As part of its ongoing series of junior initiatives, the MGA Foundation conducted  a junior golf clinic at Winged Foot Golf Club on Thursday, August 19^th.    The clinic was sponsored by MetLife, which has a long history of supporting MGA Junior programs.

Fifty youngsters from the Theodore Young Community center in Greenburgh, NY, ranging in

age form eight to fifteen, were  introduced to the fundamentals of the game by Winged Foot’s legendary head golf professional Tom Nieporte. The clinic was  followed by lunch at the club and students werer then invited to spend the afternoon at the U.S. Amateur watching the world’s best amateurs battle on the West Course for one of the coveted spots in the quarterfinals.

The U.S. Amateur Junior Clinic is the third one conducted this series, with earlier events held at the USGA Headquarters in New Jersey and Eisenhower Park on Long Island, the latter held in conjunction with the Champions Tour Long Island Classic and featuring Tour star Jim Thorpe.  Snoopy is a regular attendee at the clinics.

  MGA Foundation Junior clinics are just one of the Association’s many junior initiatives, which include the GOLFWORKS Student Intern program, First Tee Programming and sites, Junior Championships, Caddie Academies and a host of other educational programs.  The Foundation is in the midst of a five million dollar Capital Campaign, ‘Golf Grows Here” to help make the game more affordable and accessible for everyone.

GOLFWORKS INTERNS LEND A HAND AT U.S. AMATEUR

Eighteen of The MGA Foundation’s GOLFWORKS Student Interns are taking a break this week from their regular club duties to assist with the administration of the U.S. Amateur at Winged Foot.  The students were recruited to assist in a variety of areas including scoring, Practice Range, concessions and sanitation and are all enjoying the opportunity to participate in such an important national event.

 

Kenza Martin who works at the Metropolis Club said, “I ran scorecards and my job was very important because the scores had to get back and it was my responsibility.  It was fun to follow the actions and see who made the cut.”

 

Shane Moran, a GOLFWORKS intern at Ardsley Country club for three years also observed “ I leared a lot about the different ways that golfers read the greens and line up putts. It was fun to see the action up close.”

 

Joe Lee of Mosholu Golf Course, site of the Foundation’s First Tee programming, was inspired . “ Working at the Amateur has motivated me to practice and get better.  I want to play in this one day.”

 

Another GOLFWORKS Intern Larina Scott-Cooper of Woodlands High School in Greenburgh, has been working since June with in the Tournament Administration office at Winged Foot and has become a valuable part of their tournament staff.  During the championship she can be seen working at registration, will call booth, concession stands and other areas.

 

“It’s so much fun to see all the preparation and hard work pay off, said Larina.  It’s such an exciting atmosphere to be a part of.  It’s hard work, but it’s such a great opportunity too.”

 

These eighteen students are among 200 who participated in the GOLFWORKS Student intern Program this year at over 85 Met area clubs. 

 

For more information on the MGA Foundation or on the Junior Clinic at Winged Foot, please contact Jeanne McCooey at 914-347-4753.

 

 

 

 

To Make an Online Donation to the MGA Foundation, please Click Here.