Eric Cogorno’s dad inspired him to become a golfer when he was twelve. He always saw his father go out with his friends for a few rounds on the weekends, and, as most boys do, he wanted to be just like him. So, his dad bought him a junior set of clubs, and he got to work. By the age of eighteen, Eric attended college at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and worked at a local golf course. As fate would have it, one of the professional instructors came in one day and told him how he’d just made $50 from teaching a golf lesson. It wasn’t long after that that Eric decided he wanted to become a professional golf coach himself. Naturally, Eric began his coaching career at the Bethlehem Golf Club, eventually progressing to assistant pro.

LEARN MORE

The post ERIC COGORNO (YOUTUBER) appeared first on The Golf Wire.

The full episode is now live: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PaDNe5L3pc&t=1s

All 5 Clubs podcast episodes can be found on all audio streaming services and on YouTube under 5 Clubs.

Contact:
James McCoy
jmccoy@signaturesportsgroup.com
704.88.3447

The post TAYLOR MOORE JOINS GARY WILLIAMS IN STUDIO TO DISCUSS HIS GOLF JOURNEY appeared first on The Golf Wire.

Four players qualified and were in the field at this year’s second using the game enhancing 2Thumb performance putting grips designed by former SuperStroke co-founder and grip designer Darin Dingman.

Wallace made the cut and finished T43 along with notables Will Zalatoris, Dustin Johnson, and Jordan Spieth who was seeking to complete the career grand slam.

Wallace is putting with 2Thumb’s SNUG Tour 27 grip.  The SNUG Tour 27 has proven to be one of the most popular grips in the 2Thumb product line.  Featuring a smooth soft and flat front to ensure consistent grip alignment, the rounded underbelly sits perfectly in the lifeline of your palm delivering the ultimate in feel and feedback.

For more information go to www.usa.twothumbgrip.com. (Photo: Matt Wallace, Sky Sports).

ABOUT 2Thumb

2Thumb Grips, the Original Flat Top grip since 2004, offers a range of ergonomically designed putter grips that aid in grip alignment, help prevent grip twist, and promote a consistent, confident putting stroke. Any putting technique can be used with 2Thumb grips: prayer style, right below left, left hand low, claw, etc. For more visit: usa.twothumbgrip.com. For media requests: please contact “Holly G” Geoghegan, Golf Marketing Services, 321-303-9684. holly@golfmarketinginc.com.

The post FOUR 2THUMB GRIP PLAYERS IN THE FIELD AT THE 2024 PGA CHAMPIONSHIP appeared first on The Golf Wire.

(Worley, Idaho)  — Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel is proud to announce that Kal Zaranec, Superintendent at its award-winning Circling Raven Golf Course, has graduated from the prestigious EXCEL Leadership Program presented by Nufarm and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA). Zaranec was one of six graduates recognized for completing the three-year program during a session, held April 15-17 in Raleigh and Pinehurst, North Carolina.

During the session, the EXCEL Leadership Program recognized Zaranec for completing the three-year mentorship and networking opportunity. Nineteen EXCEL Program participants in all learned and observed first-hand the preparation and requirements for hosting the USGA’s U.S. Open, which returns to Pinehurst No. 2 June 10-16.

The group also visited Nufarm’s new formulation development lab in Morrisville, NC, to learn about the extensive process of innovating new golf course solutions. EXCEL stands for “Educating” golf industry leaders of tomorrow; cross-training opportunities so they can share what they have learned (“X”); “Creating” community leaders who serve more than take; “Encouraging” future leaders through advisory boards and councils; and developing “Leaders” who will mentor others.

“Even being considered and accepted into the program three years ago was a huge achievement,” Zaranec said. “Now, graduating after three years of leadership training, networking, and visits to some of the top golf courses and sports fields in the country, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience with the EXCEL Leadership Program and the opportunities that were presented.”

The program focuses on leadership in three main areas: “being a leader at home, being a leader at work, and being a leader in the community. I have become more involved with our local GCSAA Chapter, and also joined a volunteer Ski Patrol last winter.” Thanks in part to his EXCEL experience, Zaranic concluded, “We have built a stronger team at Circling Raven, not just within golf maintenance, but with golf operations and other departments we work with.”

