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ELMSFORD, N.Y. (May 22, 2010) - The MGA Foundation conducted the first of four annual MGA/MetLife Youth Clinics on Saturday, May 22, at Hamilton Farm Golf Club in Gladstone, N.J. The event was held in conjunction with the LPGA’s Sybase Match Play Championship and featured more than 80 young golfers from The First Tee at Plainfield West and LPGA-USGA Girls Golf of Scranton-Pocono and Greater Newark. The young participants were welcomed by Snoopy, MetLife’s fun-loving mascot, before enjoying a day of golf instruction and games.

The participants had the opportunity to meet several LPGA Tour players, including Christina Kim, Azahara Munoz and Beatriz Recari. The professional golfers spoke to the kids about golf and life on the LPGA Tour. “There aren’t many sports where you can learn hard work and integrity and work on your tan at the same time,” joked Kim.

MGA President Al Small introduced the day’s instructors, led by Hamilton Farm teaching professional Gia Bocra Liwski and a team of nine teaching professionals from the New Jersey PGA. All of the young golfers, aged 6-13, received gift bags complete with t-shirts, golf towels and hats, and enjoyed a fun-filled afternoon of instructional games. Focusing on the fundamentals of proper grip, stance, and alignment, the youngsters practiced pitch shots, putting and full swings on the practice facilities of Hamilton Farm.

The event was 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 Wednesday, July 14th at Golf House, site of the USGA Headquarters.

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.

For more information on MGA/MetLife Youth Clinics, contact Riley McCarthy (rmccarthy@mgagolf.org) at 914-347-4653.