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Social Buttons      Golf takes a new swing in classrooms all over the world!May 23rd, 2012 12:26pm - Posted By: Terrence Standard
Terrence Standard Published: May 27, 2012 Link: http://www.terracestandard.com/sports/152111815.html (Note: SNAG is an acronym for 'Starting New At Golf')Golf takes a new swing in Terrace classrooms
Photo: ETHAN DHALIWAL shows off his swing at Uplands Elementary School last week where he learned the game of golf, SNAG style.
THE GAME of golf has been reinvented in the name of getting children learning it early, and hopefully loving it. It is also being introduced in Terrace in a classroom-style format that will not only see children of all ages able to try out the sport, but hone their skills year-round. Last week, the B.C. Golf Association’s School of Golf director Cathy Gook visited Terrace on May 14 and 16 to teach a program called SNAG, standing for Someone New at Golf. She taught the game to students at Uplands Elementary School, to volunteers at the Skeena Valley Golf Club and also Parkside Secondary School. “Our Playground to Fairways school program ... mission is every child in B.C. has the opportunity to learn the game of golf,” said Gook. “We come up to train teachers, professionals or community volunteers to use the modified golf equipment we use.” The SNAG equipment is designed to be child friendly, intended to assist learning techniques of the game while being skill-level appropriate and fun, she said. Equipment includes two types of clubs: one similar to an iron with a larger head called launchers, and another like, and larger than, a putter called rollers. “They’re modified grips so it’s really easy for little hands to hold onto the clubs,” she said. The terminology is intended to associate with the action of the ball, which in this game is roughly the size of a tennis ball but weighs the same as a golf ball, said Gook. There are targets at which the kids aim. The balls stick to them, said Gook. There are four different swings, or shots, that are taught. The first swing is called rolling, otherwise known as putting. There’s chipping, which in golf is a small low elevated shot intended to land close to the green and get a ball near the hole. Next, there’s pitching, which is the third biggest swing. “It’s when you’re fairly close to the green and want to loft it,” said Gook, “a soft, short little shot that goes up in the air.” Next, there’s the launch. Gook brought up three different lengths of launchers and rollers — each designed for a different age stage and each with a slightly different approach to learning the game. The smallest size is for kindergarten to Grade 3, and that game focuses on adapting literacy skills with golf, honing hand-eye coordination, and target awareness. That program is currently being developed to be rolled out B.C.-wide next year. But in Terrace, now, is a set of SNAG equipment that’s ready to be used in schools. There’s enough for 32 children at a time to play at various stations, and this set of equipment is intended to do more than just teach golf. Colleen Annibal teaches at Parkside Secondary School, which recently purchased the equipment. “I did the certification Monday night at the golf course,” said Annibal, adding she plans to train students who attend Parkside how to lead the program. The plan is, she said, for her and those students to attend schools with younger children and teach SNAG as part of leadership training for the older students as well. “My goal is to introduce as many kids as I possibly can to golf,” said Annibal. “And for our kids to feel good about themselves helping little kids.” Annibal’s intent is to start training her students within the next few weeks and hopefully have taught two physical education classes with her students by the time school is finished. “I definitely want to build it as leadership for our kids,” she said. “And throughout the winder months have even the golfers coming. “We’re hoping to get more kids involved, more kids turned on to golf,” said Annibal. Posted in: NoneView / Add Comment | 0 Comment(s) | Rating: 0 of 5 | Share: Twitter, Facebook, Google +Matt Says "No More Talk, It's Time For Action!"May 22nd, 2012 4:53pm - Posted By: Tiffanie
Photo: First Annual Midwest PGA Section SNAG-A-School Tournament
Matt Murdoch is donating proceeds he earns from playing in golf tournaments as a professional to raise money and awareness for growing the game of golf. The Midwest PGA section is then asking companies and people to match the funds that Matt donates. So far Pepsi and Mercedes Benz will be matching funds. These proceeds will then go to the Midwest Section Foundation to purchase SNAG Golf Coaching Kits for schools, park and recreation facilities, etc. “We expect to influence up a 80,000 kids in the school districts in the Kansas City area next year,” Matt says, “Our goal is to outfit every school district in our Section with the opportunity to do SNAG, and once we do that the game will really grow again!”
Read on to learn more....