“Kal and his team work tirelessly to ensure that they responsibly create and maintain excellent course conditions and beautiful resort grounds,” added Circling Raven Director of Golf Christopher Runyan, PGA. “Not only did he gain industry insights and learn cutting edge innovations, but the program’s management-best-practices focus complements his professional growth.”  

Celebrating its 20^th Anniversary season in 2024, Circling Raven holds widespread critical esteem including Best Public Course in Idaho, Top 20 U.S. Casino Course, Top American Resort Courses, and Best North Idaho Course. It hosted the LPGA’s Epson Tour for three years (2021-23) through which top women golf professionals from around the world unanimously praised the course conditions and its design, the masterpiece of golf course architect Gene Bates, ASGCA. Bates’ ingenious holes and course routing at Circling Raven are extolled for their natural contours that move brilliantly through 620 acres of woodlands, wetlands, and tumbling Palouse terrain.

For more information, visit www.cdacasino.com/golf or call 800-523-2464.

About Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel

Since 1993, the Coeur d’Alene Tribe has operated the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel, located where sky greets Mt. Tch’mutpkwe, the source of the St. Joe River, 25 miles from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The casino resort is among the largest employers in North Idaho employing between 850-1,100 depending on the season and contributing more than $33.5 million to education in the region since it opened. Additionally, millions more have gone in support of a wide range of public projects, emergency relief, charities, and programs in the Pacific Northwest. Named Tribal Destination of the Year in 2019 by AIANTA, the property features 300 rooms and suites, seven distinct food and beverage venues and entertainment including live music and comedy as well as hands-on tours and experiences through the casino’s Cultural Tourism Program. Three $1-million-dollar winners have found their luck in the 100,000 square feet of gaming space offering nearly 1,200 video gaming machines and high-stakes bingo. Additional amenities include a 15,000 square foot spa voted 1st for “Resort Spas that deliver the Ahh Factor” by Spatrips.com, 40,000 square feet of meeting space, indoor and outdoor wedding locations and Circling Raven Golf Club, an 18-hole, par 72 course acclaimed as a “Top 100” course by every major golf publication in the U.S. LIKE Coeur d’Alene Casino on Facebook and Instagram or follow us on Twitter. For more information about Coeur d’Alene Casino and Circling Raven, visit www.cdacasino.com. 

MEDIA CONTACTS

Gary Trask, gary@danshepherdpr.com, 978-228-0314

Yvette Matt, ymatt@cdacasino.com, 208-500-9989

The post CIRCLING RAVEN SUPERINTENDENT COMPLETES LEADERSHIP PROGRAM appeared first on The Golf Wire.

Melbourne, Fla. – ScanMyGolfBall announces its new revolutionary mobile app compatible with iOS and Android devices that can quickly scan and identify the proper golf ball for anyone’s game. Rather than collecting personal shot data about a golfer, the brand-agnostic app collects golf swing information through a series of interactive questions and then matches the golfer to a ball that best fits their game.

“It’s a convenient and easy-to-use ball fitting tool,” says app and company founder Tim Chase, who serves as CEO of SMGB Technologies in Melbourne, Fla. “Based on those questions, the app will recommend the best ball for you, or a series of balls, that are a good fit. You can also scan any golf ball through your phone’s camera, and the app will tell you how well that ball fits you based on the profile you’ve created.”

The ScanMyGolfBall app questions a golfer about swing speed, flight path tendencies, general trajectory, short-game spin, and more. Based on those answers, the app builds a profile and ultimately recommends specific golf ball models. Plus, golfers can scan any ball to see instantly how well that model fits their game.

Like millions of avid golfers, Chase was blindly playing a popular ball from a leading manufacturer for a long time. After reading up on it, he realized it was a misfit for his game. He switched to a softer compression ball and immediately added 20 yards. “I had a slower swing speed and couldn’t generate enough clubhead speed to compress the ball I was playing,” he says. “And that’s what gave me the idea for this app – especially because I was playing in a men’s league and there were older gentlemen out there playing the forward tees, hitting it 180 yards off the tee, yet also playing a ball that’s better fit for a pro. As I studied this more, I realized most golfers don’t really understand golf balls, the concept of low-spin and high-spin balls, the difference a cover makes, compression, etc. So, I set out to develop this app that makes everything very simple. By using the right ball, most people will get more distance off the tee and more accuracy. The app is a great tool for golfers.”

The ScanMyGolfBall app, which already has a database of more than 500 ball models, both new and old, goes beyond simple identification. It scans and processes ball cover type, layer count, compression, spin rate, feel, and dimple patterns. The app will soon be able to analyze and assess golf ball damage and determine its fit for use through a three-image scanning process.

Chase says his current focus is to continue building the ScanMyGolfBall app user database, which already has thousands of golf ball fitting data, enough to start seeing some exciting trends in the collected data. Currently, the top 5 most scanned manufacturers include 1. Callaway, 2. Titleist, 3. Taylormade, 4. Srixon, 5. Bridgestone. Furthermore, the top 5 most scanned golf ball models included 1. Titleist ProV1, 2. Callaway Supersoft, 3. Titleist ProV1x, 4. Callaway Chrome Soft, 5. Kirkland Performance +.

“While Titleist has the top scanned ball, Callaway has more varied models of balls being scanned with golfers showing a preference for Callaway’s slower swing speed models as opposed to Titleist’s fast swing speed models,” explains Chase. “Meanwhile, Kirkland, with only a single model on the market (the fewest of all the manufacturers represented), still made the Top 5 for most scanned balls alongside top premium balls, a likely indicator that its bargain price is a deciding factor among an increasing number of golfers.”

Chase looks forward to growing the number of app downloads and continuing to match golfers to new golf balls when they are released. “Being able to connect anytime with our fast-growing database and impacting the thousands of golfers in our system who benefit from having a properly fit golf ball is exciting,” he said. “We can send push notifications directly through the app to golfers, letting them know as new ball models become available. From there, we have the technology to create codes that could be directed to golf retailers or even specific brand websites.”

“Yes, there are other services like ours online – but most are not brand-agnostic and free. I consider this to be like a fiduciary of golf balls, in that we’re looking out for the best interest of golfers,” continued Chase.

About ScanMyGolfBall

The ScanMyGolfBall app is an innovative new platform that is compatible with iOS and Android devices, which quickly scans and identifies the proper golf ball for golfers of all abilities. Through a patent-pending algorithm, the smartphone app will quickly scan the golf ball utilizing the camera, then analyze it and reveal its details. No more guesswork on the golf swing, reading the boxes, or tedious searches to find the best golf ball for a golfer’s game. Through a series of questions about a golfer’s swing tendencies, the app will provide a personalized golf ball recommendation. The app also allows golfers to dive deep into golf ball characteristics and make informed decisions based on performance attributes to improve the golf game. It scans and processes ball cover type, layer count, compression, spin rate, feel, and dimple patterns. Discover the game-changing features of the ScanMyGolfBall app that will elevate your golf game for a game-improvement experience. No sign-in or personal information is required. Just launch the app, scan your ball, and get instant results. Visit ScanMyGolfBall.com for further details and to download the app.

Media Contacts
KFPR
Kevin Frisch
(989) 614-0241
kevin@kevinfrischpr.com

Carl Mickelson
(512) 797-2673
carl@kevinfrischpr.com

The post SCANMYGOLFBALL INTRODUCES NEXT GENERATION BALL FITTING TOOL appeared first on The Golf Wire.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jacklyn Riley to our esteemed team, extending a warm invitation to those exploring the vibrant golf and lifestyle scene of the Panhandle, FL, also known as the Emerald Coast,” says Jason Becker, CEO of Golf Life Navigators. “The Panhandle boasts a unique allure that captures the hearts of both golf enthusiasts and lifestyle aficionados alike. With its magnetic charm, it’s no surprise that discerning individuals are drawn to the abundant offerings of this region. If you’re considering the Panhandle, FL, for your next adventure, rely on Jacklyn Riley, your dedicated Golf Certified Agent, to guide you through every step.”

