Grant Program Feedback 2016

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2016 – First Year Summary

 
Baker, MT – Course Junior Program – $500 grant

“We appreciate all who helped this program succeed. First off, MSGA for the $500 grant to make this program happen. It’s awesome that they are helping fund so many youth golf programs across the state. We had 51 kids, grades Kindergarten through 8th participate this year. Golf camps in Baker in the past have brought on average 15 kids to camp so this was outstanding!! Again, another huge thank you to MSGA!!!! Without your support, we would not have been able to make this happen!!” – Brittani Brence

 
Billings, MT (Yegen GC) – Course Junior Program – $500 grant

“First and foremost, on behalf of my staff and the juniors in our golf program, we would like to thank the MSGA for their generous donation. Below is the requested information regarding the MSGA Grant I received for my junior golf program at the Yegen Golf Club.
1. We had approximately 300 juniors in our golf program this summer and 30 juniors in our winter series that is about to start up. Age groups of these juniors range from 6-17 years of age.
2. Our big program is an 8-week golf camp that meets twice a week. This camp focuses on skill development as well as sportsmanship, etiquette and rules of golf. The indoor camp is a 10 week program that meets once per week over the winter months. This camp is aimed at keeping kids in golf year round while improving skills and physical fitness.
3. The general age range is 6-17 years old with the majority of our juniors in the 6-12 age range.
4. This is the first outside funding our camp has ever received.
We used the $500 grant to purchase training aids for juniors, which include the orange whip swing trainer, the orange peel, short game targets to improve accuracy, sports cones for drills and the addition of physical fitness into our golf programs.” – Aaron Pohle

 
Bozeman, MT – Wheat Montana Junior Golf Tour – $500 grant

“The $500 grant that we used for the “Wheat Montana Junior Golf Tour” was well used! The 2016 tour consisted of 6 different tournaments which attracted between 70-100 junior golfers in each, ages 7-17. Off the top of my head I would guess we had a total of between 450-500 junior golfers attend our golf tournaments over the summer.
The funds we received were used in the following ways:
1. Tournament supplies (Jr tee box signs, printing paper, printer ink, labor costs/hired an assistant to help run the tournaments!)
2. Promotional materials (a new website – www.wheatmontanajuniorgolftour.com, brochures that are handed out at 7 different golf courses throughout the Gallatin Valley)
3. Complimentary lunches to all juniors that participate in each tournament
4. Awards (received by those golfers who have outstanding performances/places 13, for each tournament/golf balls & medals; End of year finale – each participant that qualified received a small trophy with places 1-3 receiving larger trophies)
5. Tournament fees paid to each golf course (a discounted rate paid to 7 courses).
We are so grateful for your assistance. We believe that our program provides a huge benefit to junior golfers, making playing golf affordable here in the Gallatin Valley. We have received amazing feedback from parents and junior golfers and are looking forward to growing our program moving forward.” – Matt Clark

 
Ennis, MT – Golf-in-schools Program – $1000 grant

“First I want to say thank you for the $1000 from the MSGA. Junior Golf is still a top priority in my life and certainly should be for all. I purchased a coaching kit from SNAG golf. It is a great tool for helping young players enjoy the game and retaining those young players. We have been in contact with Brian Hilton (Principal) and Colleen MacNally (PE Instructor) at our local Ennis Schools. Both were very excited about the coaching kit from SNAG golf and will be using it this fall in their PE Program for the younger children in the elementary school. The Madison Meadows GC will also donate course time this fall and next spring to allow the students of the game to see what our golf course really looks like. I will be donating my time, as well as my shop assistant, Joan Schilling, when they come to the golf course. Joan is an excellent worker for us and has over 40 years in education. She is wonderful. With this new SNAG system and the inclusion of the schools I am hopeful we will have a strong few years for Junior Golf in the Madison Valley.” – Patrick Stoltz

 
Great Falls, MT – Golf-in-schools Program – $500 grant

“Just completed two days of intro to golf at a local elementary school engaging 300 kids age kindergarten through 6th grade.” – Connie Cramer Caouette

