Commitment to kids: we honor five worthy junior programs

Golf Digest, May, 2005 by Topsy Siderowf

Golf Digest started giving junior development awards in 1984--recognizing a municipality, corporation, club, individual and association for contributions to young golfers. Coincidentally, 1984 was when Stephen Hamblin, this year's individual winner, became the executive director of the American Junior Golf Association, the preeminent organization for competitive junior golf. Over the past 21 years, Hamblin's title has stayed the same while the organization he presides over has grown in size and influence. Back in 1984, the AJGA consisted of Hamblin, three staffers, a payroll of $200,000 and a dozen events. Now the organization, based in Braselton, Ga., has 51 full-time employees, 36 summer interns, a budget of $7.3 million and a growing list of corporate sponsors. This year 7,000 kids will play in 75 events, and another 4,000 will participate in qualifying tournaments. Some 5,000 kids representing all 50 states and 35 foreign countries pay $195 annually to become members. Success on the AJGA puts kids on the fast track for getting college scholarships.

For many years, Hamblin says, the AJGA has been criticized as elitist and political in terms of who gets into its tournaments. In response, Hamblin instituted some field-leveling initiatives. Entry into AJGA events is now based on performance, where kids earn stars by finishing well in state, regional and national events. The ACE grants (Achieving Competitive Excellence) provide financial aid for less-fortunate kids with talent. Fifty AJGA members are eligible for as much as $4,100 a year to cover memberships, entry fees, travel, food and lodging.

Hamblin's greatest achievement is, perhaps, the AJGA's pace-of-play program. He calls it the "best in the world." In 72 events last year the average tournament round was played in four hours 25 minutes. Four timing stations are set up on each course, and players must get to them within a set amount of time. Failure to comply results in a variety of warnings issued to all players in the group. Penalties can be appealed.

In addition to Hamblin, Golf Digest is honoring the golf-rich city of Chicago; Cyprian Keyes, an upscale public course in Boylston, Mass.; Wal-Mart, the corporate giant; and the kid-friendly Georgia State Golf Association.

Shaping future stars

STEPHEN HAMBLIN

As executive director, Hamblin gets to 15 AJGA events a year. At the season-ending AJGA-Polo Golf Junior Classic at Sea Island Golf Club in St. Simons Island, Ga., he kids with contestants Morgan Pressel (left) and Mallory Hetzel. One of nine invitationals on the AJGA schedule, this tournament attracted a star-studded field of 175 youngsters from 35 states and nine countries. Ninety-seven players in the field were honored as Rolex Junior All-Americans for excellence 2004. Pressel won the girls' championship, and James Lee took the boys' title.

Kids and champions

WAL-MART

The ground-breaking First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, where Wal-Mart was the presenting sponsor, allowed junior golfers to play in the same tournament with Champions Tour professionals for the first time. Seventy-eight juniors were paired with 78 senior pros, and Craig Stadler (left) and his partner, Aaron Woodard, from The First Tee of Denver, won the 54-hole event with a score of 22 under par. Juniors qualified at six local sites where Wal-Mart employees helped supervise play. Wal-Mart also provides financial support to promote The First Tee's Life Skills program.

Pass your P.A.T.

CYPRIAN KEYES G.C.

When owners Liz and Bob Frem opened Cyprian Keyes Golf Club in Boylston, Mass., in 1998, their priority was to create a top-rate facility for juniors. Since then about 1,200 kids have enrolled in the club's two-tiered program. Those in the Futures program play the par-3 course built for beginners. Once they pass the Player Ability Test by shooting no higher than 25 for the first four holes on the 18-hole course, juniors earn a promotion to the rest of the regulation course.

After-school golf

CHICAGO

Spurred by Mayor Richard M. Daley, a golfer who's trying to make the game accessible, kids in Chicago have more opportunities than ever to play the game. More than 70 elementary schools and 22 high schools offer golf as part of after-school programs. At Caldwell Academy, John Leeper, Sheldon Scott, Kristopher Hayes, Coach John Drew and Eugene Jones (from left) react to Brittany Henry's putt.

A great partnership

GEORGIA STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION

In operation since 1914, the Georgia State Golf Association has a long history of promoting junior golf. Through a variety of programs the GSGA reached more than 800 kids last year. The GSGA, with the U.S. Golf Association and the LPGA, is sponsoring a pilot program to add LPGA-USGA Girls Golf sites in the state. Under the leadership of USGA intern Leilani Bagby, more than 10 new clubs have been formed. Members of the Stone Mountain club recently visited the Golfsmith store in Duluth with their instructor, Justin Tackett (left), helping Taylor McKnight change a grip with (from left) Kendall and Kelsey Latimer and Alexis and Maia Harrell.