Golf Inc. Magazine recently highlighted the top 18 Innovators in the golf industry, and SNAG CEO Terry Anton was recognized for his pivotal work in Player Development.  SNAG (“Starting New At Golf”) focuses on simple, structured instruction for all new learners and a modified form of golf that allows play in non-traditional venues, such as a soccer field, school gymnasium or on a beach.  The goal of SNAG is to eliminate geographic and demographic barriers that traditional golf presents.

With specially made clubs, balls and targets to make it easier to learn the game, SNAG Golf builds on strong fundamentals of putting, chipping, pitching and full swing to develop playing ability quickly and effectively.  It can be taught and played almost anywhere in the world with immediate, positive results.  This instant success keeps new learners wanting to be further involved with golf. 

Over the past 11 years, Terry Anton has created and perfected a sound learning system recognized by global industry leaders as the superior method to teach golf fundamentals in a fun and easy way.  SNAG provides innovative and tested learning techniques and the universally accepted system currently is used in more than 12,000 schools and some 42 countries.

SNAG recently forged a relationship with Jack Nicklaus to form the new Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues - a national endeavor to be introduced at select local park and recreation facilities.  This is the first time that golf will be made available to youngsters as a team sport. 

The innovative Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues, combined with SNAG’s well-established, first-touch development program, will provide a golf learning experience for children, ages 5 through 12, in a safe, affordable and accessible environment.

“I was pleased to be selected as one of the industry’s 18 top innovators,” said Anton.  “My focus is to provide a nurturing environment where children can learn at their own pace, increasing their chances for retention in the game.  Having schools, leagues and venues for learning will create the longevity platform the world needs to have golf grow for decades.”

The Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues, powered by SNAG, kicked off this month in five pilot markets including Columbus, Ohio; New York; Miami; Chicago; and Los Angeles.  Some 100 leagues are planned for 2013 and an estimated 300 are projected to launch in 2014.  Nicklaus partnered with SNAG on this initiative because of SNAG’s history and global experience with introducing golf to young children, and because of Anton’s passion and commitment to support the Golden Bear’s desire to reach children at a younger age with the game. 

“At SNAG, we are committed to programming that feeds new players into everyone’s facilities.  It is great to be a part of these exciting times and lead the way for expanding golf globally,” Anton affirmed.

Golf Icon Takes Bold Step to Energize Youth Participation in Golf

SNAG® Offers Golf’s Version of T-Ball for Juniors

-G-Ball Already a Proven Success Story-

May 20, 2013 (Tahlequah, OK)– Since 2011, SNAG® Golf has piloted its highly successful SNAG G-Ball program in an effort to grow the game and energize youth participation in golf much in the way that T-Ball has done for baseball.

 “The golf industry recently has been lobbying for the game to establish its own version of T-Ball, but we already have it with SNAG Golf’s G-Ball program,” said Terry Anton, CEO of SNAG.  “Through our partnership with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), we have been reaching thousands of kids ages 5-12 who sign up to learn the fundamentals of golf.” 

According to Barbara Tulipane, President and CEO of NRPA, “Results of the pilot program with SNAG were outstanding, with park and recreation staff and volunteers reporting that children had fun using the SNAG G-Ball equipment and participating in the different modules.  The SNAG G-Ball program pilots successfully demonstrated that young children can have fun learning golf and that parks and recreation agencies are a critical component of growing the game of golf.”

G-Ball is best described as golf’s version of T-Ball, focused on children 5 and 6 years old. It can be conducted by parent-coaches in gymnasiums, on soccer fields, and throughout other open spaces -- with or without a golf course. G-Ball was developed using age-appropriate programming based on a child’s golf motor skills as well as the culture of the game. The program is activity-based with progressive instruction occurring as the child develops. Play is the focus of the program in a non-competitive format.

Taking G-Ball to a new level will be the Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues, powered by SNAG, which kicks off this month in five pilot markets including Columbus, Ohio; New York; Miami; Chicago; and Los Angeles.  In partnership with the NRPA, the Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues will target kids ages 5-12 at local parks.  Nicklaus partnered with SNAG on this initiative because of SNAG’s history and global experience with introducing golf to young children, and because of Anton’s passion and commitment to support the Golden Bear’s desire to reach children at a younger age with the game.  