Matt Murdoch, being a golf lover, felt a strong desire to give back to the game that has provided him with so many memories and opportunities so he spoke with Brad Demo, Midwest Section Executive Director, about ways to raise money and awareness for growing the game. When approaching companies they have found that many of the company executives love to play golf but are truly unaware that the golf industry is struggling. Brad Demo has done much of the fundraising. He approached Pepsi first as he had a prior relationship with them. Mercedes Benz is a PGA sponsor so they thought it was appropriate to approach them locally. The reception and response from both companies was extremely positive. When Pepsi and Mercedes Benz execs asked why Matt, or anyone, would give up all their income from playing in tournaments Brad explained that the golf industry is in trouble and that Matt is very passionate about taking action and not just talking about bringing more people to the game.
All funds from these efforts go directly to the Midwest Section’s “SNAG-A-School” program. “We haven’t done a very good job of growing from ground up”, Matt says, “If we start with the kids maybe Mom and Dad will want to play. We need to fill up the pipeline with new golfers since so many are leaving every year.”
The Olathe School District, a suburb of Kansas City, is the first school district that was targeted for the SNAG-A –School program. Program planning and PE Teacher training began 2011 and equipment was delivered in February 2012. The Section provided 8 Large Group Coaching Kits and they are rotating between area elementary schools, which equates to 20,000 kids being exposed to the basics of golf in a FUN way every year. Golf Pros win in this scenario as well…other than just a fantastic pipeline of potential new clients, they can also borrow the SNAG Coaching Kit in the summer if they donate their time to help with the SNAG-A-School program during the school year.
All PE Teachers utilizing the SNAG® Golf equipment and programming have gone through at least 2 training over the past year and the Midwest Section (Matt, Jeff) will continue to follow up each year to ensure they are using the program correctly and get feedback on best practices, etc. Jeff and Matt have committed large amounts of both time and money to this program and are beginning to see how impactful their efforts are in growing the game. This past Saturday they had the first SNAG- A- School tournament, where every school in the district was able to bring a team. “Next year will be even bigger and better with more marketing efforts, sponsors, prize money, etc.“, Matt says.
"We expect to influence up a 80,000 kids in the school districts in the Kansas City area next year. Our goal is to outfit every school district in our Section with the opportunity to do SNAG® Golf , and once we do that the game will really grow again! We have to make sure people are aware of what is going on! We have to get golf professionals collaborating again and we can turn this ship around!" Posted in: NoneView / Add Comment | 0 Comment(s) | Rating: 0 of 5 | Share: Twitter, Facebook, Google +Kiwi Kids Learn Golf with Sir Bob CharlesMay 21st, 2012 11:49am
Thousands of Kiwi kids are being introduced to the sport thanks to SNAG Golf. It's fun, colourful and teaches children the basics of golf. And living legend Sir Bob Charles believes it could bring the next Michael Campbell, Phil Tataurangi or Lydia Ko to the sport.
Sir Bob Charles endorses SNAG GOLF "Starting new at Golf (SNAG) is an introduction to the game which has been my life for over sixty years. Golf is a game of a lifetime and I would encourage all children, from the age of five, to give SNAG a try. SNAG can be enjoyed by all, parents with children, as well as, grandparents with grandchildren and a wonderful extra curricular activity for schools. From achieving the perfect grip with its five sides, to learning to roll the ball with the 'roller' or launching the ball with the 'launcher' SNAG is above all fun. The 'roller' can be used indoors and the 'launcher' even on the beach and can be enjoyed by all. Along with many instructional concepts SNAG can be an introduction to the game of golf for champions of the future." Sir Bob Charles
For more informtion on SNAG Golf's efforts in New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands, please visit: http://www.snaggolf.co.nz/
Posted in: NoneView / Add Comment | 0 Comment(s) | Rating: 0 of 5 | Share: Twitter, Facebook, Google +Ryder Cup Aids Hungarian Junior Golfers using SNAGMay 18th, 2012 3:28pm
