23 minute read
PGA REACH WNY
What is it?
A message from our 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.
Over the course of four days in Washington D.C., 20 PGA HOPE graduates who have been nominated by PGA Professionals from their home PGA HOPE programs will receive a tool kit of new skills focused on advanced golf instruction and impactful wellness training. This curriculum is an extension to what Veterans have been learning throughout the years at their home PGA HOPE programs.
At the conclusion of the event, the 20 PGA HOPE graduates become PGA HOPE Ambassadors and when they return to their home programs, have new responsibilities to help foster the game of golf through the PGA HOPE Program. The Western New York PGA HOPE Ambassador , Nick Martone, is a Marine Corps Veteran with an energetic charismatic personality. View his video message above as to what PGA HOPE means to him.
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.
The Hero video to the right featuring Jack Nicklaus, highlights the positive impact that PGA HOPE has on the lives of military Veterans.
Many veterans in our program have encouraged other veterans to join PGA HOPE. Here are a few videos from active veterans in the Section to thank you all for your involvement and to share their stories. You can click the images below to view messages from our PGA HOPE WNY Veterans.
Nick Martone (Marine Corps Veteran) and Scott Smalter (Navy Veteran). View Scott’s message by clicking the image above. John Osberg, Edwin Andino (Army Veteran) and Steve Bartkowski. View Edwin’s video by clicking the image above.
On October 1st, we began our campaign to raise funds and awareness about PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere). PGA HOPE is the flagship military program of PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America. The National Day of HOPE WNY campaign helped to raise
$9,288 for WNY PGA REACH.
Due to generous donations and efforts to raise funds for PGA REACH WNY, we will be able to continue to serve those who have served. Efforts that helped to raise funds for our campaign included the 100-Hole Marathons, Cans for Veterans can drive, and donations from partners. Cans for Veterans raised $1,218.70! PGA National Day of HOPE culminated on Veterans Day on November 11th, 2020 and collectively PGA Sections across the PGA of America was able to raise $154,067 total for PGA HOPE. The funds raised will impact countless Veteran’s lives. PGA HOPE truly saves lives and thanks to all the generous donations we will be able to continue to save lives of Veterans with the game of golf.
We are collecting cans and bottles! PGA HOPE veterans have been working tirelessly to collect cans and bottles for deposit to earn funds for the Western New York PGA HOPE program. Funds raised from cans are for golf equipment, rounds of golf for our veterans, and coaches who instruct during clinics. Veterans are on a quest to return one million cans and raise $50,000.
On November 10th, 2020 veterans Nick Martone, Steve Harris, and Scott Smalter helped PGA REACH WNY Staff to take cans and bottles to recycling centers in Western NY. After a week to count all the cans and bottles returned the Cans for Veterans can and bottle drive raised $1,218.70! The Cans for Veterans program will continue as an annual project to help fund PGA HOPE WNY. We are grateful to can and bottle donors, Can and Bottle Retrieval Centers and Glen Oak Golf Course.
If you have empty cans and bottles to return, there is a dedicated trailer at Glen Oak Golf Course for collecting cans to deposit. We are so grateful to Tim Fries, PGA and Glen Oak Golf Course for hosting the trailer to collect cans! View a short video about the initiative here: Cans for HOPE
During the off season it can be a challenge to stay connected with the PGA HOPE WNY group. In 2020, we began hosting morning roll calls via video chat to all stay connected. It helps all to stay connected as well as check in on friends. Some meetings will have special guests while most will be used to catch up with friends.
We are thrilled to announce we will be starting up our "PGA HOPE WNY Morning Roll Call!" starting January 8th, 2021. We will be using Google Hangout for our weekly meetings. If you have any questions about the,
"Morning Roll Call!" or about Google Hangout, please contact Jacob Coles, Coordinator of Operations, at jcoles@pgahq.com.
If you know of any veterans who are interested in PGA HOPE and would like more information or would like to join our calls, please invite them and have them send their email address to Jacob Coles to get added to our call.
Join us for the next morning roll call on Friday, January 29th, 2021 at 10AM EST!
Purchase one of our limited edition PGA HOPE shirts created by Verde Golf and a portion of the proceeds will go toward purchasing a golf shirt for our 2021 PGA HOPE Veterans.
