August 24 - MGA/MetLife Youth Clinic at Ridgewood Country Club

A group of about 85 students representing The Fist Tee of Metropolitan New York, the Pioneer Junior Golf Tour and Total Golf Adventures participated in an MGA/MetLife Junior Clinic on Monday, August 24 at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J. The clinic was conducted on the same day as the MGA/MetLife Caddie Scholarship Pro-Am, which kicks off the 94th playing of the Met Open Championship, to be held at Ridgewood on Tuesday through Thursday, August 25-27.

The clinic was conducted by Gia Bocra Liwski, the director of instruction at Forsgate Country Club in Monroe, N.J., and several assistant professionals from Ridgewood, Forsgate and other clubs. The 90-minute clinic featured games like golf baseball as well as putting, chipping and driving clinics, and a special appearance by MetLife’s affable mascot, Snoopy, who posed for numerous photos with the participants.  The clinic is the fifth in a series of MGA and MetLife diversity initiatives designed to provide young people with unique golfing opportunities.

MetLife sponsors nine MGA events and the MGA Calendar of Competitions and has a long history of support of golf in the Metropolitan Area.  Their sponsorship relationship with the MGA is more than 30 years old and is one of the longest-running sponsorships in sports.

July 10 - The First Tee of Essex County at USGA Golf House

An enthusiastic group of 50 young golfers who participate in The First Tee of Essex County arrived at the USGA Golf House in Far Hills, N.J. on Tuesday, July 7th to participate in the year’s fourth MGA/MetLife Youth Clinic.

The day started off with a video presented by Bruce McBride of the USGA which reviewed highlights from the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. After the presentation, the group enjoyed lunch outside and was pleasantly surprised with an appearance by Snoopy, who greeted the youngsters and posed for pictures. 

The next stop was a tour of the USGA’s Equipment Testing Center where the students were intrigued by the technology and given demonstrations of some of the machines used to test new golf equipment on a daily basis. In addition, a guided tour was given of the USGA Museum and Arnold Palmer Center for Golf History. The museum houses a variety of famous golf artifacts, displays trophies from all 13 USGA championships, and follows the progression and evolution of the game of the golf.

The event was the fourth in a series of annual youth initiatives conducted by the MGA and MetLife. The fifth and final clinic is scheduled for Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J., site of this year’s Met Open. MetLife has been a partner of the MGA for more than 25 years and is the sponsor of eight MGA championships as well as the MGA Calendar of Competitions. MetLife has a long history of community service and supporting MGA Foundation junior golf initiatives.

June 16 - MGA/MetLife Youth Clinic at Bethpage Black

The MGA Foundation held the third of five MGA/MetLife Youth Clinics on Monday, June 15th at Bethpage State Park. The event was hosted by MetLife in the company’s corporate hospitality tent. The clinic was held during the first day of practice rounds for the 2009 U.S. Open Championship, which is to be held on the famed Black Course June 18-21. More than 35 young people from The First Tee of Nassau County and junior high school golfers from Suffolk County were invited to spend the day as guests of the MGA Foundation and MetLife.

MGA Vice President Gene Bernstein provided opening remarks and was followed by Scott Smith, Director of Communications for the USGA. Smith gave an informative talk about the history of the U.S. Open and what the youngsters can expect to see during their visit to Bethpage. He also explained how hard it is and the amount of dedication it takes to acquire the golf skills needed to play in the Open. The teens were also entertained by local magician Henry Carlyle. Carlyle joked about not being able to get his full bag of tricks through security, but still had plenty of magic to share with the young participants.

The program ended with MetLife representative Steve Sulavik giving each participant a souvenir U.S. Open flag, which they were able to use to collect autographs from their favorite golfers. Participants then toured the course and watched golfers prepare for the start of the championship.

The event was the third in a series of annual youth initiatives conducted by the MGA and MetLife. Upcoming clinics are scheduled for Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J., and the USGA headquarters in Far Hills, N.J. MetLife has been a partner of the MGA for more than 25 years and is the sponsor of eight MGA championships as well as the MGA Calendar of Competitions. MetLife has a long history of community service and supporting MGA Foundation junior golf initiatives.

