Alliances & Associations
The following organizations are committed to Golf Education and the GRAA recommends a visit to their web sites:
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CLUBFITTERS5125 Lankershim Blvd
North Hollywood, CA 91601
818-432-5188
The International Professional Association of ClubFitters (IPAC) is a non-profit association developed to raise the bar of professionalism for career clubfitters through education and by maintaining standards of skills, integrity and passion. IPAC also raises the awareness of the public to the benefits of legitimate custom fitting in an effort to grow the profession through publicity and branding. Finally, our members are committed to assist the public in locating professional clubfitters. Membership is exclusively reserved for clubfitters with proven skills, integrity, and a minimum of 2 years in a retail or commercial facility. Please visit our website for more information.
UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION1631 Mesa Avenue, Copper Building
Colorado Springs, CO 80906
1.719.471.4810
The USGA Foundation, a department of the United States Golf Association, was incorporated in December 1965 with funds donated by Gary Player from his victory in the 1965 U.S. Open. Player directed the USGA to use the funds in initiatives that support and promote junior golf. Over the ensuing years, the USGA Foundation grew to encompass additional needs in the golf community. Today, the Foundation operates as the broad-based philanthropic arm of the USGA. One of the Foundation's general goals is to maintain and improve the opportunities for all individuals to take part in the game of golf. In 1997, the Foundation launched a 10-year, $50 million dollar grants initiative to support affordable and accessiblegolf opportunities for non-traditional participants of the game of golf. For more information on the USGA, the Foundation and the "For the Good of the Game" Grants Program please visit our website.
THE FIRST TEEThe First Tee, World Golf Village
425 South Legacy Trail
St. Augustine, FL 32092
1.904.940.4300
This initiative was launched to impact the lives of young people around the world by creating affordable and accessible to primarily serve those who have not previously had exposure to the game and its positive values. The First Tee is meeting this goal through the development of affordable and accessible facilities. Announced in November of 1997, The First Tee is overseen and has the active support of a committee comprised of the commissioners of the PGA TOUR and the Ladies Professional Golf Association, the chief executive officer of the Professional Golfers' Association of America, a past president of the United States Golf Association and the general manager of Augusta National Golf Club. In addition, former president George Bush serves as National Honorary Chair. Please visit our website for more information.
HOOK A KID ON GOLF2050 Vista Parkway
West Palm Beach, FL 33411
1.800.729.2057
Hook A Kid On Golf, a program of the National Alliance for Youth Sports, provides communities with a comprehensive youth golf program that eliminates the obstacles that discourage youngsters from learning and continuing to play golf while instilling in them an understanding of golf's rules, etiquette, and history. Multi-levels programs are offered by Hook A Kid On Golf and include: Start Smart Golf, Tee Level Clinics, Green Level Training, Challenge Golf League, and Traditions of Golf Challenge. Please visit our website for more information.
PGA OF AMERICA100 Avenue of the Champions
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
1.561.624.8400
The PGA of America is the world's largest working sports organization comprised of 28,000 men and women golf Professionals who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and managing the game of golf while serving millions of people throughout its 41 PGA Sections nationwide. Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has enhanced its leadership position in a $62 billion-a-year industry by growing the game of golf through its premier spectator events, world-class education and training programs, significant philanthropic outreach initiatives, and award-winning golf promotions. Today's PGA Professional is the public's link to the game, serving an essential role in the operation of golf facilities throughout the country. PGA Professionals work with an estimated 600,000 junior golfers each year at thousands of facilities nationwide. PGA Professionals utilize programs such as First Swing and the PGA Junior Medalist to introduce the game and build the skills of young people of all abilities. The PGA and its nationwide Sections support a variety of national and regional organizations including PAL, NCAA, Urban League, First Tee, Special Olympics International, the National Amputee Association and the National Minority Junior Golf Scholarship Association. The PGA also conducts more than 2,000 junior golf events each year to provide competitive and fun playing opportunities under professional supervision. For more information on how The PGA of America helps to grow the game of golf, please visit www.pga.com.
LADIES PROFESSIONAL GOLF ASSOCIATION100 International Golf Drive
Daytona Beach, Florida 32124-1092
ph 1.386.274.6200,
fax 1.386.274.1099
The LPGA supports junior golf through a variety of initiatives including the LPGA Girls Golf Club, The First Tee, the LPGA Urban Youth Golf Program and the Ronald McDonald House Charities LPGA Tour Junior Clinic Program, which are junior clinics offered in conjunction with many LPGA Tour events. Both the LPGA Girls Golf Club and the LPGA Urban Youth Golf Program are programs of The LPGA Foundation. The LPGA Girls Golf Club is a national program that encourages girls 7-17 to learn to play golf, build friendships and sample competition in a comfortable environment. The LPGA Urban Youth Golf Program, located in 5 metropolitan areas, is a year-long, community-based risk prevention program geared to boys and girls ages 7-17 who reside in urban communities and who may not otherwise have the opportunity to learn to play golf. For more information please visit our website.
PGA TOUR100 PGA TOUR Blvd.
