USGA Grants In 2009 Benefit More Than 230,000 Young People, Individuals With Disabilities

Far Hills, N.J. (Jan. 8) - The United States Golf Association announced today that it awarded $1.87 million to support the development of 127 golf programs through its "For the Good of the Game" Grants Initiative during 2009. More than 230,000 young people and individuals with disabilities were projected to participate in quality golf programs supported by these grants. The USGA has allocated $65 million to more than 1,000 organizations over the 13-year existence of this broad-reaching initiative, making the game more affordable and accessible to underserved populations. USGA funding helps these programs pay for essential programming components such as: golf instruction, access to golf courses and practice ranges, equipment and transportation. 

"The USGA is pleased to continue its support of organizations working to improve the lives of young people and individuals with  

Junior golfers remain one of the biggest benefactors of USGA grants. (John Mummert/USGA)

disabilities through the game of golf,” said USGA President Jim Vernon. “Seeing hundreds of non-profit organizations using golf as a vehicle to positively influence the next generation speaks highly of the enduring values of the game.”

 A founding partner of The First Tee, the USGA continues to be the largest financial supporter of the network. In 2009, the USGA distributed $888,860 among 62 local chapters and The First Tee Home Office, bringing total USGA support of The First Tee to more than $25 million since 1997.

Beyond grant making, the USGA supports a variety of other outreach efforts including U.S. Open Junior Day and LPGA-USGA Girls Golf.

Nearly 800 juniors from local junior golf programs, youth service agencies and schools attended the 2009 U.S. Open Junior Day on June 14 at Bethpage State Park in Farmingdale, N.Y. The annual event enables the next generation of young golfers to experience the U.S. Open Championship. Participants were treated to a golf exhibition featuring 2009 U.S. Open competitor and 1999 U.S. Junior Amateur champion Hunter Mahan and two-time U.S. Open champion Andy North. The day included various activities for the attendees such as tours of the 18th green of the Black Course, a putting station, photo opportunities with a U.S. Open replica trophy and visits to the American Express Championship Experience tent and the U.S. Open Merchandise Pavilion. Attendees received complimentary U.S. Open practice round tickets. The day was made possible by The Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS), a USGA corporate partner.

LPGA-USGA Girls Golf, a partnership between the USGA and The LPGA Foundation, provides opportunities for girls ages 7-17 to learn and enjoy the game. The initiative celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2009 with program alumna and LPGA Tour member Brittany Lincicome and program founder LPGA Teaching Professional Sandy LaBauve serving as national ambassadors. The program has reached more than 60,000 girls since its inception, including nearly 6,000 girls at 177 sites across the country in 2009. 

In 2009, 59 current or former members of Girls Golf participated in USGA championships, including eight in the U.S. Women’s Open. The program benefited from a USGA contribution made possible by RBS. The funds were used to provide matching grants for instruction, access, and equipment to Girls Golf sites.

In addition to RBS, two other USGA corporate partners, American Express and Lexus, contributed to the philanthropic efforts of the Association in 2009. American Express supported USGA grants in U.S. Open markets, assisted in the USGA’s promotion of Patriot Golf Day and conducted a gift-with-purchase program at the U.S. Open benefiting USGA charitable activities.  Lexus supported a USGA grant to the National Alliance for Youth Sports and its Hook A Kid On Golf program.

USGA Grants Initiative: A Capsule History 

The USGA works to make the game of golf affordable and accessible. Since 1997, the USGA Grants Initiative has provided more than $65 million to in excess of 1,000 programs that serve economically-disadvantaged juniors, girls, minority youth, and individuals with disabilities. More than 2.2 million participants have benefited from these programs. The USGA also operates several direct charitable activities and partners with national organizations to promote affordable course access, opportunities for girls in golf and initiatives for individuals with disabilities.

For more information on the USGA Grants Initiative, contact the USGA Grants and Fellowship Department at 719-471-4810.

The following programs, organized alphabetically by state, received funding from the USGA in 2009: