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Junior Golf Programs "Building Better People"
By: Bob Jacobs, General Manager
Sand Creek Country Club
Chesterton, Indiana In January of 2002, twelve of what I'd like to think are the most "influential people in junior golf in the region" gathered to discuss the future of junior golf in Northwest Indiana. There were PGA and LPGA professionals, an Evans Scholar, a member of the Chicago District Golf Association Governing Board, past president of the Illinois Junior Golf Association, parents of standout junior golfers, the founder of the Optimist Junior Tour, golf professionals on the leading edge of junior golf through the First Tee Program, and other individuals who had contributed many hours giving back to the game of golf.

The ideas generated at that first meeting were very consistent among the 12 attendees: Give kids an affordable vehicle to become exposed to golf. Everyone in the room knew the value, had been touched by golf, and realized the positive impact that a program of this nature could have on the lives of the kids in Northwest Indiana. The groundwork was laid for what soon became known as the Northwest Indiana Junior Golf Association (NIJGA).

By simply playing golf, kids learn life skills such as honesty, self-discipline, perseverance, humility, and valuable interaction skills. Therefore, our first objective was to organize and administer a quality tournament schedule for kids ages 7-18. In 2002, the junior and major tour consisted of 12 events throughout Lake and Porter County. The 2003 schedule includes 14 events and has grown to LaPorte and Jasper counties.

We knew we wanted this association to be much more than a tournament program for experienced players. We then created the mini-tour. This tour is geared more toward the beginner or less experienced player. The ages are 5-10 and the days' activities include a one-hour session where a blend of fundamentals, rules, and etiquette are followed by 6 to 9 holes of supervised play. This tour is made up of six events and is hosted by the official sites of the NIJGA: Creekside Learning Center in Valparaiso and The Hammond Youth Golf Academy in Hammond. Both of these sites are PGA First Tee programs and recognized nationally as two of the finest facilities designed specifically for kids to learn to play golf.

Knowing education would be the backbone of the association, we then focused our efforts on creating a program that would encourage kids to strive to improve not only their ability, but their understanding of the history of the game, the rules, and etiquette. We also require them to get involved in their communities. The "Star Head Cover Program" was a way for kids to achieve various levels similar to the karate belt system by fulfilling certification requirements, which include hours of community service. As they achieve various levels of accomplishment, they receive different colored bag tags. When they reach the final level, they receive a custom embroidered black leather head cover with the NIJGA logo to signify their accomplishment. Other programs within the NIJGA include a Clubs-For-Kids Program in which any member is eligible for a set of custom-fit clubs at no charge. In addition, member clinics for advanced players will begin in 2003. These are evening clinics where area PGA and LPGA professionals will assist in making quality golf instruction available.

Membership for mini-tour players is $6 and includes a NIJGA bag tag, a USGA rule book, the member clinic, and eligibility to participate in up to 4 events. Each mini-tour event is $4. The junior and major tour membership is $20 and also includes a NIJGA bag tag, USGA rule book, the member clinic and eligibility to participate in up to 6 tournaments. Each junior and major tournament is $10 per day.

The response from the community has been overwhelming. Over 200 boys and girls joined the association in 2002 and we expect that number to grow in 2003. Host courses have been very accommodating in allowing kids to "take over" for a day at a very reasonable rate. The NIJGA is administered primarily by volunteers, and the support has been great. Pepsi and NiSource have made significant contributions to the association through monetary donations as well as providing Pepsi products for the participants during events. American Savings Bank, Hammond Optimist Club, St. Andrews Products, and Tehama clothing have also contributed products or services. The NIJGA is a web-based association. All information including schedule of activities, rules and regulations, registration, starting times, results, sponsors, volunteers, and other information is available at www.nijga.com. Questions can also be directed to the NIJGA office at (219) 395-5285.

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