The Golf Certified Real Estate Agent program began in 2017 and has graduated 400-plus agents from around the world. Jacklyn was identified as a top-candidate to represent Panhandle, FL. She has since partnered with Golf Life Navigators to become the exclusive real estate agent for this territory. 

“As a real estate agent specializing in properties along the stunning Emerald Coast of Florida, I have had the privilege of witnessing firsthand the allure and magnificence of this region, particularly for golf enthusiasts. The Emerald Coast, renowned for its pristine white-sand beaches and emerald-green waters, is also home to some of the most spectacular golf courses in the country, making it a golfer’s paradise.

One of the crown jewels of golf on the Emerald Coast is the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, boasting four championship courses designed by legendary architects such as Robert Trent Jones Jr., Rees Jones, and Tom Jackson. From the scenic links of The Links Golf Club to the challenging fairways of Raven Golf Club, golfers of all skill levels are treated to unparalleled golfing experiences against the backdrop of the Gulf Coast’s natural beauty.

Further along the coast lies the exclusive community of Destin, where premier golf courses like Regatta Bay Golf and Yacht Club offer not only world-class golfing but also breathtaking views of the Choctawhatchee Bay. Designed by esteemed golf architect Robert C. Walker, Regatta Bay provides a challenging yet rewarding experience for golf aficionados seeking both excitement and tranquility.

What sets the Emerald Coast apart is not only its exceptional golf courses but also its idyllic weather and golf-friendly communities. With an average of 320 days of sunshine annually and mild temperatures year-round, golfing on the Emerald Coast is a delightful experience in any season. The region’s temperate climate ensures that golf enthusiasts can indulge in their favorite pastime without interruption, making it a haven for year-round golfing pleasure.

Moreover, the communities along the Emerald Coast are designed with the golfer in mind, offering convenient access to golf courses, golf cart-friendly neighborhoods, and upscale amenities. Whether you’re seeking a luxurious waterfront estate or a cozy golf villa nestled within a pristine golf community, the Emerald Coast offers an array of real estate options to suit every taste and preference.

From charming coastal cottages to lavish estates overlooking manicured fairways, the Emerald Coast real estate market caters to discerning golf enthusiasts seeking to elevate their lifestyle and immerse themselves in the unparalleled beauty and recreational opportunities that this region has to offer.

As a dedicated real estate agent specializing in the Emerald Coast, I am committed to helping you find your dream home in this golfer’s paradise. With my expertise and personalized service, I will guide you through every step of the home-buying process, ensuring that you find the perfect property to complement your passion for golf and coastal living.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to experience the ultimate golfing lifestyle on the Emerald Coast of Florida. Contact me today to embark on your journey to finding the perfect home in this captivating coastal haven.” says Jacklyn Riley Golf Certified Real Estate Agent with Emerald Coast Beach Homes. 

To learn more about Golf Life Navigators – or the Golf Certified Real Estate Agent Program – please visit www.golflifenavigators.com or call (800) 447-8707.

About Golf Life Navigators

Based in South Florida with active presence across the U.S., GLN efficiently eases the process of determining the precise golf and country club membership choices for golfers looking to retire, relocate or engage in the “snowbird” life.  Created in 2014 by grass-root PGA Professionals, club managers and membership directors, GLN guides discerning golfers, club seekers and property buyers through an    in-depth analysis, insights befitting their unique lifestyle desires, budgets and connectivity to decorated club and golf real estate officials. More information:  www.GolfLifeNavigators.com, 800.447.8707. 

The post GOLF LIFE NAVIGATORS PARTNERS WITH EMERALD COAST, FL GOLF REAL ESTATE AGENT JACKLYN RILEY appeared first on The Golf Wire.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Florida – TPC Sawgrass, home of THE PLAYERS Championship, is pleased to welcome its new executive chef, Johnattan Hernandez. With more than 20 years of experience, Hernandez will be responsible for managing the culinary operations for the entire property.

