MGA Foundation Day of Golf a Success at Friar’s Head

ELMSFORD, N.Y. (May 24, 2010) - The 2010 MGA Foundation Day of Golf was held at Friar’s Head in Baiting Hollow, N.Y., on May 24. This was the 16th year of the event, which has become one of the most special days on the MGA calendar. With more than $100,000 raised in support of the MGA Foundation’s GOLFWORKS Student Intern program, the day was a tremendous success. More than 130 supporters were on hand to enjoy Friar’s Head, which hosted the 2008 Met Amateur Championship and is one of the premier golf courses in the country.

Along with a fantastic setting for golf, the day featured two GOLFWORKS alumni, Javon Leach and Skye McCaine, who spoke at the reception about how vital the GOLFWORKS program has been to their success as students, workers and individuals. Both Leach and McCaine emphasized how the GOLFWORKS program has taught them about workplace responsibilities and helped shape the way they go about achieving future goals, both personally and professionally.

The GOLFWORKS program was created in 1994, with 12 students working at six clubs. This year, there are more than 200 GOLFWORKS interns working at more than 80 clubs. The Day of Golf has been held at some of the top golf courses in the Met Area and continues to be a popular way to raise awareness of the GOLFWORKS program. Past hosts include Trump National - Bedminster in Bedminster, N.J., Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y., Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J., and last year’s host, Liberty National Golf Course in Jersey City, N.J.

 

MGA and MetLife Host Youth Clinic at Sybase Match Play

  

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.

2010 Lew Rudin Golf Outing

ELMSFORD, N.Y. (May 18, 2010) - The 2010 Lew Rudin Charity Classic in support of The First Tee of Metropolitan New York was held on Monday, May 17th at Deepdale Golf Club in Manhasset, N.Y. The proceeds from the event support the Lew Rudin/The First Tee Scholarship to New York University and other First Tee programs. Since 2003, six deserving students have been awarded the tuition scholarship based on their academic success and relationship with The First Tee.

The scholarship was named in honor of Trustee Emeritus Lewis Rudin, a native New Yorker and graduate of New York University. Mr. Rudin carried on a family tradition which began more than 60 years ago by his builder-philanthropist parents, Samuel and May Rudin, who rose from modest beginnings in New York City to become two of New York's major builders and real estate owners. Mr. Rudin loved golf and believed in people and especially that New York should be a part of The First Tee. In 2001, The First Tee of Metropolitan New York was created and the learning facility was named in his honor.

Since 2003, six Lew Rudin/The First Tee Scholars have attended or are attending  NYU.

   Lew Rudin/First Tee Scholarship Winners:

• Kristen Red Horse, Scholar (2003) Graduated 2006
• Kelly Leung, Scholar (2005) Graduated  2009
• Amanda Bailey , Scholar (2005) Graduated 2009
• Kimberly Anglin, Scholar (2006) Graduated 2010
• Joanna Lau, Scholar (2007) Class of 2011
• Sumit Khetan Scholar (2009) Class of 2013

 

For more information on the First Tee of Metropolitan New York, click here