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| About
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Since
its inception by the National Alliance For Youth Sports in 1990,
the Hook A Kid On Golf program has reached 25,000 kids around
the world. Hook A Kid programs were conducted in 39 states and
in 3 countries this past year. It has enriched children’s
lives by teaching them the sport of golf and has enforced many
of life’s greater lessons and values.
Hook
A Kid On Golf of Illinois is a state coordinators’ office
for the national program. Established in 1998 by Mr. Jerry Rich
and Mr. Don Springer, the Illinois office has helped the program
grow throughout the state. Mr. Rich and Mr. Springer, both golf
enthusiasts, are dedicated to bringing this game into the lives
of young children and providing them with an opportunity for
personal growth and career enhancement. The Hook A Kid On Golf
of Illinois offices are stationed at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar
Grove, Illinois. Rich Harvest Farms is the home of a championship
18-hole golf course called Rich Harvest Links. It had the distinction
of being rated 5th in the Private Course category in Gold Digest’s
survey of the best New Golf Courses for 1999. Rich Harvest Farms
also has a junior short course that will play host to various
Hook A Kid On Golf events over the next several years.
Hook
A Kid On Golf of Illinois, under the guidance of the national
office, is responsible for organizing and developing programs
throughout the state of Illinois. The Illinois office communicates
with various organizations and individuals throughout the year.
It is also responsible for fundraising efforts that help support
programs throughout the state. The Bob Murphy Pro-Am, which
is held every year at Rich Harvest Links, raises significant
dollars that fund local programs and special events.
The
Hook A Kid On Golf program targets boys and girls between the
ages of five and 15 years of age who might otherwise not have
an opportunity to be exposed to the game. The program is designed
to help children not only learn the game of golf, but also teach
them to apply its special values, traditions, and rules to their
entire life.
The
Hook A Kid On Golf Program consists of five primary elements.
Weeklong introductory Tee Level clinics provide kids with the
basic fundamentals and equipment necessary to get involved.
Follow-up Challenge Golf Leagues enable kids to refine their
skills and continue their learning process. In addition to its
Tee Level Clinics and Challenge Golf Leagues, Hook A Kid On
Golf has one of the most unique end-of-the-year special events,
the Traditions Of Golf Challenge. The event is used as a focal
point for the entire Hook A Kid On Golf program. Sixteen teams
form across the country with eight players on each team are
invited to the tournament. In order to qualify, a community
must be involved with both the Tee Level Clinics and the Challenge
Golf Leagues. The Tournament tests the kids’ skills as
well as their knowledge on the rules, etiquette, and history
of the game. In the year 2001, the Green Level training program
will begin to help kids bridge the gap between Tee Level Clinics
and Challenge Golf Leagues.
The
Illinois State Coordinator’s Office also manages special
events and programs that offer the kids unique activities and
keep them involved in the sport throughout the year. It has
been so successful, that a new Florida State Coordinator’s
Office is being modeled after it. Hook A Kid On Golf requires
a tremendous amount of support not only from the golf course
hosting a clinic or league, but also from parents, volunteers,
coaches, local businesses, and the community as a whole. |
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Hook A Kid On Golf of Illinois
P.O. Box 610 · Sugar Grove, IL 60554
(630) 466-0913
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