 “Teaching kids that golf can be a fun team sport, and introducing them to games and instruction in an engaging and non-threatening format, is the key behind our new Learning Leagues,” Nicklaus said.   “We want to give golf a competitive footing with such team sports as soccer, basketball and football and the park system is the best place to start.”

“We see the Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues as a feeder system to the golf industry,” said Anton.  “If we can get 5-year-old kids to like the game because it’s fun and because their friends play it, then perhaps we can keep them in the system for a lifetime and eventually move them from using SNAG equipment to hitting real clubs and balls and taking lessons with PGA and LPGA teaching professionals.  We are the bunny slope for golf.”

Some 100 Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues are planned for 2013 and an estimated 300 are projected to launch in 2014.

About SNAG® Golf

SNAG® Golf (‘Starting New at Golf’) is a proven first touch development program designed for new learners of all ages.  It is an easy and fun way to learn and play golf.  SNAG contains all the elements of golf but in a modified form. 

It builds on strong fundamentals of putting, chipping, pitching and full swing to develop playing ability quickly and effectively.  SNAG Golf incorporates developmentally appropriate equipment that will allow golf to be learned and played in non-traditional venues, such as on a soccer field, in a gym, or on the beach.  It can be taught and played almost anywhere in the world with immediate, positive results.  This instant success keeps new learners wanting to be further involved with golf. 

SNAG is the skills-acquisition program used in the national school golf program headed by the World Golf Foundation’s First Tee Program.  There are more than 8,000 schools that are successfully introducing children to golf in the U.S. and over 12,000 worldwide.  Professionals, please visit our SNAG Pros website www.snagpros.com for more information on our Coaching System used to instruct new learners.  For individuals and groups that want to have fun learning golf visit www.snaggolf.com.

Media Contacts

SNAG® Golf

Pat Norton, pat@oncoursegolf-pr.com

Jane Dally,   jane@oncoursegolf-pr.com

203-454-0232

More information: http://conta.cc/15eIVb1

 

If one of the ideas to keep golf growing is to snag youngsters from the clutches of video games or the mall and get them outside and active, SNAG might be on to something.

Or perhaps they already are, as evidenced by growing interest and an endorsement from Jack Nicklaus, who has embarked on an initiative to grow the game with the assistance of SNAG (Starting New at Golf) and the National Recreation and Park Association. That effort will ramp up this spring when Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues are introduced at select park and recreation facilities in the U.S., including the Southland’s Manhattan Beach. In addition to using SNAG’s first-touch development program, the leagues will make golf available as a team sport for children ages 5-12 who are interested in learning the basics of the game.

“This is an important stepping stone for the industry to capture interest in golf early so that youngsters will transition with confidence to play with actual equipment on a traditional course,” said Terry Anton, the president and CEO of SNAG, a company in Tahlequah, Okla., that has been selling its colorful, giant-headed clubs, balls and targets to schools and junior golf programs since 2001. “The more fun we make golf for children, the more chance they have to play the game for a lifetime.”

Sometimes the instructor has fun, too, as is the case with Josh Alpert, a PGA teaching professional at The Lakes at El Segundo. Alpert has been at the facility for the past 13 years and created the Good Swings Happen Junior Golf Academy in 2009. He became a SNAG certified instructor three years ago and “loved it instantly,” he said.

“I initially introduced it into my summer camps because I have so many young kids involved,” said Alpert, the Southern California PGA Metropolitan Chapter Junior Leader of the Year for 2012. “Because of the popularity, I’ve started running specific camps targeting 5 to 8 year olds with SNAG. Three years ago I had 10 kids in one camp and last year I had two camps with 70 kids.”

Alpert is banking on interest increasing as his SNAG program continues to draw regional interest and the overall scope of SNAG receives a boost in nearby Manhattan Beach, where the city's Parks and Recreation Department will offer programs and start its relationship with the national Nicklaus effort. Albert said city parks are a perfect spot for SNAG events and instruction because of their space and accessibility.

“We have a really good amount of education and awareness for golf in our community now,” he said of the overall South Bay, “and SNAG has a lot to do with that because you can take it to a school or park, quickly set things up and get started right away.”