Source: Golf Business News Date: May 10, 2012 Link: http://www.golfbusinessnews.com/news/management-topics/ryder-cup-aid-for-hungarys-junior-golfers Ryder Cup Aid for Hungary’s Junior Golfers Ryder Cup European Development Trust is funding 30 sets of SNAG equipment for members of the Hungarian Golf Federation’s junior programme. Junior golfers in Hungary, where structured and co-ordinated efforts are in progress to grow a golfing culture from grass roots, alongside other Eastern European countries, are benefiting from the use of 30 sets of SNAG equipment, funded by the Ryder Cup European Development Trust (RCEDT). Equipped with the cleverly-designed and produced SNAG starter sets, members of the Hungarian Golf Federation’s (HGF) junior programme are progressing their early development in the sport backed by coaching from PGA professionals. The SNAG equipment is also supporting widespread planning to take golf into more and more schools with the long-term objective of becoming part of a national sporting curriculum. Along with the Ryder Cup support,Hungary’s impressive development programme has also been significantly helped by the embracing of golf into the Olympics for Brazil 2016, a status that prompts a level of state aid not previously available to the sport. As part of the HGF’s comprehensive plans to promote golf as a popular national sport and to develop the elite players, they have PGA professional and Hungarian golfing pioneer and administrator, Damian MacPherson, as national coach. “The support of Ryder Cup means a lot to us,” said the President of the Hungarian Golf Federation, András Sugár. “We have had the intention to launch and develop a nationwide School Golf Program for a long time and a lot of effort is invested into this project. “We are confident that with the help of the 30 SNAG sets and in cooperation with the enthusiastic clubs many young children will have the opportunity to play golf and the most talented players may be our future hopes for the Olympic Games one day.” Link: Ryder Cup European Development Trust
Posted in: NoneView / Add Comment | 0 Comment(s) | Rating: 0 of 5 | Share: Twitter, Facebook, Google +MAPGA Exposes 600 people to FUN golf expereinceMay 8th, 2012 1:01pm
Source: http://www.golfclubbusiness.com/index.php?showtopic=39088
Stafford, VA – For Virginia Tech’s Spring Family weekend and the University of Maryland’s Maryland Day, the Middle Atlantic PGA (MAPGA) created a “near golf” experience on campus and introduced the game of golf to over 600 people. Students, faculty members, parents and other family members tested their skills by taking a shot at BirdieBall’s inflatable dinosaur called “GolfZilla” and hitting miniature tennis balls with SNAG Golf equipment. For nearly fifty percent of the participants, this event was their first try at swinging a golf club and hitting a ball.
University of Maryland: http://youtu.be/7oFCC4iI0L4
About the Middle Atlantic Section of the PGA of America Posted in: NoneView / Add Comment | 0 Comment(s) | Rating: 0 of 5 | Share: Twitter, Facebook, Google +New York's Metropolitan PGA Section and SNAG Golf form partnershipMay 7th, 2012 12:23pm
Source: http://www.worldgolf.com/newswire/browse/71331-MET-PGA-SNAG%C2%AE-Golf-Form-New-Partnership-Grow-Golf New York's Metropolitan PGA Section and SNAG Golf form partnership TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -- The Metropolitan (New York) PGA Section has announced a new partnership with SNAG® Golf ('Starting New At Golf'), a proven first touch player development program designed for new learners of all ages. "When the PGA of America and the Metropolitan Section established plans for the Golf 2.0 Player Development initiatives, they quickly realized that the success of getting new players into the game required partnerships with allies who understood both golf and education. SNAG is an ideal partner and Starting New At Golf is more than a slogan," said Charlie Robson, Executive Director, Metropolitan PGA headquartered in Elmsford, NY. "SNAG has become one of our PGA Professionals' best resources and the colorful, oversized and safe equipment is ideal for kids (and adults) of all ages. The Met PGA is excited about the potential that SNAG can have to bring new golfers into the game in our area, whether teaching golf in a classroom or a park, using the SNAG equipment and curriculum with First Tee students, autistic children or the very youngest of beginners." "We admire the MET PGA Section's commitment and look forward to a long term partnership toward bringing new golfers to the game throughout the New York area," said Terry Anton, Owner & CEO of SNAG® Golf.
About SNAG® 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 5,000 schools that are successfully introducing children to golf in the U.S. and over 8,000 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.