 
Lewistown, MT – Course Junior Program – $500 grant

“I just want to first say thanks to the MSGA for helping our junior golf program. The grant of $500 we received was spectacular. A quick overview of our program, this last summer was our third consecutive summer running the program! Last year we raised some funds through a BBQ, and a golf-a-thon. The first year we had junior golf the turnout was minuscule, after word spread our second summer picked up. We found ourselves needing more youth clubs and did a fundraiser. We run our program from early June until the week before school starts in August. Over the last three years we have had 71 different kids attend and this year we had 62 different kids attending. Also I am in the process of reaching out to our K-8 schools to be involved in a golf program in the spring where I either go to the schools or the gym classes come to the golf course.” – Keithon Walter

 
Malta, MT – Course Golf Camp & School Outreach – $1000 grant

“We had a great turn out for the first year. We ran the camp for three days and had 14 juniors attend. We instructed them on rules, etiquette, course management, golf basics. We had a former Malta golf standout, Gordon Webb, who won three state titles help. With the clubs we purchased through the grant we have had them used over 30 times this summer for no charge, and in the fall after the camp. We also have three attendees purchase their own clubs and have been out golfing all summer. I feel the first year was a big success and we are planning to expand the camp next summer to include more levels. The PE classes at school will be using the clubs also.” – Lynne Nevrivy

 
Missoula, MT – Missoula Junior Golf Tour – $500 grant

“I used the funds donated to go towards two scholarships [$350] for underprivileged kids to get into my junior tour I started last year, The Missoula Junior Golf Tour. Entry To the tour is $175 per kid and that includes a shirt and hat, golf at 7 courses, breakfast and lunch at each course, and weekly raffle winners. I used the rest [$150] to help pay for our PGA Junior league pool party. I really appreciate the grant and am really glad the MSGA is focusing a big effort on growing the game. Let me know if I can be of any other help and I really appreciate it.” – Connor Sproull

 
Scobey, MT – Course Junior Program – $500 grant

“The Scobey Golf Course held a 2 day camp during the summer for 28 students from ages 6 – 14. Each student that was in need of a set of clubs was given a small set for free, appropriate for their age/height/etc. A meal was provided, green fees taken care of, and instructor fees paid for the 2 days. We were able to match the $500 as well as raise a bit extra.
We plan for this to be an annual event. Students who were given a set of clubs were asked to bring them back each year and exchange for a bigger set (when they out-grow the one they have).” – Matt Goettle

 
Sidney, MT – Golf-in-schools Program – $1000 grant

“The grant was in an effort to purchase SNAG equipment and introduce a unit in my town and the surrounding towns PE classes. I have not yet purchased the equipment as I needed to receive additional funding in order to be able to. I have been approved from those additional sources from a private donor and also from our local Elks club, but am still waiting on the check from one of them. I should be receiving it within the next few weeks and at that time I will purchase the equipment and start making arrangements for times and dates to do a golf unit in the area schools during the winter months. (update) I did get the money raised to purchase the SNAG Equipment. I received shipment of that equipment about a week ago. The weather has held out here pretty well, so I’m still spending most of my time running the course and have not started to get into the schools yet. Once the course closes in a couple weeks, I will start a golf unit with the new equipment at the local elementary. I will use that as a way to iron out the details of the unit to make it a turnkey system for the PE teachers. I expect to reach a minimum of 325 kids just in Sidney alone and then probably another 500 kids in the surrounding schools.” – Ryan Troxel

 
St. Ignatius, MT – Golf-in-schools Program – $1000 grant

“On the St. Ignatius front I’m going to go down there middle of November to meet with staff and schedule the program. I’m looking at sometime in January, probably a week straight. Also, we are looking into getting the St. Ignatius kids up to the course in the spring. Shawn [St. Ignatius principle Shawn Hendrickson] was very supportive of trying to get them to the course [providing school buses].” – Cameron Milton

[Editor Note regarding St. Ignatius]
There is no golf course in town. The nearest courses are in Ronan (20 miles) and Polson (30 miles). The St. Ignatius golf program will include 106 middle school students, and also approximately 80 high school students taking PE classes, for a total of 186 student exposures to golf. PGA Pro Cameron Milton has scheduled a full-time week at the school complex, so he will be able to work with both middle school and high school PE students, utilizing his golf introduction with SNAG equipment in the gym and on the football field if weather permits.