Verde golf was created with the intention to make golf fun. “For me golf is about celebrating each other regardless of our differences, wanting to see a complete stranger succeed, and having good wholesome fun with people who are different from you.” - Alex Villafranca, Verde Golf Founder
Verde golf has become a partner to the PGA HOPE WNY program and has helped to celebrate our Veterans. By purchasing a Verde Golf shirt you can purchase a shirt for a PGA HOPE Veteran. Every shirt bought will go back to our PGA HOPE program to purchase graduation shirts to celebrate our 2021 PGA HOPE Programs in Buffalo, Erie and Rochester.
Limited edition shirts will be available in golf shops of PGA Professionals who volunteered to help with PGA HOPE class instruction. You can find the limited edition polo at these golf shops in Western NY: • Fox Valley Country Club • Glen Oak Golf Course • Niagara Frontier Golf Club • Penfield Country Club • Shorewood Country Club
Wanakah Country Club, under leadership of Tom and Sarah Waring, once again held the annual Tee It Up for the Troops golf event this past September to support 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. PGA HOPE WNY (Helping Our Patriots
Everywhere) was honored once again to receive over $10,000 as a beneficiary of this outstanding event
that gives back over $30,000 each year to local not-for-profits and over $60,000 to national not-for-profits that support veteran causes.
“On behalf of our PGA Professionals and Veterans that we serve we are so humbled that Tee it Up for the Troops, Wanakah CC Members, and local community businesses once again stepped up to the plate in a big way. Many of our businesses and livelihoods may have been on hold this year with COVID -19 but the support that our veterans need should never be put on hold. Thank you to everyone who had a hand in making this possible in 2020.” – Steven Bartkowski, WNYPGA Executive Director
PGA HOPE WNY is the flagship military program of PGA REACH WNY, the charitable foundation of the Western New York Section, 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 the support of organizations such as Tee it Up for the Troops, PGA REACH and supplemented by PGA REACH WNY, so the cost of programming is free to all Veterans. This past year, despite restrictions in place with COVID-19, PGA HOPE WNY was able to support close to 100 veterans throughout the region.
For more on the Tee it Up For Troops Wanakah event, CLICK HERE. For more on PGA HOPE WNY, CLICK HERE
Prior to the 2020 Tee It Up for the Troops Event, Veterans were given a short clinic from WNYPGA Professionals before participating in the event.
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.
Captain registration for PGA Junior League is open and you can register to help young golfers build friendships, knowledge of the game, and a community. To register as a PGA Jr. League captain you can click here! There are some changes to PGA Jr. League in 2021 as we continue to make the best experience possible to grow the game of golf. Below are just a few changes coming to PGA Junior League to improve the experience but you can learn more by clicking here. PGA Jr. League is focused on enhancing three areas of the program in 2021 as part of a multi-year expansion plan:
1.) Create more flexibility for local leagues to operate in a way that works for them. This includes being able to host a league with 24 or more players, increase or decrease the number of matches per game, and increase or decrease the number of holes played in each flag based on ages and/or skill levels of players. Based on learnings from 2020, higher Net Promoter Scores for in-house leagues, and ongoing Covid-19 health concerns and uncertainty, these adjustments are being made to further empower PGA and LPGA Professionals to design a PGA Jr. League program that works best for them and their facility.
2.) Update All-Star policies to align with American Development Model (ADM) standards and ensure the best possible player experience. This includes establishing a minimum age of 10 years-old to be eligible for an All-Star team and lowering the 13u team size to eight players so everyone plays the full nine holes in each event.
3.) Introduce Section and Regional Championships for 17u to create fun and memorable culminating events for this emerging age division.
Last day to register as a captain is April 1st, 2021. Participant registration opens February 1st, 2021.
Create a safe environment at your golf course for families to enjoy quality time together through PGA Family Cup! PGA Family Cup brings PGA Jr. League to life for families in a format all ages can enjoy together. Most importantly, it’s designed to build a vibrant community around YOU, the family expert coach, at your golf course. This program can provide families the opportunity to safely engage in the sports world again and begin the healing process for your community. The program is designed to get families who watch from the cart path of a PGA Junior League event to the fairway with the family scramble format. Learn more with the PGA Family Cup Facility Guide and register as a Family Cup captain and facility. Click the image above to view a short video about PGA Family Cup.
