IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 24, 2011

RAIN DAMPENS PGA COMMUNITY RELATIONS YOUTH CLINIC,

BUT FITNESS MISSION STANDS OUT

LOUISVILLE – More than 250 youth and parents representing five Community Centers in Louisville, The First Tee of Louisville and other junior golf programs throughout the city gathered for a PGA Community Relations Youth Clinic at Shawnee Golf Course.

Though a rainstorm trimmed the program, the audience did receive a full performance from PGA Honorary Member Dennis Walters, whose trick shot artistry and life lessons struck a chord with officials and parents whose children now include fitness into their golf training.

“I have been to Louisville to perform several times before and it has rained,” said Walters. “I hope that they will invite me back. I’m glad to get the chance to hit some shots and tell the kids how important it is to keep their dreams.”

Though planned fitness stations at the course were washed away by the rainstorm, the PGA Sports Academy curriculum was not overshadowed at Shawnee Golf Course and by city officials. Louisville is focusing to combat negative 2011 statistics that were released nationally Monday concerning America’s “Fittest Cities.”

Louisville is ranked 49th out of a 50-city poll by the American College of Sports Medicine. The subject of fitness through golf has been a key element at Shawnee Golf Course’s own junior program since March. Overall, 400 juniors participate in the Shawnee Golf Course Junior Program, and the city’s school system has had an additional 3,000 students introduced to the game.

“We have seen the statistics that Kentucky ranks seventh in the country in obesity and third in childhood obesity, and Louisville (in Jefferson County) is worse than the state average,” said Shawnee PGA head professional Craig Heibert. “We have been fortunate to have teamed with Heuser Medical Clinic helping us since March. We have seen positive results already, with parents and kids realizing our approach and they have told us they appreciate what we are doing.”

Overall, 20 Kentucky PGA and Indiana PGA Professionals were on site at Shawnee to provide instruction before the rugged May storm hit the city. Among those huddling in the shelter was Louisville Metro Parks Assistant Director Marty Storch.

Storch said that he clipped a story from the morning’s Louisville Courier-Journal that featured the city’s fitness ranking.

“I’ve seen the stats for a couple years before they were featured this week,” said Storch. “We are fortunate to have individuals in the city who are taking the lead in getting ahead of this problem. The mayor (Greg Fischer) has his own Healthy Hometown Movement, getting people moving with the Memorial Day weekend, Hike, Bike and Paddle program. Now, to have The PGA of America’s exercise component accentuate it all with fitness and golf is great.”

Storch said that he asked his staff, “What can we do to help solve the problem? I believe that The PGA already has been ahead in how to make golf more fun. I like to think that our parks system is the largest fitness center in the city. If we can all work together and utilize this momentum, that ranking is going to improve.”

The PGA Sports Academy’s curriculum blends five core elements in offering a phased approach to overall mental and physical youth development. The elements can be integrated into existing junior programs, such as Louisville youth programs – or be fully adopted as a turnkey solution by facilities that are seeking a fresh approach to junior programming.

The five core elements of PGA Sports Academy are:

·  Golf Skills

·  Fitness and Nutrition

·  Golf and Physical Assessments

·  Sportsmanship, Rules and Etiquette

·  Golf and “Near Golf” Experiences

For more information about the PGA Sports Academy, visit www.PlayGolfAmerica.com.

About The PGA of America

Celebrating its 95th year, The PGA of America has maintained a two-fold mission of its founders:
to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.

By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education,
career services, marketing and research programs, The PGA enables its professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in a
multi-billion dollar golf industry.

By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public’s interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere.
The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.

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