Golf Academy Update Fall 2009

• Jack Holmgren qualifies for High School State Tournament as a 7^th grader.  Jack played well and even had a chance at winning.  With 8 holes to play, he was tied for the lead.  Jack also played in the 3M Championship Junior Pro-Am event at the TPC in Blaine. 

• Former First Tee participant and Eagle Lake employee David Smith qualifies for the US Publinks and US Amateur.  David has had quite a summer.  Here is a picture of David in 2001, the first year that Eagle Lake was open.  This fall, David will be playing for South Dakota State. 

• Sawyer Bailey, Jack Holmgren, Garrett Turnacliff, Van Holmgren, Will Holmgren and Sarah Sontowski all had wins on the Minnesota PGA Junior Tour

• Three Rivers Park District and Courage Center partnered to create an adaptive golf program for people with disabilities.  The Park District purchases an adaptive golf car with the help of a USGA grant.

• Three Rivers Park District, Courage Center and Hazeltine National Golf Club held a two day clinic for disabled golfers July 11-12.  Over 50 people attended the clinic.  Many were getting back into golf after accidents and others were trying the game for the first time. 

• The First Tee of Three Rivers Park District created a Youth Leadership Team.  The team consisted of 10 participants from 9 area schools.  The youth met 10 times throughout the year and volunteered at many special events.  The team also marched in the Maple Grove Days Parade.

• Sydney Mosko was accepted to attend the Toro Future Leaders Forum in Orlando, Florida.  Sydney represented the First Tee of Three Rivers Park District at the event.  She was able to get a behind the scenes tour and see some of the inner workings of Disney.  Youth also attended a PGA Tour Event.

• Brian Pabst and seven of his junior students gave a junior golf clinic to families at the American Express Learning Center during the PGA Championship.  Brian spoke on Monday from 4-5 pm and discusses ideas and philosophies on teaching youth the game of golf.