Alpert likes to have the children help him set up a six- to nine-hole course so they can learn how tee boxes, fairways and greens coexist. He also tosses fitness activities into his program by having participants sprint to pick up balls and return them after hitting sessions. Parents are also encouraged to interact when possible.

“It’s completely user-friendly,” Alpert said about the SNAG equipment. “What’s happening, especially with our ability to do it at the parks, is that it allows parents to participate with the kids. So the message we’re trying to preach is, you’ve got a young kid who might want to play golf, and instead of dropping them off or watching them interact with coaches like they do in other sports, we’re trying to educate them in the value of participating together. That way a mother and son can pick up the clubs for the first time and almost learn together. If we introduce it as a family game, if we introduce the life lessons golf contains and the respect and care it entails, then we have an opportunity to carry these lessons through to later in life and grow the game.”

The concept behind that thinking, Anton said, is that golf instruction traditionally has tried to force an adult game and standard equipment onto its youngest pupils.

“Learning golf from the get-go with traditional equipment and methods is just about impossible for most people, especially kids,” he said.

Seth Glasco, an instructor at Monarch Beach Golf Links in Dana Point, who has used SNAG at various locations in the past, agrees with that assessment and said making lessons fun is crucial to holding a youngster’s attention.

“They’re learning while they’re playing, which is key for kids in this age group,” said Glasco, who has been teaching for 30 years. “I think it’s a great tool for an entry level skills development program for little kids.”

Glasco plans to launch a SNAG-based instructional program this summer in league and camp formats on the St. Regis event lawn at Monarch Beach and at Sea Terrace Community Park across the street from the course and resort. He said his league outings will mirror a “t-ball” approach to learning and the camps will focus on skill development. He also stressed the importance of utilizing the SNAG equipment and concepts at elementary schools when possible.

“Almost all of the other sports are introduced in the schoolyard, either formally or informally, whereas golf never has been,” he said. “So the only kids we generally get are the ones whose mom and dad play or grandpa plays or they belong to a country club. But if we can introduce this into schools, we can maybe find the next top golfers who might never have taken up the game if not for this type of program.”

Link to article: http://southlandgolfmagazine.com/t-News-SNAG-a-fun-way-to-learn-05-07-13.aspx

NEWS from the Southern California PGA:  Lorena Ochoa Golf Academy Grand Opening and Family Fun Day 

Lorena Ochoa, former LPGA player and an advocate for the youth of Mexico, is a like a rockstar to many in the golf community. Hundreds were on hand Saturday, April 27^th to celebrate the grand opening of her Lorena Ochoa Golf Academy at Goose Creek Golf Club, and for a chance to meet Lorena. The activities for the day began with Lorena giving an hour long clinic and signing autographs for an additional hour. Golfers young and old were excited to see Lorena, and even more excited was the community about the Lorena Ochoa Golf Academy and the opportunities it brings for the golf community in the Inland Empire.  

The Southern California PGA Toyota Neighborhood Golf program provided various activities for the day: BirdieBall inflatable targets including Golfzilla, Kangaroo, and Skeegolf, and SNAG Golf were all a hit for the participants.

Hundreds of youth participated in the days activities, many were already golfers but were able to learn more about the SCPGA Junior Tour and other various programs provided by our PGA Professionals.  

On behalf of the Aloha Section PGA and the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association, we would like to thank you SNAG Golf for your support and sponsorship of the recently completed Hawaii Junior Golf Day event.

Last year, SNAG provided programming and equipment to each host site facility for the inaugural event. We used those same sets this year as well.

This was the second year for the event and we once again had 13 facilities across the state volunteer to serve as a host site. Oahu had five host site facilities, Kauai had two, Maui had three and the Big Island had three host sites.  

Over 1,200 children have experienced golf by participating in these events! To help facilitate the 13 events this year, we had 61 PGA members and apprentices volunteer their time and expertise along with another 82 volunteers from the HSJGA and public.

At each host site, we asked that they set up four action stations, putting, chipping, full swing and what we called our PGA Sports Academy station, which was a catch-all for different exercises (such as running, jumping, kicking, etc.) that reinforced the notion that a child needed to be a well-rounded athlete to become the best golfer possible. For instance, we had a tug-of-war at our course. At each action station, we tried to have three different activities within the 20 minute timeframe to keep the kids attention and make it as fun as possible. SNAG was used in different ways at each of the four stations. For instance, we had kids throwing SNAG balls at a target to reinforce the basic motion needed for golf. At the chipping station, kids got to chip SNAG balls at SNAG targets but also chip balls at an instructor dressed in the SNAG Sticky Suit. The whole idea was to keep it simple, easy, fast paced and fun.

The majority of the children attending were experiencing the game of golf for the first time! This event was targeted at first time kids picking up a club, so SNAG was perfect! Everyone loved SNAG, even the kids who had played some golf before and even the instructors! By capturing these children’s (parents) contact information, we can now continue to stay connected and help nurture their interest in the game.

Certainly this was a very successful Growth of the Game and Junior Golf event and helps support the national initiative of Golf 2.0. There was considerable positive marketing of the event which helped promote SNAG, both the ASPGA and HSJGA and of course the game of golf. In addition, the event allowed each respective host site facility to promote their individual programs they offer at their facilities – both for juniors and for their parents.

These events which give back to the community are only made possible through many people and company’s support and we thank you again for joining us and being part of this worthwhile effort. This event was sponsored by the Aloha Section PGA and the Hawaii State Junior Golf Association.

We couldn’t have done this event statewide without the great support of SNAG and thanks to Kelly McCammon for helping to make it happen!

Aloha,

Greg Nichols, General Manager, Ko Olina Golf Club

Direct Ph. (808) 686-9052

SNAG is a proud member of the International Network of Golf, otherwise known as ING.  This member organization is celebrating 23 years and SNAG will once again be attending the ING Spring Conference to meet up with friends, members of the media and colleagues for a week of networking at The Reunion Resort and Club in Orlando Florida, May 19-23.

ING was created to bring leaders of the golf industry together.   ING members include media, equipment companies, apparel companies, marketing and public relations professionals, architects, authors and anyone for a passion for golf. 

SNAG was one of the winners of the International Network of Golf (ING) 29^th Industry Honors Awards at the  2013 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando.  SNAG Golf captured the Player Development Award!

PGA Tour star, Dustin Johnson first learned about the new Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues, powered by SNAG in January when the launch announcement went viral.  It was then that he instructed his own Foundation to make a $10,000 contribution that would help bring the game of golf into the National Recreation and Park Association facilities across the country.

The Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues (JNLL), powered by SNAG is supported by a non-profit entity known as G.O.L.F. (the Global Outreach for Learning Foundation) www.thegolfoundation.org.

Sponsor donations and funds are being raised to help reduce entry costs and to ensure JNLL will be successful for future generations.  G.O.L.F.’s mission is to help people develop golf skills and have fun through developmentally appropriate programs.  The goal is to ensure retention and provide a sustainable model for transition to other programs at golf facilities, in order to increase participation for current and future generations.

“Junior golf is the developmental cornerstone of our game, and it is critically important to the continued growth and popularity of the sport,” said Johnson.  “My Foundation and G.O.L.F. are both focused on the next generation of golfers, and I am proud to support Mr. Nicklaus and his new Learning Leagues with my donation.  Perhaps we will someday have a Jack Nicklaus Learning League here in my hometown of Myrtle Beach (S.C.).”

The Dustin Johnson Foundation was founded in 2010 for the purpose of supporting various youth initiatives with the primary focus of promoting and supporting youth and college golf programs. Johnson owes much of his success to strong youth golf programs that he participated in and believes that youth programs are important to give children and young adults strong foundations that they can carry throughout their lives both on and off the course.

The Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues will launch in May at select National Recreation and Park Association facilities in five major markets.  The innovative Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues, combined with SNAG’s well-established, first-touch development program, will provide a golf learning experience for children, ages 5 through 12, in a safe, affordable and accessible environment.

The Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues will ultimately become a global philanthropic endeavor to bring the sport to emerging golf regions and countries that are embracing the game as part of the Olympic movement.  For further information about the Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues, powered by SNAG, call (866) 946-5092 or e-mail jnll@snaggolf.com.