Foundation Focus - August 2021

President

Tim Fries, PGA tim.fries@glenoak.com

Vice President Mike D'Agostino, PGA mikethepro@aol.com

Secretary Jeff Mietus, PGA jmietuspga@gmail.com

Treasurer Michael O’Connor, PGA mjokah@aol.com

Tim DiGiulio Financial Advisor L&M Wealth Management TDiGiulio@lmfs.net

Executive Director Steven Bartkowski sbartkowski@pgahq.com

(716) 313-2943

Junior Golf Director Bob Ashley, PGA bashley@pgahq.com (716) 707-3818

PGA WORKS Fellow Mackenzie Culhane mculhane@pgahq.com

716-646-8479

Buffalo Independent Director Jamie Miller millertime6789@gmail.com

Rochester Independent Director Mike Merriman mm@waterfordgroupny.com

Erie Independent Director Ted Grassi III tgrassi@historicsquare.com

Joe Mariano President

Jamco Development Corporation jamcodevelopment@gmail.com

John Osberg Founder & CEO Ozmosis Consulting johnny@ozmosisconsulting.com

Assistant Executive Director Victoria Schiro vschiro@pgahq.com (716) 707-3814

Marketing and Event Operations Intern Marissa Packard mmpackard@pgahq.com

Western New York PGA Section Glen Oak Golf Club 711 Smith Road East Amherst, NY 14051 Main Phone/Fax: (716) 626-7095

wnewyork@pgahq.com westernnewyork.pga.com

Tim Fries, PGA

Just a quick note to kick off this very informative newsletter filled with an ever-increasing number of initiatives headed up by our fabulous Section Staff, Board, PGA members, volunteers, and of we love doing this!

Thanks to your leads we have begun “road trips” and presentations to prospective fundraisers to one day manage facilities that would truly benefit in perpetuity each of our Foundation pillarsMilitary, Youth, and D&I. This is very exciting, and we are extremely humbled by engaging groups and individuals that could make this happen in multiple locations in our WNY Section. We absolutely continue to seek out opportunities to speak to interested parties with your help – let us know!

Thank you to Jacob and Hope that have gone on to continue their life’s journeys and careers! I hope you were able to meet both of them and their infectious smiles and wonderful demeanors. Their lights shone brightly but too briefly as young ambassadors in our Foundation’s missions. We wish them the very best!

We warmly welcome Victoria, Mackenzie, and Marissa to our Section staff and have already benefitted from their work ethics, enthusiasm, and motivations. But I must say Steve and Bob have been fantastic as our Section’s and Foundation’s bedrock emissaries!

Their tireless work that benefits not only our Section programs, but our Foundation’s ultimate goals has been fantastic and cannot be understated. Please shake their hand, high-five, knuckle-bump, or all the above next time you see them – they truly go over and above!

Make Some Birdies!

Respectfully,

Tim Fries, PGA

PGA Reach WNY President

Steven Bartkowski

Friends of PGA REACH WNY,

As the WNYPGA Foundation Inc. transitioned into PGA REACH WNY in 2017, the leadership and I never could have anticipated the impact that we could have seen over these past five years. Annually we serve 150 veterans, over 1300 youth, diversify the workforce with PGA Works Fellows and the support of many community partners - Growth of the Game Grant, First Tee of WNY and Special Olympics WNY to name a few. And more incredible has been the support of our community, partners, sponsors and allied golf associations to make this impact possible!

As we are on the back 9 of 2021 and strategically look ahead to 2022 and beyond, we realize the need to build a better infrastructure model to support the growing demand from our community. Thanks to the hard work behind the scenes from our Board of Directors, Trustees, PGA Professionals, architects and others we have created and are closer to making a reality the PGA REACH WNY Lonnie Nielsen Learning Center (and additional learning centers around the region). Quite simply these are indoor/ outdoor community driven facilities centered around the game of golf, PGA Professionals and the impact that this marriage can make for all.

Below is just a sneak peak of what we hope we can all rally around to continue to make a difference in the lives of others through the game of golf.

If you, your organization and/or business would like to learn more about the Learning Centers and how you can be involved in the first of it’s kind nationally, please contact me to learn more.

As always, thank you for your support in helping our PGA Professionals to Positively Impact Lives Through the Game of Golf.

Respectfully,

Steven Bartkowski Executive Director

“Impacting Lives through the Game of Golf”

was created with a goal of providing support to various organizations within the boundaries of the Western New York PGA Section. Through the game of golf, the Foundation will work to fund programs supporting its mission, including the Western New York Section PGA Junior Golf initiatives and various other underprivileged youth golf programs. The Foundation will conduct and/or support a variety of initiatives that serve the founding pillars: youth, military, and diversity in golf.

Since 2017, the Membership and Organizing Committee at Wanakah Country Club is proud to have hosted four Tee It Up for the Troops Wanakah golf events in the great state of New York, in support of its mission to serve veterans, active military, and their families. Through the passionate efforts of the club members, management, a dedicated team of volunteers, and a loyal group of Western New York sponsors, we are proud of the mighty tradition that has been developed at Wanakah. We are especially excited this year to carry out our 5TH-ANNIVERSARY tournament out of respect and appreciation for active duty and retired military members and their families, fellow patriots, and honored wounded warriors who have given their lives in the defense of our freedoms.