Membership Information:
All registered players may register for up to 10 events (full-time) andup to 5 events (part-time). Please note: Entry into each event is on a first come, first served basis and the 10 or 5 events is NOT guaranteed. Partial refunds while in season will only be considered if ALL events are completely booked and/or there are extraordinary personal circumstances. • Membership for Full Time 2021 WNYPGA Junior Tour– Max of 10 events – 18 Hole: $450.00 • Membership for Part Time 2021 WNYPGA Junior Tour- Max 5 events – 18 Hole: $350.00 • Membership for Full Time 2021 WNYPGA Junior Tour- Max 10 events – 9 Hole: $350.00 • Membership for Part Time 2021 WNYPGA Junior Tour– Max of 5 events – 9 Hole: $250.00
Eligibility:
The WNYPGA Junior Tour is open to juniors residing within the boundaries of the WNYPGA Section who have reached the age of 10 but will not reach their 19th birthday before August 4, 2021.
Juniors will be separated by their age on June 30th, 2021 into the following divisions:
• Boys 16-18 • Boys 13-15 • Boys 10-12 (9-Hole) • Girls 16-18 • Girls 13-15 • Girls 10-12 (9-Hole)
WNYPGA JUNIOR TOUR MEMBER BENEFITS:
• WNYPGA Jr Tour Membership Gift Package
WNYPGA Jr Tour Member Bag Tag Click the logo to get your 2021 WNYPGA
WNYPGA / WNYPGA REACH Golf Towel Junior Tour Membership!
WNYPGA Hat • Junior Golf Hub Account – Free Player Profile – Free 30 Day Trial Premium Membership and Discounted
Premium Membership available to our Junior PGA Tour Members. – All the info needed for aspiring college golfers – Digital Golf Resume available to over 750 College Coaches – Detailed information on over 2000 College Golf Programs and more • Enhanced Blue Golf Account – Tournament Planner, Scorecard App & College Finder • College Golf / Careers in Golf Seminar – Included in 2021 Junior Membership to learn from College
Coaches and Industry Professionals. • World Golf Handicap for all Members who need one.
2021 WNYPGA JUNIOR TOUR SCHEDULE: 36 Hole Scoring Events for 2021
Event 1: Saturday April 17th Midvale CC, Sunday April 18th Ridgemont CC Event 2: Saturday May 1st Terry Hills GC, Sunday May 2nd Stafford CC Event 3: Saturday May 22nd Chautauqua GC, Sunday May 23rd Shorewood CC Event 4: Saturday June 12th Gowanda CC, Sunday June 13th Elkdale CC
**36 Hole Scoring Events are played over 2 days at 2 different locations. Player must register into both individual 18 Hole events and scores will be combined for the 36 Hole Event Posting to Junior Golf Scoreboard. You will not receive additional Player of the Year Points or prizes for the 36 Hole Event Posting. You will receive Points and Prizes for Individual 18 Hole Events. Since you are playing in 2 separate events it will count as 2 events against your membership. To view the full 2021 WNYPGA Junior Tour Schedule CLICK HERE
The First Tee - Western New York is looking for coaches and volunteers to join their team for the 2021 season. Help this great organization in its efforts to grow the game in the WNY community!
CLICK HERE to apply to become a coach or volunteer today
The First Tee exists to enable kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. By seamlessly integrating the game of golf with life skills curriculum, students create learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience that carry to everything they do. With the belief that all kids deserve the chance to grow in a supportive environment with mentors guiding them, the First Tee is dedicated to building programs that are accessible, welcoming, and as impactful as they are fun.
Students in the First Tee program become a better version of themselves because they are surrounded by passionate coaches and volunteers who guide them to see what they are capable of doing. An expansion of programs and an increased number of participants in 2020 means there is a need for more golfers like you to get involved in 2021.
In addition to several schools and community centers in Buffalo, Niagara Falls, and Rochester, First Tee – Western NY delivers our full Life Skills Experience program at the following golf facilities:
Buffalo Area Facilities: • Brighton Golf Course • Elma Meadows Golf Course • Grover Cleveland Golf Course • Harvest Hill Golf Course • Glen Oak Golf Course • Niagara County Golf Course • Spruce Ridge Golf Course Rochester Area Facilities: • Churchville Golf Course • Deerfield Country Club • Genesee Valley Golf Course
If anyone on your staff, members of your club, or frequent league members have an interest in getting involved with First Tee – Western NY, please contact Kristen Bromley at kbroley@firstteewesternny.org for
more information or CLICK HERE to apply. We also have opportunities to run school and community-led golf clinics which is a great way to stay involved during the off-season!
Lastly, if you have junior golf sets you are looking to get rid of, please consider donating them to First Tee –Western NY. While we appreciate the offer of donating adult clubs, we are in need of junior sets. Please
contact Tim Frank at tfrank@firstteewesternny.org to donate clubs or additional equipment.
