“I encourage junior golfers to participate in the broad range of what this great game has to offer. The USGA-AJGA Youth Leadership Club provides an opportunity for juniors to give back to their communities. Participants in this program are the game’s leaders of tomorrow, and this joint initiative will have a positive impact on golf for many years to come.”
                                - Walter Driver, Jr., USGA President

An essential component of golf is the idea of giving back to the game. The United States Golf Association and the American Junior Golf Association developed the Youth Leadership Club (YLC) as a means for young golfers to become involved in community service efforts, while continuing their focus on competitive golf. YLC members serve as positive representatives of both the AJGA and the USGA through their character, integrity, leadership, and sportsmanship. Through the YLC, members can locate volunteer opportunities, track their service hours, and become eligible for the President’s Award given annually to one boy and one girl who exhibit strong leadership and community service values. To learn more about becoming a member of the USGA-AJGA Youth Leadership Club, visit the AJGA Web site at http://www.ajga.org/Membership/YLC/YLCMoreInformation.asp.

This year, Angela Villela, of Sylmar, Calif., and Joseph Suarez, of Richmond, Va., were given the 2007 President’s Youth Leadership Award on Thursday, July 5 during the Rolex Tournament of Champions. Villela, 16, earned this honor through her commitment to the Andres Y Maria Cardenas Foundation, which donates money to high school graduates going on to college. Additionally, Villela organized the effort to raise funds for equipment for her high school golf team and helped to secure a place for them to practice. The result was a 10-0 season and a league championship.

Suarez started volunteering his time as a 12-year-old. By the time he was 16, he was supporting The First Tee of Richmond and numerous other local organizations. In the past three years, Suarez has volunteered hundreds of hours, including nearly 500 hours this year alone. Both Villela and Suarez truly embody the spirit of volunteerism and giving back to the game. To learn more about this year’s winners, visit the JuniorLinks Web site at http://www.juniorlinks.com/volunteers/fullview.cfm?aid=529.