Welcome to the 2018 golfing season!
I would like to recognize and give a heartfelt thank you to our past and present Junior Golf Foundation Board of Directors. After one year as chairperson, I honestly don’t know how Karen Vijuk handled this job so beautifully for 6 years. In 2017, we had several other members rotate off the foundation board: Dee Clark, Denise Sullivan, Ginny Hackbert and Judy Wright. Thank you ladies, for your dedication and all you have done to support junior girls’ golf in South Carolina. Our current board members are Kristen Rooke, Greenville CC (Vice-Chair); Carole Pincavage, The Reserve at Woodside Plantation (Secretary); Dru Nix, Ponderosa CC (Treasurer); Teresa Sprouse, Links at Stoney Point; Fran Dunn, CC of Spartanburg; Kathy Cuppia, e-club; Kristi Coggins, Cobblestone Park; and Johnette Jeffcoat, Fort Jackson GC. Again, thank you! It is an honor to work side by side as we build on past accomplishments and increase our impact in the coming year.
Since 2005, the WSCGA Junior Golf Foundation (JGF) has been growing the game of golf for South Carolina girls. Allow me to share how our efforts provide opportunities for over 1,000 juniors!
OUR MISSION
:
To enhance the lives of juniors through exposure to the game of golf by fostering competition, sportsmanship, and appreciation for the integrity of the game.
Each spring we host our annual fundraiser, the Jane Covington Classic. The 2018 Captain’s Choice event will be held at Orangeburg Country Club on Monday, April 16. Each 4 person team (men and/or women) receives a round of golf for four from one of our beautiful SC courses. Our “Junior Assistance Package” includes team mulligans and a 5
th
player (junior girl) joining each team on one of the par 4’s. It’s a lot of fun to watch these girls hit the ball. We will have “themed” baskets and much more to raffle, a silent auction you don’t want to miss and a delicious lunch to enjoy. If you have never played in this tournament, please put together a team and come support junior golf. We always look forward to seeing old and new friends!
The JGF hosts two junior girls’ championships annually. This year
The Foundation
Junior Championship (formerly known as Green Valley Girls Classic) will be held May 19-20 at Three Pines CC and the High School Invitational will be held September 22-23 at Sanctuary GC. The Invitational is a competitive event comprised of the top 15 ranked high school teams and the top 12 ranked individuals from around the state. It has become a highly coveted invitation and is completely funded by the JGF with no entry fee to the participants.
During the summer, we host free one-day clinics at various locations aimed at reaching girls in some of our smaller (1A, 2A) schools as well as the novice golfer. In 2017, current and previous LPGA members, Kristi McPherson, Kendall Dye, Lee Ann Walker and our own Clarissa Childs were the clinicians. The event was held at Par Tee Driving Range in West Columbia and was a huge success.
The JGF provides a Junior Golf Assistance Program (JGAP), through which we reimburse SC tournament entry fees, up to $300 annually, to qualifying juniors. The number of girls supported and total dollars reimbursed has doubled over the last two years. For application criteria, visit our website at
www.wscga.org/junior-golf-assistance
. Additionally, we provide support to the Peggy Kirk Bell Golf Tour, the South Carolina High School League Qualifiers and State Championships, South Carolina Independent School Association State Championship and LPGA/USGA programs.
The JGF has set ambitious goals to provide high level competition, instructional clinics and financial assistance to even more SC girls in the coming year. Unfortunately, the cost to nurture the talent of our juniors is also growing.
Here’s how you can help! Now through March 31
st
, online donations are matched at 15%
thanks to the RBC Heritage “Birdies for Charity” program. Please consider an individual donation or a contribution from your Women’s Golf Association. To make a donation, visit
www.heritageclassicfoundation.com/donate-now
and select Women’s SC Jr Golf Foundation from the list of registered charities.
On behalf of the Women’s South Carolina Golf Association Junior Golf Foundation, I thank you for your generous support.
Follow us on Facebook, check out our website, donate, and/or volunteer.
The WSCGA Junior Golf Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization and all donations are tax deductible.
