SCGA Junior Golf Foundation Partnership

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