“Play Golf America” is a rallying cry shouted out daily by a huge number of major sport, entertainment, and political celebrities. Golf has long been the recreational sport of choice for famous people such as NBA star Michael Jordan, NFL Hall of Famer Bret Favre, tennis great John McEnroe, Academy-award-winning actor Michael Douglas, and Grammy-award-winning musician Kenny G. All of our last three presidents have openly wished they could spend more time on the golf course. Now they are telling the public to join them in playing this great sport.
Play Golf America is a national program sponsored by the leading associations in golf – the PGA of America, USGA, PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, and the NCGOA. This program was designed to encourage existing golfers to play more golf and get new golfers to take up the game.
The concept is simple – these national associations are joined annually by thousands of PGA golf professionals at various golf facilities around the country in offering low-cost educational clinics, leagues, and tournaments for golfers at every level of ability. There is a national Web site, playgolfamerica.com, where consumers can enter their zip code and find golf courses nearby that are offering these special opportunities. They can easily register online to attend these events and find links for additional information and opportunities.
The Aloha Section of the PGA, with more than 200 members and apprentices in Hawai‘i, also sponsors three major Play Golf America Days for the community – one on O‘ahu at Ko Olina Golf Club in late April, another on Kaua‘i at Puakea Golf Course in August and then one at the Dunes at Maui Lani Golf Course in December. These events are really a celebration of golf in a festival-like atmosphere with free lessons by more than thirty of our top teaching professionals, games, contests, free demo clubs provided by top golf manufacturers, and most of all, fun for the entire family. These events allow the Aloha Section PGA to give back to the community and help people improve their game.
New this year is an educational program called Learn to Play Golf people wish they could learn to play, but face obstacles such as limited time or resources, which can keep them from starting. The Learn to Play Golf America program addresses those obstacles and helps new want-to-be golfers get started properly.
The whole idea is to grow the game and get the entire family involved in a healthy lifetime sport. Thanks to the USGA handicap system and the use of different tees, golf is the one game where men and women players of any age and any skill level, can compete against each other on an equal basis. So, grab your clubs and Play Golf America!
playgolfamerica.com
Greg Nichols, PGA, General Manager of Ko Olina Golf Club has been teaching golf for more than 20 years. He has taught everyone from four year old children to PGA professionals and has even given President Bill Clinton and Condoleezza Rice golf lessons (separately of course).