“We are excited to welcome Chef Johnattan back to TPC Sawgrass, where his diverse industry experience will pay immediate dividends for our members and guests,” said Kent James, Vice President of Food and Beverage, PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties. “His dedication and passion for an elevated dining experience will be a tremendous asset to our club, and we look forward to watching he and his team build upon the rich culinary experience here at TPC Sawgrass.”

A native of Puerto Rico, Hernandez most recently served as the chef director at TPC Las Vegas, where his elevated food and beverage program earned high praise from guests. Prior to his role in Nevada, Hernandez distinguished himself as the executive sous chef at TPC Sawgrass for four years from 2018 to 2023, contributing his talents to several editions of THE PLAYERS Championship. In his recent return to TPC Sawgrass, Hernandez has already demonstrated exceptional skill and leadership, including a victory at First Tee – North Florida’s recent Taste of Golf competition, which included some of the area’s top private club and resort chefs.

“I’m thrilled to return to TPC Sawgrass and lead its incredible culinary team – it feels like coming home,” Hernandez said. “I greatly admire the culture cultivated here and within the TPC Network and will work to build upon that night in and night out as we continue to deliver unforgettable experiences to our members and guests. I look forward to bringing back some of TPC Sawgrass’ favorite dishes that we all know and love, while introducing new dishes as we build upon the tremendous dining legacy at TPC Sawgrass.”

Hernandez’s culinary arch began in 2002 at the prestigious Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia. He honed his craft working on the culinary teams at Al Sur restaurant in the Art Museum of Puerto Rico and at the Ritz-Carlton, San Juan, where his talent was recognized with numerous awards, including Taste of the Caribbean’s Chef of the Year. His diverse experience also spans across the United States, from opening a Marriott Autograph Collection in Key Largo, Florida, to serving as executive chef at BLT Market in the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Waikiki Beach and leading the culinary team at Penn State’s Corporate HQ.

About TPC Sawgrass:

As the world headquarters of professional golf, the public courses at TPC Sawgrass offer an unparalleled experience. For those looking for the ultimate Florida golf vacation, TPC Sawgrass boasts two immaculately maintained golf courses, both designed by the legendary Pete Dye. As the first true “Stadium Course,” the golf course is designed to improve the overall on-site fan experience and is permanent the home of THE PLAYERS Championship. With its signature island green, the 17th hole is one of the most widely recognized golf holes in the world. This legendary golf course has captured the imagination of golf fans all over the world and is consistently named among the top golf courses worldwide. While championship tees stretch THE PLAYERS Stadium Course to 7,245 yards, there are four other yardage options to suit any players’ game. The Dye’s Valley Course was the former host to the Korn Ferry Championship Tour as well as prestigious events like the SENIOR PLAYERS Championship, the NFL Golf Classic, and the final stage of PGA TOUR Champions Q-School. The course is also connected to the luxury Sawgrass Marriott® Golf Resort & Spa which offers guests Stay & Play golf packages to enjoy. Learn more at www.tpc.com/sawgrass.

About TPC Network

Owned, operated and licensed by the PGA TOUR, the TPC Network is comprised of 29 premier private, resort and daily fee golf properties designed by some of golf’s most elite architects. Sixteen of the clubs are operated by affiliates of PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties, Inc. Each TPC meets the requirements to host TOUR-sanctioned events. Since TPC Sawgrass first opened its world-renowned PLAYERS Stadium Course in the fall of 1980, TPCs have provided the PGA TOUR with rent-free venues for tournaments, helping to boost championship golf purses and increasing charitable donations to grass roots non-profit organizations. At the same time, TPCs have provided recreational golfers with the unique opportunity to test their skills on the same layouts where the world’s best golfers compete.

TPCs are known for their history of hosting PGA TOUR-sanctioned events, their outstanding conditioning and amenities, as well as a commitment to environmental excellence. The TPC Network is also distinguished by its unwavering commitment to further the PGA TOUR’s mission of giving back through support of charitable and grass-roots programs. For more information, please visit www.tpc.com. For the most up-to-date news, follow the TPC Network on Twitter (@PlayTPC), Instagram (@PlayTPC) or Facebook.com/TPCNetwork.