About The Metropolitan PGA Section:
Media Contact: Posted in: NoneView / Add Comment | 0 Comment(s) | Rating: 0 of 5 | Share: Twitter, Facebook, Google +New Loveland course hopes to SNAG new golfersMay 7th, 2012 12:17pm - Posted By: By Madeline Novey Reporter-Herald Staff Writer
New Loveland course hopes to SNAG new golfers
Tradition dictates that there are lots of rules when it comes to golf. Some tell a player where they must tee their shots, others stipulate how many people can play in a group at a time and more still say what a golfer should wear or to what decibel level their voices can max out. OK, so that last one's not entirely true, but the idea supports the notion that the sport is somewhat exclusive, lifelong golfers such as Steve Southard will tell you. Only 9 percent, or more than 28 million, of the roughly 312 million people in this nation play golf, said Southard, Loveland's golf operations manager, and that percentage has dropped between 1 and 2 percent annually since 2002. Southard wants to see a fundamental shift in the way that golf becomes more accessible to the "91 percent," and he thinks that can be accomplished when the city opens in July its fourth golf course. But this likely won't look like any golf course you've seen before. No, those involved with the project are saying it's the nation's first, dedicated SNAG golf course. What is SNAG golf? "It's definitely not a putt-putt (course) with windmills and clowns," said Jim Dargis, PGA professional at Cattail Creek Golf Course next to which the SNAG course is going in. "It's a shrunk down little golf course." And sure enough, it is. Seeds have become thin wisps of new grass that will become fully-fledged greens on nine holes at a scaled-down course. Set along 29th Street, adjacent to the driving range at Cattail Creek, organizers hope the SNAG course will draw curious people ages 4 to 98, Southard and Dargis hope. What is SNAG? The acronym stands for Starting New at Golf, a fairly recent system designed to get players of any age playing golf -- in this case, a simplified version with fewer rules and modified equipment. "It's not just for kids," Southard said. "What we're doing, we're focusing on all nongolfers." Instead of clubs made from steel or graphite, players swing specially sized plastic clubs with oversized primary colored heads and names such as launcher -- this one will make the ball airborne -- and roller, the one used to putt the ball along the ground. The "golf balls" are small, limited-flight tennis balls that stick to the velcro on the base of a flagsticky (Yes, that's the real term.) that replaces the traditional "hole." SNAG golfers learn the four fundamentals of the game: putting, chipping, pitching and the full swing. 'Knocking down barriers' A grandfather who plays golf, for example, could take his two grandchildren to play a round one afternoon in about 45 minutes to an hour, Dargis said. He could bring along his true putter while the children play SNAG. The experience would cost $5 per person; it's $2 more per person to rent equipment. "We're going to knock down all the barriers," Southard said of the traditionally high cost of playing golf. The duo also hopes the new course will entice more children to get involved with Junior Golf, the city's long-standing league for children 6 to 18. While Southard didn't reveal the total cost of the course -- construction isn't yet complete -- he assured that no taxpayer dollars will fund the project. The golf courses, similar to the city's Water and Power department, is an enterprise fund, meaning that fees paid to the courses generate revenue. Leaning Thursday morning on the wooden fence near the SNAG course, irrigation tech Kathe Miller said she's not a "golfer" by any means -- she's played maybe twice a year each of the 20 years she's worked at the golf courses. But she's thrilled by the idea of SNAG. "Oh, I think it's going to be a blast," she said. Loveland resident Sandy Sanderson took a break from hitting golf balls at the range to say he's going to bring his nine grandchildren out as soon as the course is finished. "I know they want this course to be open," he said, grinning. SNAG FactsWhat is SNAG? The acronym stands for Starting New at Golf, a fairly recent system designed to get players of any age playing golf. Check out the company's website at snaggolf.com. Construction is ongoing at Loveland's SNAG golf course, located next to Cattail Creek Golf Course, 2116 W. 29th St. SNAG is for people of all ages. The new course is slated to open sometime in early to mid-June. The cost to play a 9-hole round will be $5 per person; it's an extra $2 per person to rent equipment. Want to get your children started? There are two three-week SNAG junior golf programs for ages 5 to 7 running in June. Each program is $50 per child (includes all equipment) and features six sessions. The first program runs Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. June 13, 20, 27, and then Saturdays at 9 a.m. June 16, 23 and 30. The second session runs Mondays and Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. June 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26. For more information or to register, call 663-5310. 
Jim Dargis, left, PGA golf professional at Cattail Creek Golf Course, and Steve Southard, golf operations manager at the course, pose for a photo Thursday holding equipment used in SNAG golf. SNAG stands for starting new at golf and they hope plan to open a SNAG course in July. ( Jenny Sparks )
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