Golf Magazine. The Prairie Club annually supports junior golf in Nebraska, South Dakota and Western Iowa and in 2014 will host the NJGT Championship for the 18-Hole Divisions. To keep up to date on the current points race and learn more about the NJGT Points System visit http://www.njgt.org/background/.
Race to Wilderness Ridge The 9-hole division championship will be hosted on the executive course of Wilderness Ridge Golf Club in Lincoln, Nebraska. The home course of the University of Nebraska Husker Golf Teams, Wilderness Ridge hosts a variety of other championships including a Web.com Pre-Qualifier (Q-School), Nebraska PGA Championships, NAIA National Women’s Championship and more. The executive course is the perfect place to end the season featuring a wonderful course and great amenities. You can learn more about the points system and stay in touch with your current standing at http://www.njgt.org/background/.
TEAM GOLF Leaderboard Often called Nebraska’s Home for Junior Golf, Fremont Golf Club is the host of the first ever NJGT TEAM GOLF Championship. A 16team field of our top TEAM GOLF teams will compete in a pooled competition ending in a round robin championship for the coveted NJGT TEAM GOLF Championship Belt. Click HERE to view the TEAM GOLF schedule.
3
*Please Note Please note the change in our Yankee Hill Country Club GolfTEC Premier Event. Due to circumstances outside the control of the NJGT and the Yankee Hill team the originally scheduled date will no longer work. Yankee Hill is extremely accommodating allowing us to come out on the only open date on the junior golf schedule, July 3rd. I apologize for any inconvenience and frustration this may cause and thank you for your understanding.
DATE
SITE
CITY
DEADLINE
May 28
West Nine GC
Lincoln
May 20
May 29
Warren Swigart GC
Omaha
May 21
June 2
Crooked Creek GC
Lincoln
May 25
June 2
Indianhead GC
Grand Island
May 25
June 3
Highlands GC
Lincoln
May 26
June 4
Council Bluffs CC
Council Bluffs, IA
May 27
June 5
Quail Run GC
Columbus
May 28
June 6
GolfTEC Premier at Table Creek GC
Nebraska City
May 29
June 9
Sunset Valley CC
Omaha
June 1
June 10
Westwood Heights GC
Omaha
June 2
June 11
Whispering Creek GC
Sioux City, IA
June 3
June 11
Meadowlark Hills GC
Kearney
June 3
June 12
Eagle Run GC
Omaha
June 4
June 12
Centura Hills GC
Cairo
June 4
June 13
The Ridge GC
Sioux Center, IA
June 5
June 16
River Wilds GC
Blair
June 8
June 17
Elmwood GC
Omaha
June 9
June 18
North Bend GC
North Bend
June 10
June 19
Holmes GC
Lincoln
June 11
June 19
Wayne CC
Wayne
June 11
June 24
Eagle Hills GC
Omaha
June 16
June 25
Two Rivers GC
North Sioux City, SD
June 17
June 26
Benson Park GC
Omaha
June 18
June 27
Sioux City CC
Sioux City, IA
June 19
June 30
GolfTEC Premier at The Pines CC
Valley
June 22
July 1
York CC
York
June 23
July 2
Tiburon GC
Gretna
June 24
July 3
GolfTEC Premier at Yankee Hill CC*
Lincoln
June 25
July 7
GolfTEC Premier at Kearney CC
Kearney
June 29
July 8
Woodland Hills GC
Eagle
June 30
July 8
Old Dane GC
Dakota City
June 30
July 9
Tregaron
Bellevue
July 1
July 9
Knolls CC
Lincoln
July 1
July 10-11
Central Nebraska Junior Amateur Jackrabbit Run & Riverside CC
Grand Island
July 2
July 14
Green Valley GC
Sioux City, IA
July 6
July 15
Pioneers GC
Lincoln
July 7
July 16
Awarii Dunes
Axtell
July 8
July 17
Mahoney GC
Lincoln
July 9
July 18
Wildwood GC
Nebraska City
July 10
July 21
Tara Hills GC
Papillion
July 13
July 21
Hidden Valley GC
Lincoln
July 13
July 22
Heritage Hills GC
McCook
July 14
July 22
Willow Lakes GC
Bellevue
July 14
July 24
College Heights
Crete
July 16
July 24
Indian Trails GC
Beemer
July 16
July 27-28
NJGT Championship - The Prairie Club
Valentine
Invitation
July 29
Wildhorse GC
Gothenburg
July 21
July 30
Stone Creek GC
Omaha
July 22
August 1