Wanakah Country Club

5161 Lakeshore Rd.

Hamburg, NY 14075

Dinner Event: September 11, 2021

Golf Event: September 13, 2021

1st Flight: 7:30 am 9:30 am

2nd Flight: 1 pm 3 pm

The 18th-hole putting challenge hosted by establishments in the Ellicottville, NY community is the golf version of a bar crawl brought to you by custom turf. Each location will have putting greens for participants, once participant records their score from each green they will move to the next location until they have played all 18 holes to create their 18 Hole score.

Cost: $20 each entrance fee will enter participants into the putting challenge and entry into the raffles at each bar

More details to follow!

100% of the proceeds will be donated to PGA REACH Western NY. The PGA REACH is the charitable arm of the Western NY PGA Section and impacts lives through the game of golf with programs serving military, veterans, youth and diverse individuals

PGA REACH WNY to be one of few Foundations Nationwide to Name a 2nd PGA HOPE Ambassador

PGA HOPE National Golf & Wellness Week (NG&WW) is a unique opportunity for Veterans who possess the motivation to excel in their personal rehabilitation journey and represent their local PGA HOPE community on a national level. Scott will travel to Washington, D.C with 19 other PGA HOPE graduates who have been nominated by PGA Professionals from their home PGA HOPE programs and will receive a tool kit of new skills focused on advanced golf instruction and impactful wellness training. This curriculum is an extension to what Scott has learned throughout the years at the WNYPGA HOPE programs.

Key responsibilities for the new PGA HOPE Ambassadors include:

• Attend PGA HOPE programming, graduations and PGA HOPE fundraising events.

• Actively discuss and advocate for the PGA HOPE program; recruit Veterans in their home community; educate interested individuals about PGA HOPE.

• Commit to a personal health and wellness regimen.

• Commit to positively represent the PGA HOPE program and empower other Veterans to embrace healthier, more positive choices.

PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) is the flagship military program of PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America. PGA HOPE introduces golf to Veterans with disabilities to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. The program introduces the game of golf through a developmental 6-8 week curriculum, taught by PGA Professionals trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency. All programs are funded by PGA REACH and supplemented by PGA Section Foundations, so the cost of programming is free to all Veterans.

PGA HOPE has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which enables Recreational Therapists to refer Veterans to the PGA HOPE program as a form of therapy. Through a robust program strategy, PGA HOPE aspires to create a physically and emotionally healthier Veteran community by shaping lives, changing lives, and possibly saving lives through the game of golf.

PGA WORKS Fellowship is one of the flagship programs of PGA REACH WNY. This fellowship aspires to be the most valuable entry-level employment opportunity for individuals from diverse backgrounds to garner experience in all facets of the golf industry.

Our WNYPGA Fellow Mackenzie Culhane has provided an update on what she has done thus far in her Fellowship!

Learn about the Youth Programs in WNY

PGA Jr. League exists to bring communities together through fun, team golf experiences… plus those experiences that transcend golf itself, like friendships that last for years to come or a newfound sense of confidence. What started as an idea penned on a napkin while watching the Little League World Series has grown to more than 60,000 boys and girls on teams spanning all 50 states in 2019. This unique approach highlights team play versus individual competition and serves as a feeder system to transition youth golfers to existing junior golf programs, such as those offered by local PGA Sections.

Watch Carlos stumble into PGA Jr. League while hunting Bigfoot. He quickly learns about the format, what it takes to be a great teammate, and why PGA Jr. League is even more fun than hunting mythical creatures!

Click on the video to see our new PGA Jr. League Ambassadors NBA star, Steph Curry, and U.S. Women’s Soccer star Alex Morgan.

In 1999 The WNYPGA Junior Golf Tour was formed to provide an opportunity and atmosphere for juniors to enjoy the camaraderie, friendship, and sportsmanship of competitive golf at a series of premier venues throughout the Western New York Section of the PGA of America. Since the conception of The WNYPGA Junior Golf Tour it has grown from 10 annual events to the current schedule of 36 events. Annually the membership is between 200 – 250 junior golfers that play approximately 2,000 rounds of competitive golf. Players in all divisions will compete in a season-long points race to qualify for the season-ending Junior Golf Tour Championship.

Since 1999 it has had over 4,500 members and over 25,000 rounds! It is recognized by Junior Golf Hub and Junior Golf Scoreboard two of the leading Junior Golf organizations in the country. The WNYPGA Junior Golf Tour is the leader; most recognized and respected Junior Golf Competition in Western New York and we will continue to improve “The WNYPGA Junior Golf Tour Experience”. The WNYPGA Section is Most Proud of the fact that we have touched the lives of so many young ladies and gentlemen over the past 21 years. Through the Game of Golf we have instilled the life skills of honesty, integrity, competitiveness and camaraderie.

There are 354 Junior League Golfers across the WNYPGA Section.

