ARIZONA NEWS
JGAA & AWGA
JGAA has multitude of programs to educate, motivate and inspire
G
rowing the game of golf has become a popular theme these days. In Arizona, junior golf organizations
are doing their part to serve record numbers of youngsters. And one of those organizations not only is making sure its members play well, it’s also making sure they will do well — on and off the golf course. The Junior Golf Association of
Arizona, founded in 1983, recently expanded its focus beyond conducting competitive golf tournaments. It now also includes character-building development inherent to the game. Make no mistake, there’s still
approximately 35 tournaments on the JGAA’s schedule. In fact, 2016 is the second year of its Junior Masters Series. These invitation-only tournaments are tailored toward junior golfers who want to compete against top-ranked peers without traveling out-of-state. Local PGA Tour players like Bryce Molder and Charlie Beljan pitch in to host these prestigious events and provide priceless
AWGA Partners Tournament caps 2016 season
n BY ROBYN NOLL
The Arizona Women’s Golf Association’s Partners Tournament is set for Nov. 13-14 at the Hilton El Conquistador Resort in Oro Valley. Nestled in the foothills of the Catalina Mountains, El Conquistador boasts two stunning desert layouts, including the Conquistador Course, which will be fresh off a four-month closure that installed
32 | AZ GOLF Insider | FALL 2016
real-world advice to the next generation. “Our goal is to deliver a competitive
place for aspiring players to play,” said George Getz, chairman of the board of the JGAA. “This tournament series allows kids to earn national- level points and serves as a launching pad into nationally chartered events and college scholarships.” But you don’t have
to be a great player to fit in at the JGAA, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money, either. An annual competitive membership is only $70, which includes eligibility to enter tournaments and enrollment into Youth on Course. This money-saving program (Youth on Course) features golf rates as
low as $5 at 17 facilities in Arizona. And for those who do not wish to compete, the JGAA offers Youth on Course Only memberships for a $10 annual fee. “Youth on Course has really taken off
since its launch,” said Scott McNevin, executive director of the JGAA. “It’s an
T1-Bentgrass greens. This exciting new upgrade in the putting surfaces will offer players a smooth, heat-resistant putting surface year-round. The Partners Tournament is a Stableford
scoring event, with only one ball counting the first day and both balls on the second. The format makes for a leaderboard that changes quickly. Last year’s champions, Lisa Smego and Kelly Loeb, started the final day one point behind, but ended up winning by 14 points. There are flights and tees suited to players of all handicaps which levels the field. In fact, the overall net winners have come out of the fifth flight each of the past two years. This is the AWGA’s last tournament for 2016
inexpensive way for JGAA members to get out there and play casual golf outside of official JGAA events.” JGAA members also pitch in
on programs such as Junior Golf Ambassadors. Its objective is to acquaint high-achieving JGAA members with the value of civic-minded contributions. And the JGAA’s Speaker Series is another example where an array of current community leaders gives JGAA members a glimpse into the real world and how they can make a personal impact. But before they get a real job, education comes first. As anyone who has taken
Scott McNevin
a swing at the little white ball will tell you, the game itself is a learning experience. JGAA tournaments, rules clinics and other hands-on activities
teach values such as perseverance, honesty, sportsmanship and confidence. For college-bound members, the JGAA offers seminars hosted by college golf coaches and other advisors to get started out on the right foot and maximize the educational experience. For the wee ones beginning the game, the JGAA partners with the Southwest PGA Foundation. Now it’s your turn! To get
started, contact Scott McNevin at
smcnevin@jgaa.org, or call 602-944- 6168. For more information about the JGAA, visit
www.JGAA.org. n
and is open to amateur women golfers who have a handicap index of 36.0 or lower and have been AWGA members for at least 30 days prior to the tournament. Qualified nonmembers can play for an additional fee if space is available. Online entry as well as paper
entry forms are available on the AWGA website at
www.awga.org/ Tournaments. The event costs $170 per player, and includes green fees, cart fees, range balls, tee prizes, awards, as well as a lunch following play on Day Two. Registration closes Oct. 23.
Entrants must be 14 years of age or
older. Players between 14-17 years old must have a handicap index of 12.0 or less. n
www.azgolf.org
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