NJGT Championship - Wilderness Ridge Lincoln
Invitation
4
Date
Site
City
Deadline
May 29
Knolls CC
Lincoln
May 21
June 3
Elmwood Park GC
Omaha
May 26
June 10
Mahoney GC
Lincoln
June 2
June 18
West Nine GC
Lincoln
June 10
June 24
Kearney CC
Kearney
June 16
June 26
River Wilds GC
Blair
June 18
July 2
Miracle Hill Golf & Tennis
Omaha
June 24
July 8
Fox Run GC
Yankton, SD
June 30
July 9
Crooked Creek GC
Lincoln
July 1
July 16
Pacific Springs GC
Omaha
July 8
July 22
LeMars GC
LeMars, IA
July 14
July 24
Jackrabbit Run GC
Grand Island
July 16
July 30
Two Rivers GC
North Sioux City, SD
July 22
August 6
Championship - Fremont GC
Fremont
Invitation
Other Local Junior Golf Championships Boy’s 2014 Championships
Date
Event
Site
Deadline
June 16-19
Nebraska Junior Match Play Championship
Heritage Hills GC, McCook
June 11
June 25
Nebraska Section Junior PGA Championship (12 & Under) conducted by the Nebraska PGA
Jim Ager GC, Lincoln
June 18
June 29-30
Little Junior Amateur Championship (6-11)
Sunset Valley CC, Omaha
TBD
July 8-9
Nebraska Section Junior PGA Championship (13-18) conducted by the Nebraska PGA
Wilderness Ridge GC, Lincoln
July 1
July 14-16
Nebraska Junior Amateur Championship
Beatrice CC , Beatrice
July 8
conducted by the Nebraska Golf Association
conducted by the Nebraska Golf Association
conducted by the Nebraska Golf Association
Girl’s 2014 Championships
Date
Event
Site
Deadline
June 16-18
Nebraska Girls’ Match Play Championship
Heritage Hills GC, McCook
June 11
June 25
Nebraska Section Junior PGA Championship (12 & Under) conducted by the Nebraska PGA
Jim Ager GC, Lincoln
June 18
June 29-30
Little Junior Amateur Championship (6-11)
Sunset Valley CC, Omaha
TBD
July 8-9
Nebraska Section Junior PGA Championship (13-18) conducted by the Nebraska PGA
Wilderness Ridge GC, Lincoln
July 1
July 14-16
Nebraska Girls’ Amateur Championship
Beatrice CC , Beatrice
July 8
conducted by the Nebraska Golf Association
conducted by the Nebraska Golf Association
conducted by the Nebraska Golf Association
Click HERE to view registration information for these events.
5
Send Us Your “Swoosh” Moments In each of the NJGT Junior Newsletters, we will be featuring NJGT members wearing and using gear from NIKE GOLF, presenting sponsor of the Nebraska Junior Golf Tour. Show off your swoosh videos and pictures by posting them to the NJGT Facebook Page or on Twitter by using #theNJGT.
6
‘s Tour Tips Golf season is finally here and we are excited at GolfTEC for another NJGT Season. We have been fortunate to see many of you practicing at GolfTEC of Omaha this winter. One of the many perks of GolfTEC is that there is no off-season for golf so if you haven’t been by yet please visit us soon! As the season gets started it is important to remember a couple of things for Spring golf:
1. Stretch and Start Off Slow Our bodies take a while to warm up at the beginning of each season so make sure to dedicate extra time to stretching and warming up with shorter shots. The urge is to hit a lot of balls quickly but your golf game and body will thank you.
2. Be Realistic During your first few rounds you will be a little rusty and that is okay. Do not get frustrated as that will make the process worse. Take notes on the course to which areas you need to work on so come golf season you are in mid-season form.
3. Get Some Help Visit our PGA Professionals and GolfTEC Certified Instructors for a private lesson or clinic to make sure you start off the season with the proper fundamentals. You will also receive guidance so you can focus your early season practice seasons. We love supporting the Nebraska Junior Golf Tour each season and look forward to seeing you at a GolfTEC Premier Event this summer. To learn more about GolfTEC of Omaha please click HERE.
