Minnesota Golfer - Travel 2023 - 29

MGA
members and readers of Minnesota Golfer will be familiar with
the three core programs of the Minnesota Golf Foundation
(MGF): the oldest program, the Women's Scholarship; the fastest growing program,
Youth on Course Minnesota; and the relatively rookie program, Caddie
Development. All three are regularly featured in the pages of this magazine, but
they are strikingly different in their approach to improving lives through the game
of golf in Minnesota.
The Minnesota Women's Scholarship provides a four-year scholarship to
qualified candidates. For more than three decades, a network of dedicated volunteers
ran events at their local public and private courses to fund the scholarships.
Due to a shrinking pool of applicants, the MGF plans to grow awareness and the
available dollars to assist more young women attending a college, university or
technical school.
The Caddie Development program provides existing caddie programs at private
facilities with best practices and resource support, as well as introducing new
caddie programs to public facilities. Its overall objective is to fill the pipeline of
future candidates for the Evans Scholars program at the University of Minnesota.
Managed by MGA Caddie Development & Communications Manager Jack
Mendesh, the initiative has helped launch new caddie programs at Keller Golf
Course, Elk River Golf Club and the newest addition at the historic Hiawatha Golf
Course in Minneapolis, in partnership with the Bronze Foundation.
" The difference this program has made in these young people's lives is what
mentoring young people is all about, " says Darwin Dean, president of the Bronze
Foundation. " They learned how to interact with adults in a respectful manner and
play the great game of golf. This has been a tremendous experience for them and
will last for a lifetime. "
Youth on Course Minnesota (YOC MN) was introduced in 2017 mainly to
overcome one of the game's strategic barriers to youth: cost. Kids ages 6-18 pay
$5 or less at more than 100 golf courses in Minnesota. YOC also provides career
exploration and college scholarships. Under the watchful eye of Joel Comstock,
YOC MN participation has exploded-this summer set an all-time high membership
mark of 15,420 golfers who are forecasted to play 80,000 rounds this year.
" I love Youth on Course because it allows me access to practice more than I
normally would be able to, and it also allows me to golf more with my brother and
sister who are also Youth on Course members, " says Waverly Yang, a YOC MN
member. " Youth on Course awarded my sister a college scholarship, which has
taken a big load off my family. "
Funding for these highly impactful, life-changing programs comes from individual
donors, sales of the Play Golf Minnesota License Plate, special events conducted
throughout the year like the Minnesota Golf Show and the 100 Hole Hikes,
as well as leveraging relationships of MGA Partners, including SKOR North, Twigs
and 2nd Swing Golf.
The MGF recently took a significant step forward by forming a governing board
led by Tom Smith of Brackett's Crossing CC, and hired its first official foundation
director in Matt Magers, a former MGA staffer with extensive experience in
donor relations and foundation management. In October, the Foundation board
held a strategic planning retreat to develop a road map to achieve the foundation's
mission more successfully over the next three years. Growing the three core programs
will remain a priority, in addition to finding new ways for the foundation to
change lives through golf.
To make a gift or learn more about the Minnesota Golf
Foundation, visit mngolf.org/foundation or contact
Matt Magers, at matt@mngolf.org or 952-927-4653.
mngolf.org
Travel 2023 MINNESOTAGOLFER 29
" The difference this
program has made
in these young
people's lives is what
mentoring young
people is all about. "
DARWIN DEAN
The MGF donated 20 sets of clubs,
in partnership with 2nd Swing, to the
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board
and the Solomon Hughes Sr. Golf Academy.
Waverly Yang
http://www.mngolf.org/foundation
Minnesota Golfer - Travel 2023

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