Ponte Vedra, FL 32082
1.904.285.3700
The PGA TOUR, which oversees more than 120 tournaments each year on the PGA TOUR, SENIOR PGA TOUR and developmental tour, has long been an avid supporter of junior golf. In recent years that focus has concentrated on The First Tee program, which the PGA TOUR was instrumental in forming and which it continues to support financially and structurally. All of the TOUR's network of Tournament Players Clubs conduct junior golf programs. Many of the tournaments overseen by the TOUR conduct junior clinics during the events, utilizing professional golfers. And of course a great deal of the nearly $70 million generated for charity each year by PGA TOUR-sanctioned events goes to support youth initiatives, including junior golf.
AMERICAN JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION (AJGA)1980 Sports Club Drive
Braselton, GA 30517
1.877.373.2542, 1.770.868.4200
The AJGA is dedicated to the overall growth and development of young men and women through competitive junior golf. More than 5,200 members share in the services of the AJGA. The American Junior Golf Association offers national junior golf tournaments to male and female junior golfers, ages 18 or younger, not currently attending a college or university. AJGA tournaments are typically 36- or 54-hole stroke play events. Boys and girls compete in an open 13-18 age division with the typical field size being 84-120 players. Some tournaments have special eligibility restrictions. Currently more than 160 AJGA alumni play on the PGA and LPGA Tours and have earned more than 240 Tour victories. For more information please visit our website.
NATIONAL MINORITY GOLF FOUNDATION (NMGF)425 South Legacy Trail
St. Augustine, FL 32092
1.904.940.4300
The NMGF was recently moved from Phoenix, Arizona and came under the umbrella of the World Golf Foundation. The World Golf Foundation is located in St. Augustine, Florida at the World Golf Village. During the transition, in an effort to integrate the NMGF into the foundation, an office of industry diversity is being developed. The new office will continue to manage the efforts of the NMGF. Working within the minority community, the NMGF will promote golf career opportunities and an awareness of the value of "golf as a business tool".
NATIONAL GOLF COURSE OWNERS ASSOCIATION (NGCOA)1470 Ben Sawyer Blvd., Suite 18
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina 29412
1.800.933.4262
While the NGCOA's primary mission is to enhance the lives of golf course owners by making their business more profitable, more efficient and better managed and more stable, the course owners undoubtedly recognize the value of future customers - golfers. With this the NGCOA supports several player development initiatives including event such as City Golf Blitz and Take Your Daughter to the Course Day. Furthermore NGCOA launched a partnership with USGA Foundation grant recipients called Kids on Course. This partnership provides $1 course access to program participants during non-peak hours. For more information please visit our website.
GOLF COURSE SUPERINTENDENTS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA (GCSAA)1421 Research Park Drive
Lawrence, KS 66049-3859
1.800.472.7878, 1.785.841.2240
GCSAA is the professional association for the men and women who manage and maintain the game's most valuable resource -- the golf course. The GCSAA have been an active supporter of junior golf through the First Tee initiative, coordinating superintendents involvement in each chapter and providing maintenance manuals. The GCSAA supports scholarships career outreach and educational programs such as GCSAA Scholars Program, the Watson Fellows Program and an industry partnership with Scots Scholars. GCSAA provides all materials for course marking at AJGA competitions and is a presenting sponsor of the AJGA Lucent Technologies Girls Championship. Please visit our website for more information.
INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF GOLF ADMINISTRATORS (IAGA)3740 Cahuenga Bl.
North Hollywood, CA 91604
1.818.980.3630
The International Association of Golf Administrators (IAGA) is a body of golf administrators representing amateur golf associations from around the world. The IAGA was formed in 1968 to promote and conserve the best interests and the true spirit of the game of golf. With those pursuits in mind, the IAGA serves as a medium for golf administrators to exchange information, techniques and other data relating to the game of golf and establish channels of communication among all of the world's golfing fraternities. The associations themselves offer guidance, educational opportunities and direction for those juniors interested in the game. Many of the member associations also have Junior Foundations or Scholarship programs already in place.
NATIONAL GOLF FOUNDATION1150 South U.S. highway One, Suite 401
Jupiter, FL 33477
ph 1.561.744.6006, fax 1.561.744.6107
Founded in 1936, the National Golf Foundation is the industry’s leading source for Information and Insights on the Business of Golf. The NGF is involved with Golf facilities Research and Consulting; Industry Research; Publications ranging from golf course management and player instruction and NGF products aimed at increasing profits. Together with the Golf Range Association of America, they co-produced the publications: Golf Range Development & Operations Manual and the Profile of Golf Practice facility Operations 2003. You can find out more abou thtese publications by going to the PUBLICATIONS button of this website. The National Golf Foundations is the official research partner of the Golf range Association of America (GRAA).
GOLF COURSE BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA727 "O" Street
Lincoln, NE 68508
ph 1.402.476-4444
The common goal of the Golf Course Builders Association of America’s membership is to support the growth and vitality of the golf course industry while promoting the continued enjoyment of the game through the construction of the highest quality golf courses in the world. Course Builders Association of America is dedicated to advancing and continuously improving the profession of golf course construction while serving the interests of its member companies.
300 Avenue of the Champions, Suite 140
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
ph 1.561.691.0096
Since the EWGA started in 1991, more than 80,000 women have benefited from membership in the organization which is dedicated to providing opportunities to learn, play, and enjoy the game of golf for business and for life. There are currently 120 chapters throughout the United States and Canada. The chapters provide a wide range of golf, social and networking activities for both new and experienced golfers. For more information about the EWGA and its membership, visit ewga.com