Site Director Spotlight ~ Kendra Trumbley NJGT Market: Omaha & Lincoln Hometown: Lincoln, NE Occupation: Owner & Operator of The Hair Lounge (Lincoln) Hobbies: Watch golf and caddie, shop and work outside Favorite Team: Love watching golf Favorite Golf Moment: Day my daughter signed to play college golf Favorite Golf Course: Tie between Yankee Hill CC & Tiburon Golf Club
7
Download this Free Mobile App: Started right here in Nebraska by a Cornhusker, GolfStatus is a free mobile app that captures a golfer’s moments of achievement. Golfers can earn free golf, merchandise, exclusive deals, and more just by posting their scores. Using GolfStatus you can also post all your scores to your GHIN Handicap provided by the Nebraska Junior Golf Tour. It is a cool new way to keep records of your game while practicing, have parents track your round while watching at an NJGT event and possibly win some prizes along the way. I see many of you are already using this application and I love following our golfers. If you haven’t created an account you can register online or download the GolfStatus App in the App Store or Marketplace.
Site Director Spotlight ~ Ben Grossnicklaus NJGT Market: Central Nebraska Hometown: Aurora, NE Resides In: Kearney, NE (Golfer at UNK) Occupation: York CC Pro Shop & Brother’s Lawn Mowing Business Hobbies: Golf, Baseball & Basketball (Watch and Play) Favorite Sports Teams: Huskers, Broncos, Cubs & Twins Favorite Golf Moment: Qualifying for Junior Match Play as a sophomore my first time in event Favorite Golf Course: Augusta National, Wildhorse (Gothenburg) & Beatrice CC
8
2014 PROGRAM INFO: June 16-19, 2014 Eastern Kentucky University July 13-16, 2014 Mississippi State University
Click Here for Details!
9
Some good times from 2013!
10
Fitness Facts Presented by The PGA Sports Academy powered by UnitedHealthcare Stretching is a vital part of golf that is often overlooked. Proper stretching can improve your golf game through increased flexibility while also helping prevent injuries. Below are ten stretches that affect golf specific muscle groups and may help you improve your game. Though the pictures may remind you of an old gym handout the science is still relevant!
Standing Quad Stretch
Supine Hamstring Stretch
Lower Back Twist Stretch
Side Bend Stretch
Rear Shoulder Stretch
Chest Stretch
Piriformis Stretch Hip Flexor Stretch
Calf Stretch
Cat to Dog Stretch To find a PGA Sports Academy program near you, visit PlayGolfAmerica.com.
11
Play More with FORE! What is Fore?!
As an extension of other initiatives that first introduce the game, the Nebraska Golf Association created FORE!, an access program that provides junior golfers the opportunity to play golf more frequently at participating NGA member clubs during the months of May, June, July and August. FORE! members can play participating courses across the state for just $4 per round.
Who’s eligible for FORE! membership?
FORE! is not simply a discount card. Although the NGA wants to be as inclusive as possible it also wants members that have been introduced to the game through some sort of instruction and have a basic understanding of both the Rules of Golf and proper Etiquette. That said we require that FORE! applicants meet the following age and eligibility criteria: Age: No minimum age, a golfer is no longer eligible for membership once they hit the date of September 1 following graduation from secondary school (high school). Eligibility: Golfer must meet one of four eligibility requirements that meet the criteria of proper introduction:
• 2014 participant in one of the following certified programs: First Tee; Golf ‘N’ Schools; Great Golf Expectations; LPGA/USGA Girls Golf; NGA Youth on Course; Nebraska Junior Golf Tour; Panhandle Junior Golf Tour and PGA/USGA Sports Academy.
• 2014 participant in a junior golf program at an NGA member club. • 2013-2014 high school golf team participant • Other golfers approved by senior official at NGA member club (i.e. PGA Professional or Club Manager).
How do eligible golfers join the FORE! program?
Applications are available on the FORE! web site (nebgolf.org/FORE), in both paper and online forms. The fee for membership is $10, and in addition to their membership cards, FORE! members receive a NGA membership.
Where can FORE! rounds be played?
FORE! is a statewide initiative in 2014, and is available in most regions of the state with over 40 participating golf courses. For a full list of participating courses, including contact information, please visit the FORE! website at nebgolf.org/ FORE.
How is the FORE! program funded?
The FORE! program is funded by the Nebraska Golf Foundation, whose mission is to promote the growth of golf in Nebraska with an emphasis on making the game and its life-enhancing values accessible to youth. A sizable donation was made to the NGF from the 2013 U.S. Senior Open Championship in support of FORE! In addition, the NGF earmarks a portion of its own fundraising efforts to support the program.
Visit NebGolf.org for more information and to register! 12