The All Star teams competing are:

• Buffalo North

• Buffalo South

• Diamond League

• Erie League

• Glen Oak 13u League

• Rochester 13u League

Friday, August 6th Sub-

Regional

Oak GC

Sunday, Septem- ber 19th

Regional Oak Hill Country Club

A joint initiative founded in 2013 by the Masters Tournament, United States Golf Association and The PGA of America, Drive, Chip and Putt is a free nationwide junior golf development competition aimed at growing the game by focusing on the three fundamental skills employed in golf.

Glen

Girls 16 18

2021 Player of the Year & Champion Raina Hoffmann Ontario, NY

Boys 16 18

2021 Player of the Year & Champion Ethan Provino

Mount Morris, NY

BOYS 13-15

2021 Champion: Connor Kiel Fairport, NY

2021 Champion & Player of the Year: Harper Dittman Fairport, NY

2021 Player of the Year Jackson Ormond Webster, NY

2021 Champion:

Jocelyn Wintersteen (Left) Cassadaga, NY

Player of the Year:

Delaney Abel (Right ) Corning,NY

BOYS 9 Hole

2021 Champion & Player of the Year: Fletcher Weins Rochester, NY

Girls 9 Hole

The goal of WNYPGA Junior Golf Days is to offer young athletes the chance to grow their athleticism and expose young athletes to the game of golf. Instruction will be focused on Stage Two of the American Development Model (ADM), FUNdamentals, to develop skills for play focused on fun, inclusion and developmentally appropriate activities. Students age 5 to 9 will be exposed to driving, chipping, and putting through various activities and games while receiving instruction from top PGA Professionals in Western NY.

• Courses serve Ages 5 to 9 years old

• Free event for participants & open to the public (i.e. non-members at the golf facilities)

• Each event is capped at 50 participants to ensure everyone’s safety & the quality of instruction

• Masks are required at these events

• The session will be 45 minutes in length

• Equipment will be provided by the WNYPGA & PGA REACH

Golf's new pathway is built on the principles of the American Development Model (ADM), a proven, longterm athlete development model that has been successfully applied to USA Hockey, USOC, USA Basketball and USA Lacrosse. American Development Model was designed by sports scientists to help support a lifetime affinity to sports, and to develop athletes to their greatest potential. These principles align physical and psychological development to stages, delivering appropriate skills and exercise at the appropriate time.

Physical and physiological development is broken into 7 stages. Using this strategy, the right skills, exercises, and instruction can be delivered at the right time, leading to success for your students. The goal of the ADM is to engage athletes in a way that will retain students in their sports, such as golf. Learn more at PGA.Coach

Learn more about Junior Golf in Western NY here: https://westernnewyork.pga.com/junior-golf/

WNY

On May 30th, The PGA Reach WNY Marathon team raced to raise money for our foundation initiatives such as PGA HOPE, PGA Works Fellowship & PGA Junior League.

With all of the support and donations from WNY the team raised $12,005.

• Brand Recognition inside AND on-course at the PGA REACH WNY Homesite at Glen Oak Golf Course (average 35,000 rounds per year)

• 10 Hours of lessons, fittings, swing analysis with PGA Professionals

• Listing on PGA REACH WNY Foundation

Website and Newsletter

• Brand Recognition inside the PGA REACH WNY Homesite at Glen Oak Golf Course

• 4 hours of lessons, fittings, swing analysis with PGA Professionals

• Listing on PGA REACH WNY Foundation

Website and Newsletter

• Brand Recognition inside the PGA REACH WNY Homesite at Glen Oak Golf Course

• 2 hours of lessons, fittings, swing analysis with PGA Professionals

• Listing on PGA REACH WNY Foundation

Website and Newsletter

• Brand Recognition inside the PGA REACH WNY Homesite at Glen Oak Golf Course

• Listing on PGA REACH WNY Foundation

Website and Newsletter

We are looking for partners to help positively impact the community through the game of golf!

Growth of Game Grant in collaboration with the BDGA, NYSGA, RDGA Foundations gives over $11,000 back to Player Development Programs across the region.

2021 GRANT RECIPIENTS

Cazenovia Golf Course, Buffalo NY (Jeff Mietus, PGA) received a grant to begin NEW PGA Junior League and Junior Golf Program for the surrounding areas around Cazenovia GC.

Wild Wood CC, Rush NY (Mike Sweazy, PGA) received a grant to help with construction costs for an indoor practice facility for juniors and vets.

Glen Oak GC, Amherst, NY (Anthony Schiro, PGA Associate) received a grant to be able to add a 17 and under PGA Junior League team to their already established 13 and under league at the club.

Lauren Tallman Golf Academy (Lauren Tallman, PGA) received a grant to add a fall/winter indoor program for her girls golf programs.

Lakeside CC, Penn Yan, NY (Bob King, PGA) received a grant to continue to expand his junior golf program on course and in the schools.

Midvale CC (Dan Vanill, PGA) received a grant to purchase SNAG equipment for their junior golf program.

GRANT OVERVIEW

In 2021 the WNYPGA REACH Foundation, in collaboration with the New York State Golf Association, Buffalo District Golf Association and the Rochester District Golf Association Foundations, provided grants to junior golf/growth of the game programs that meet the established program criteria.