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Local Southern California High School Students to Get Free Golf Shoes

Posted on February 3, 2024

Non-Profit Friends of Golf (FOG) Teams with G/FORE To Donate 2,000 New Golf Shoes to High School Golf Student Athletes

CIF Southern Section Students to Get Shoes at Event Saturday, February 3 in Los Alamitos

Event Description: Friends of Golf (FOG) has teamed with G/FORE to donate 2,000 pairs of brand-new golf shoes to Southern California CIF high school student athletes. This Saturday, high school golfers from across Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern and San Luis Obispo counties will be given new shoes at the CIF-SS offices in Los Alamitos.

In October, FOG and G/Fore started the shoe giveaway at Birmingham Community Charter High School in Lake Balboa. CIF City Section high school coaches and members of their golf teams picked up the first batch of donated golf shoes. High school student athletes from CIF San Diego Section will also receive free shoes at a future event.

Event Date: Saturday, February 3, 2024
Time: 9 AM – 1 PM
Location: CIF’s Los Alamitos offices (10932 Pine Street, Los Alamitos, CA., 90720)
Contact: Joe Schlosser, Friends of Golf, joe@schlossercommunications.com / (818) 795 9932

FRIENDS OF GOLF (FOG):
Originally founded in 1979, FOG has donated over $10 million to both national and Southern California college, high school and non-profit golf-focused organizations. FOG supports student athlete golfers by instilling the values of honesty, ethics, and fellowship with a true appreciation for the game. 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 exceptional sport.

G/FORE:
G/FORE is the golf-inspired sportswear and accessories brand created and designed by veteran fashion innovator Mossimo Giannulli, who for many years has been a supporter of junior golfers and FOG’s Mission. G/FORE was conceptualized with a passion for modern design combined with a love of golf. Inspired by art, architecture, and high fashion, G/FORE is distinguished by our attention to detail, sophisticated ease, whimsical nature, and youthful energy. We consistently strive to make a powerful and colorful impact on our favorite game. Our intent is to disrupt the industry while honoring the sport and its rich traditions.

CIF CITY SECTION:
The California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section (CIF-SS) is the governing body for high school athletics in most of Southern California and is the largest of the ten sections that comprise the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). Its membership includes most public and private high schools in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern and San Luis Obispo counties. Teams from the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and surrounding areas have competed in the CIF Los Angeles City Section since 1935. CIFSS’s offices are in Los Alamitos. Founded in 1913, the CIF Southern Section includes over 560-member public and private high schools and is by far the largest CIF section. Three of the ten CIF sections are individual current or former public-school districts (Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Oakland). The Southern Section’s membership includes all private schools located within the service area of the LAUSD, which includes almost all the city of Los Angeles plus some adjacent areas outside the city limits. If the CIF Southern Section were a state association, it would be the 10th largest in the United States. The CIF-SS governs 37 varsity sports. There are 630 golf programs in the CIF-SS – 348 boys’ teams and 282 girls.

Golf world loses an icon with Eddie “The Lil Pro” Merrins passing at age 91

Posted on December 1, 2023

in Special Announcements

By Kendall Capps | Nov 29, 2023 | SB Nation’s

Eddie Merrins is a member of the World Golf Teaching Hall of Fame and the co-founder of Friends of Golf, a leading philanthropic organization.

The golf world was dealt a tough blow last week with the news that Eddie “The Little Pro” Merrins passed away at the age of 91.

Merrins leaves behind a remarkable legacy both with what he accomplished on and off the golf course. He played professionally in over 200 PGA Tour events beginning in 1957. The iconic figure once held the course record at Medinah (66) at the Western Open.

But it’s what he did after his playing career ended that has had the greatest impact in the sport he loved.

Merrins was a co-founder of the philanthropic organization Friends of Golf. FOG, as it’s known, was created in 1979 and as renowned broadcaster Jim Nantz said at this year’s charity event, “was First Tee before there ever was a First Tee.”

I had the honor and privilege to attend this year’s event and was astounded with everything Friends of Golf does to give back. PGA Tour star Max Homa and LPGA Hall of Famer Juli Inkster were honored this year with the Eddie Merrins Statue.

Previous winners of the prestigious award include Jack Nicklaus, Ernie Els, Arnold Palmer and Annika Sorenstam, among others.

Following his passing, FOG released a statement:

“It is with great sadness that we bid farewell to a true legend and iconic figure in the game of golf, Eddie Merrins. Eddie leaves behind a legacy of giving that will endure for generations to come and has impacted tens of thousands of amateur and professional golfers alike.

