The Ben Hogan Award will be live streaming the dinner tonight (May 23, 2022) at 8 p.m. (CT) from Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.
Playback link:
http://thebenhoganaward.org/2022-ben-hogan-award-presented-by-pnc-bank-livestream/
We at Friends of Golf (FOG) have proudly supported the SCGA Junior Golf Foundation since 2009 and founded the SCGA Junior Player & Youth Development program in Southeast Los Angeles in 2015. We couldn’t be more proud of what this partnership has turned into and the program growth we’ve seen.
Our mission at FOG is to support student-athlete golfers by instilling the values of honesty, ethics and fellowship. From the time boys and girls enter grade school, through the end of their college experience, FOG makes it possible for aspiring junior golfers (irrespective of economic standing) to play, compete and excel in this great game.
The respective missions of FOG and the Foundation are very tightly aligned, and we firmly believe that the Foundation has the infrastructure to execute FOG’s vision for the game.
This partnership with the Foundation has allowed for the expansion of the game of golf in underserved communities across Southern California, bringing the game to more females, minorities and youth who wouldn’t otherwise have had access to the game. The Foundation has truly proven to be an outstanding partner, delivering on FOG’s intentions with our initial funding and continued support.
FOG continues to champion the Foundation because we’re convinced that the program does an excellent job of getting kids involved in the game at the grassroots level and keeping them in the game; supporting player and youth development from 5 years old through high school.
This support goes a step further with our annual Friends of Golf Scholarship program. The chosen participant is one who has been actively involved with the Foundation and has utilized their passion for the game to give back to the golf community. 2020 Friends of Golf Scholar Shani Waite, now a sophomore competing on the Division I women’s golf team at Prairie View A&M University, shares why the program and her experiences with FOG were so impactful:
“The SCGA has helped me become a more independent and confident person. I started in this program when I was eight, as a very shy girl who did not know how to get out of her comfort zone. When I was 12, I was selected by the SCGA to participate in a clinic with PGA Professionals Luke Donald and Butch Harmon during two FOG events at Bel-Air CC. During the event, I hit shots in front of the members and I was even given the opportunity to interview Phil Mickelson! Even then, I could already tell what a change they made in me. I was more outgoing, willing to start conversations and fearless.”
Our programs and the work we do remains intentional and impassioned, to not just develop good golfers, but good people. We support these juniors toward their desired level of competition and academic ambitions. We will enthusiastically continue to build upon the growth we have seen and achieved over the years.
From tee to green, from course to classroom, we thank you for your own belief and backing of this mission, just as we’re enthused to grow this great relationship.
Sincerely,
Sal Cimbolo
CEO, Friends of Golf
My name is Rodney Laciste and my daughter, Nataliya, has been participating in SCGA Junior for the past seven-plus years.
The program holds a special place in our hearts, and from the first class Nataliya took, I knew it was unique; the coaches were so informative, very approachable, and provided so many great activities for the kids. Everyone is made to feel like they belong here, and it’s something you feel right from the start.
For Nataliya, I am so proud that these SCGA Junior lessons have led her to do well in high school golf, advancing to CIF as only a Freshman this season.
Recently, she had the great opportunity to participate in the Friends of Golf clinic and tournament at Riviera Country Club, where she received a personal lesson from the great Peter Kostis. That was such an amazing day for Nataliya (and me, too!) and she was very honored to be a part of it and have the great opportunity to play the course. Really, she’s still talking about it!
For me, the biggest impact of SCGA Junior is the special friendships we have made throughout the years. I’ve learned so much from the coaches and other parents, as they’ve taught me a lot about things like college requirements for golf and tournament play. I would like other parents to know that this program has truly given us the opportunity to find community, and have created lifelong friendships and support systems along the way.
I try to be as involved as I possibly can, having volunteered at many of our tournaments, as well as joining the Southeast LA parent committee. Currently, we’re working on selling tickets for the community raffle fundraiser on November 13th.
I have always said that golf is such a great bonding sport for father and daughter. We get to spend a lot of time together, talking about things while out on the course. I love that I get to teach her new things about the game (even if I can’t do them myself).
Nataliya has mentioned many times how she wants to give back to the program. She’s been so impressed by the great coaches over the years, and they’ve made such an influence on her that she wants to become a coach herself one day.
Thank so for your continued support of SCGA Junior, and for helping create lessons and memories that will last our kids a lifetime.
Sincerely,
Mr. Rodney Laciste