Thank you for your continued support an effort in growing the game of golf – we look forward to getting more PGA Members involved with First Tee – Western NY in 2021!
PGA WORKS is a strategic initiative, designed to diversify the golf industry’s workforce. Funded by PGA REACH, the 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the PGA of America, PGA WORKS leverages fellowships, scholarships, career exploration events, and the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship to inspire and engage talent from diverse backgrounds to pursue key employment positions across the golf industry. • In 2019 the PGA WORKS Collegiate Championship hosted 189 student-athletes from 41 HBCUs, HSIs, and minority-serving institutions. • PGA WORKS Fellows have worked in 9 different PGA Section offices. • PGA WORKS fellowship alumni have a 100% job placement rate in sports and 77% job placement rate in golf since 2017 • PGA WORKS has awarded 25 Scholarships since 2018.
In 2019, PGA REACH WNY had the opportunity to hire their first PGA WORKS Fellow giving golf industry experience to an individual of a diverse background. PGA WORKS encompasses fellowships, the Collegiate Championship, career expos, Beyond the Green programming and scholarships. You can learn more by clicking here. Or click the image below to view a video encompassing PGA WORKS programming!
Some history about Special Olympics New York starts with “Eunice Kennedy Shriver who founded Special Olympics in 1968. Just one year later, Dorothy Buehring Phillips inaugurated the program in New York— and the state sent its first delegation of athletes and coaches to the Northeast Regional Special Olympics competition in Boston, Mass. Special Olympics New York was incorporated in 1970 with Phillips as its first State Director. In June 1970, Rochester hosted the first State Summer Games. Today, Special Olympics New York is the largest program in the United States and one of the largest in the world.”
Special Olympics New York’s mission is to “provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-style sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.” The PGA REACH WNY Foundation is excited to help grow the game by partnering with Special Olympics New York.
Throughout the 2020 golf season I had the privilege of meeting many PGA Professionals, Junior Golfers, Veterans and Foundation partners, but I want to formally introduce myself. I grew up in Michigan where I picked up the game of golf in the LPGA Girls’ Golf Program. My mom is a life-long golfer who encouraged me to play the sport she loves, golf. It is because of the LPGA Girls’ Golf program that I went on to play Varsity golf in high school, volunteer to coach junior golf programs (i.e. Junior Golf Camps, Girls and Boys Golf) and work at Fox Hills Golf and Banquet Center for six years. I fell in love with the game. While exploring my options for after high school, I knew playing college golf was not going to be an option (due to my desire to attend a larger school and my average golf scores). Instead, I studied Sport Management at Central Michigan University (CMU) where I worked in the Athletic Compliance Office. During the Summer, I would do double time working at the golf course and golf related internships. Some of my classmates may have thought I was odd for not choosing the NBA, MLB, NFL or NHL, but I knew golf is the sport for me. It was after a chance encounter with the Michigan PGA WORKS Fellow that taught me about the opportunity designed to diversify the golf industry, the PGA WORKS Fellowship. The opportunity appealed to me because of my passion for helping to do just that, diversify the golf industry. Through my many golf experiences, I know golf is a male dominated sport and I would like to help change that. Whether it be through junior golf programs or encouraging more women to play. I was fortunate to have women support me early in my golf career like the two women PGA Professionals who coached me and the two women who own the golf course in Michigan. I know it is my turn to support other women in golf. Following my offer to be the PGA WORKS Fellow in Western NY, I finished my final semester at CMU online and did a virtual graduation with my close family. Next, amid the COVID-19 pandemic I made the move to Buffalo to work in the WNYPGA and was thrown right into the fire. My experience as the fellow has been incredible. The entry-level position has allowed me to captain the Doubles Golf Program here in the Section, be at almost every WNYPGA Junior Tour event and help promote the large PGA HOPE WNY program. I enjoy the many conversations with juniors about their golf round and with veterans about how golf has saved their lives. Professional events are always fun as I get to see our PGA Professionals succeed. Part of my love for expanding the game is learning different teaching styles for golf. During PGA HOPE clinics and other events across the section, PGA Professionals have been so kind as to tell me about their teaching styles. It is the little things like this that make the PGA WORKS Fellowship so special. I continue to learn so much about what happens in a PGA Section and it is such a pleasure to serve the golf community in Western NY. Fire Up Chips!
Submitted by:
Hope Warkoczeski
WNYPGA & PGA REACH WNY PGA WORKS Fellow hwarkoczeski@pgahq.com