He was the driving force behind the creation of Friends of Golf, which launched over four decades ago in support of both junior and amateur golfers irrespective of their economic standing. We are forever grateful for all that Eddie has done for the game of golf and we will continue to honor the best in golf annually with The Eddie Merrins Statue.”

Merrins will be posthumously honored at the 2024 charity event at Bel Air Country Club, where he was still serving as Professional Emeritus until his passing.

FOG thus far has raised over $10 million for national and local colleges, high schools and other golf-focused organizations.

Following his playing days, the legendary figure became the head professional at Bel Air Country Club. He then helped shape golf in Southern California for the next two decades. He ultimately coached UCLA to a national championship in 1988 and tutored 11 All-Americans, including Corey Pavin.

Merrins was inducted into the PGA Hall of Fame in 2009.

Eddie Merrins is survived by his wife Lisa, two sons, Mason and Michael, and daughter Randy.

Eddie Merrins, the ‘Little Pro’ who had an enormous influence on golf in LA, dies at 91

Posted on November 28, 2023

in Special Announcements

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Eddie Merrins was known as “The Little Pro” because of his 5-foot-7 stature, certainly not his influence on golf. The longtime pro at Bel-Air Country Club touched everyone from U.S. Open champion Corey Pavin to Fred Astaire and even Mikhail Baryshnikov.

Mr. Merrins died Wednesday in Los Angeles at age 91 after a long illness, according to UCLA, where he coached for 14 years.

“The game of golf is a very selfish game in the sense that you’re the only one who gets any real enjoyment out of what you do,” Mr. Merrins once said. “But in teaching, you get the satisfaction of knowing that you’ve helped somebody.”

Mr. Merrins certainly could play. He played 82 times on the PGA Tour, but never more than 10 tournaments in a year. He qualified for the U.S. Open eight times and the PGA Championship six times. He once held the course record at Medinah (66) at the Western Open.

But his passion was teaching, and his goal was to keep it simple.

In a series of observations for Golf Digest in 2010, Mr. Merrins recalled seeing Latrobe native Arnold Palmer on the eve of the 2002 Masters. Palmer called him over and said his swing felt short and tight, and asked what Mr. Merrins could offer.

“I watch Arnold for a bit, then tell him to swing the handle end of the club and keep the joints free. I just know this is the way to lengthen his arc, and sure enough, Arnold starts hitting some good shots,” Mr. Merrins said. “He’s all excited and thanks me. The next day, in the first round, he shoots 89. That tip didn’t work out so well. In fact, it might have prompted his early retirement from the Masters.”

Mr. Merrins was born in Meridian, Miss., and twice won the SEC title playing for LSU. He had early stints as a teaching pro, taking the head job at Rockaway Hunting Club before landing in 1962 at Bel-Air, where he spent the better part of five decades.

He worked two jobs for a while — Bel-Air and coach of the UCLA golf team from 1975 until 1989, during which the Bruins brought home an NCAA title in 1988. Among those who played for him were Mr. Pavin, Duffy Waldorf, Steve Pate and Brandt Jobe.

The nickname came from his playing career on the PGA Tour. Mr. Merrins told Golf Digest he often played practice rounds with Jerry Pittman, the head pro at a course on Long Island.

“Jerry began calling me The Little Pro, and it caught on,” he once wrote. “I like it. I’m only 5-7, and it’s little wonder it stuck. The thing is, when he gave me the nickname in the late ’50s, being 5-7 wasn’t all that short. But it is by today’s standard. And at 74 I’m getting shorter all the time.”

He was easy to identify, more for his jacket and white driving cap than his size. And he was fully invested in golf in Los Angeles. Mr. Merrins started the “Friends of Collegiate Golf” in 1979 to support junior golf, and that became known as “Friends of Golf.”

He was a popular figure when golf came to Los Angeles, either the PGA Tour or USGA championships. His life centered around golf, even his own game.

In the “My Shot” story for Golf Digest in 2010, Mr. Merrins spoke of becoming frustrated with his game and wondering if it had to do with his deteriorating hand-eye coordination. So he made an appointment with an ophthalmologist for testing.

The doctor, Robert Hepler, told him to be sure to bring a driver, which Mr. Merrins found odd.

“When Dr. Hepler saw me and the club, he started laughing,” Mr. Merrins wrote. “‘No,’ he said, ‘I meant for you to bring a driver so you would have a ride home after the appointment.’ The story got around fast, and I became the laughingstock of the community.”

Blog Whole Post

Local Southern California High School Students to Get Free Golf Shoes

Golf world loses an icon with Eddie “The Lil Pro” Merrins passing at age 91

Eddie Merrins, the ‘Little Pro’ who had an enormous influence on golf in LA, dies at 91

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