The post TPC SAWGRASS WELCOMES EXECUTIVE CHEF JOHNATTAN HERNANDEZ appeared first on The Golf Wire.

KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship Coverage Across NBC, Peacock & GOLF Channel; Tees Off Tomorrow at 1 p.m. ET on Peacock and GOLF Channel

DP World Tour Continues with Soudal Open from Belgium Live Tomorrow at 7 a.m. ET on GOLF Channel

NCAA Division I Women’s Golf Team National Championship Presented Today at 6 p.m. ET on Peacock and GOLF Channel

• Play by Play: Steve Sands
• Analyst: Curt Byrum
• Holes: Tom Abbott
• On-Course: John Cook / Arron Oberholser

• TV – GOLF Channel
• Streaming – Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app

• Scottie Scheffler
• Max Homa
• Jordan Spieth
• Tony Finau
• Rickie Fowler
• Si Woo Kim
• Sungjae Im
• Justin Rose
• Harris English
• Thomas Detry

• Play by Play: Terry Gannon
• Analyst: Peter Jacobsen
• Holes: Mark Rolfing
• On-Course: Roger Maltbie
• Reports: Jimmy Roberts

• TV – NBC, GOLF Channel
• Streaming – Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app

• Steve Stricker
• Bernhard Langer
• Padraig Harrington
• Ernie Els
• Vijay Singh
• Retief Goosen

• TV – GOLF Channel
• Streaming – NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app

• Luke Donald
• Dylan Frittelli
• Thomas Pieters
• Thriston Lawrence
• Matthias Schwab

• Play by Play: Bob Papa
• Analyst: Karen Stupples
• Holes: Steve Burkowski
• On-Course: Emilia Migliaccio / Julia Johnson

• Golf Central will provide pre- and post-tournament coverage on GOLF Channel Wednesday-Sunday. Golf Central coverage is anchored by Matt Adams, Rich Lerner, Johnson Wagner, Amanda Blumenherst, Tripp Isenhour, Amy Rogers, Hailey Hunter, and Bailey Chamblee.
• Today’s edition of Golf Today will be co-hosted by Damon Hack and Eamon Lynch, who will be joined by Hunter and Chamblee.

The post PGA TOUR CHARLES SCHWAB CHALLENGE HEADLINES LIVE GOLF TOURNAMENT COVERAGE THIS WEEK ON NBC, PEACOCK & GOLF CHANNEL appeared first on The Golf Wire.

U.S. Women’s Open Features Expanded Featured Groups Coverage and Friday ‘Golden Hour’ Peacock Show Hosted by Mike Tirico

U.S. Women’s Open Media Conference Call – Thursday, May 23 at 2:30 p.m. ET

GOLF Channel Presents Enhanced “Golf’s Longest Day” Coverage With 10 Hours of U.S. Open Final Qualifying Coverage Across Ten Sites on Monday, June 3

All USGA Championships Coverage Streams on Peacock

• GOLF Channel’s critically acclaimed Golf Central Live From studio coverage at the U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open;
• Enhanced live coverage of “Golf’s Longest Day” on June 3 on GOLF Channel and Peacock, as players compete at ten U.S. Open Final Qualifying Sites across the U.S. and Canada;

• Play by Play: Dan Hicks / Grant Boone
• Analyst: Morgan Pressel / Karen Stupples
• Holes: Tom Abbott
• On-Course: Karen Stupples / Paige Mackenzie / Kay Cockerill
• Reporter: Amy Rogers

• Play by Play: Damon Hack / Steve Schlanger
• Analyst: Amanda Blumenherst
• On-Course: Emilia Migliaccio / Julia Johnson

• Hosts: Kira K. Dixon
• Analysts: Brandel Chamblee / Mel Reid
• Reporters/Contributors: Beth Ann Nichols / Amy Rogers 