May 28 - MGA/MetLife Youth Clinic at Bethpage Black

A group of students from The First Tee of Metropolitan New York and Total Golf Adventures of Rockland County, were treated to a behind-the-scenes look at the 2009 U.S. Open Championship venue when Bethpage State Park hosted the MGA/MetLife Junior Golf Day on May 28th. The clinic is the second in a series of four scheduled youth initiatives conducted jointly by the MGA Foundation and its corporate partner MetLife.

The program included an inside look at the maintenance facility and golf course preparations, and was conducted by Bethpage head superintendent Craig Currier. Currier provided detailed background on all the steps in course preparation leading up to the Open, and provided on-course demonstrations on the techniques for preparing greens, cutting hole locations and preparing graduated rough. Currier was assisted by MGA Foundation GOLFWORKS graduate Hamilton Lopes, who has been working as an assistant to Currier for two years and who is completing his degree in turf grass management at SUNY Farmingdale this Spring.

Students were then escorted on a walking tour of the 15th through the 18th holes with Currier providing insight into the difficulty factors involved in making various shots and pointing out the strategic placement of Bethpage’s famous bunkering. The walking tour included a look at the Corporate Hospitality Area and a tour of the 45,000 square-foot Merchandise Tent, which will see plenty of action during the Open.

Following the outdoor portion of the day, students met with Bethpage State Park director Dave Catalano who provided a fascinating history of the Park and an overview of the numerous Rees Jones renovations to the Black Course, which restored its status as the finest public golf facility in America.

The Program concluded with a special treat provided by the USGA—the opportunity to pose with the actual U.S. Open trophy which will be presented to this year’s winner on June 21st.

For the 30 lucky young teens who attended the program it was a very special day that is sure to provide an added thrill when they watch the championship on June 18th through 21st.

May 16 - MGA/MetLife Youth Clinic at LPGA Sybase Classic

The MGA Foundation conducted the first of four annual MGA/MetLife Youth Clinics on Saturday, May 16th at Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton, N.J. The clinic was conducted during third-round play at the LPGA Sybase Classic and featured 50-60 young participants from The First Tee of Metropolitan New York, Total Golf Adventures, and the on-site spectators who were welcomed by MetLife’s affable mascot, Snoopy, before enjoying a day of golf instruction and games, courtesy of the LPGA Tour and Octagon.

The participants had the opportunity to meet some special guests, including LPGA Tour players Aree Song, Allison Hanna-Williams, Audra Burks and Michelle Ellis, and a special appearance by LPGA Commissioner Carolyn Bivens.

MGA Treasurer Steven Boyd and MetLife representative Steve Sulavik introduced the day’s instructors, led by Gia Livski, teaching professional at Forsgate Country Club and star of the cable television show “The Wandering Golfer.” A New Jersey native and former professional at Trump Bedminster, Liwski was joined by Carolyn McKenzie Andrews, director of instruction at Forsgate; Christi Dorece of Fairview Country Club (Conn.); Chaz Moses and Billy Castner from The First Tee of Metropolitan New York; and Joe Ginger of the New Jersey PGA.

All of the youngsters received MetLife Snoopy t-shirts and hats, and enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon of golf instruction. Focusing on the fundamentals of proper grip, stance and alignment, the participants practiced pitch shots and full swings as the instructors actively engaged in the practice of proper technique.

The event is the first in a series of four annual youth initiatives conducted by the MGA and MetLife. The next MGA/MetLife Youth Clinic will take place on Thursday, May 28th at Bethpage State Park, site of this year’s U.S. Open Championship. Other clinics are scheduled for Ridgewood Country Club in New Jersey and the USGA headquarters in Far Hills, N.J.

 MetLife has been a partner of the MGA for more than 25 years and is the sponsor of eight MGA championships as well as the MGA Calendar of Competitions. MetLife has a long history of community service and supporting MGA Foundation junior golf initiatives.