• Dan Hicks/Brandel Chamblee
• Mike Tirico/Brad Faxon
• Terry Gannon/Notah Begay III
• Steve Sands/Gary Koch
• Rich Lerner/Curt Byrum
• Tom Abbott/Arron Oberholser

• John Wood / Smylie Kaufman / Jim “Bones” Mackay / Roger Maltbie / Paige Mackenzie / Curt Byrum

• Damon Hack / Kira K. Dixon

The post NBC SPORTS TO PRESENT MORE THAN 350 HOURS OF LIVE USGA CHAMPIONSHIP COVERAGE ACROSS NBC, PEACOCK, USA NETWORK AND GOLF CHANNEL IN 2024 appeared first on The Golf Wire.

Columbia, SC – The WSCGA Vicki Hillen Junior Golf Foundation announced that applications are available for Rosie Jones Mentoring Fund grants that will help prepare student-athletes for success on and off the course. The new program is the latest assistance offering from the 501c3 non-profit WSCGA Vicki Hillen JGF that is designed to help South Carolina’s competitive girl golfers achieve their goals of playing in college and possibly beyond.

Applications are available via request from admin@wscga.org or at https://form.jotform.com/Wscga/2024-rosie-jones-mentoring-grant-ap. Deadline for submissions is June 10. This year’s four mentees will be chosen by meeting criteria such as GPA and SC Jr. Golf Rank, recommendation from their coach, and a personal essay. Grantees will be notified on June 17. Mentors and mentees will be paired by June 30 for the six- to nine-month program.

According to the fund’s founder LPGA and Legends Tour champion Rosie Jones, “The program’s mission is to create insightful learning opportunities and teach life lessons that will enhance our mentees’ game while helping them become more effective players as well as positive, confident and productive adults.” 

In addition to 7-time Solheim Cup player and 2011 team captain Jones, the 2024 mentors are current and former collegiate women’s golf coaches, tour members, and professional instructors. Among them are:

Nanci Bowen, Greenville, SC, LPGA veteran with one Major Championship

Kristi Coggins, Columbia, SC, retired USC Hall of Fame Head Women’s Golf Coach

Krista Dunton, Hilton Head, SC, Futures Tour player, Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher

Betty Palmer, Charleston, SC, retired University of Alabama Head Women’s Golf Coach  

Angie Ridgeway, Spartanburg, SC, LPGA veteran, Wofford College Head Women’s Golf Coach

The fund is supported by the net proceeds from the annual WSCGA Vicki Hillen JGF High School Invitational and Mentoring Weekend hosted by Jones, which features the state’s 15 top-ranked teams and 12 individuals in a 36-hole, two-day competition at Moss Creek Golf Club in Hilton Head. The 2023 highlights included a mentoring dinner and morning clinic where players and coaches heard from LPGA Legends such as Hollis Stacy, Michelle McGann, Leta Lindley, Jackie Gallagher-Smith and Cathy Johnston-Forbes.

“This mentoring program is an unprecedented opportunity for South Carolina’s promising junior girls to grow and learn under the tutelage of some great golfers and businesswomen,” said Clarissa Childs, WSCGA’s Executive Director and LPGA Legend. “Rosie’s personal commitment to this initiative, coupled with the support of tournament sponsors and generosity of the Moss Creek community are nurturing the next generation of golfers and leaders.”

WSCGA Vicki Hillen JGF, Jones, and Moss Creek will host this year’s event on September 28 and 29.  Sponsorships range from hole signs to overall presenting status. To become involved contact Jody Rolfe jrolfe702@gmail.com

Media Contacts:

Karen Moraghan kmoraghan@hunter-pr.com

Allen Knight FourTwentyOneMedia@gmail.com

About the WSCGA Vicki Hillen Junior Golf Foundation:

The WSCGA Junior Golf Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission is to promote junior golf in the State of South Carolina by providing golf scholarships, playing and teaching the game of golf, and promoting amateur golf. For more information visit www.wscga.org .

The post WOMEN’S SOUTH CAROLINA GOLF ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES WSCGA VICKI HILLEN JGF ROSIE JONES MENTORING FUND appeared first on The Golf Wire.