SPECIAL FOCUS
Another First for Illinois:
Hook a Kid on Golf Foundation
BY LEE KANZLER
Illinois is the only
state with its own
organization
coordinating the
Hook A Kid On
Golf program.
The Hook A Kid On Golf Foundation of Illinois is
a statewide effort of a national organization, the
National Alliance for Youth Sports (NAYS). NAYS is
based in West Palm Beach, FL, and is better known
for the National Youth Sport Coaches Training
programs in football, basketball, baseball and soccer.
That is, until now.
The Hook A Kid On Golf
program began in 1990 and in
1994 won the Card Walker
Award, which is presented by
the PGA Tour and recognizes an
individual or organization that
has made an outstanding
contribution to junior golf. The
program has the backing of title
sponsor Taylor Made Golf, who
provides the golf clubs, golf bags
and videos for the juniors. The
program also provides golf balls,
golf shirts, and five days of skill
training by PGA Professionals
from the area.
Since the Illinois program's
inception in June of 1998, the
Hook A Kid On Golf Foundation has worked closely with the
Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) and
its executive director Kay Forest. Forest has helped
coordinate foundation efforts to make sure that the
program reached people who could make it a success,
including Addison, Aurora, Channahon, Dixon, East
Chicago, Schaumburg and Woodridge, to name a few.
More than 50 communities will provide Hook A Kid
On Golf programs in 1999. Most of these are park
districts in communities looking to make a difference.
The program took off mostly due to the friendship of Bob Murphy, Hook A Kid On Golf's national
spokesman, and Jerry Rich, a semi-retired entrepreneur who was looking for a way ro give back to the
game that has meant so much to him over the years.
Rich saw a need that was not being met—a way for
kids to get involved in the great game of golf—and
sought out an avenue to correct
just that.
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Illinois is the only state with
its own organization coordinating the Hook A Kid On Golf
program. The foundation is
based in Sugar Grove, 111., on
beautiful Rich Harvest Links
where in July 1998 $250, 000
was raised in one day during the
inaugural Bob Murphy Hook A
Kid On Golf Pro-Am. Some of
the money raised was spent
getting 13 communities up and
running that same summer.
Other notable accomplishments to date for the foundation include being named an
official program of the city of
Chicago by the Chicago Park
District; the first week of school
recess in the city of Aurora being designated "Hook A
Kid On Golf Week"; and, a ground-breaking set for
1999 in Mooseheart for the first Hook A Kid On
Golf golf course.
Illinois' Hook A Kid On Golf Foundation currently
has a staff of four: Dr. Alien Brue, executive director;
Lee Kanzler, director of golf; Erin Belling, director of
operations; and Sarah Harlow, director of marketing.
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To get a program in your community, call the
foundation at 630.556.3121.
March/April 1999 ¦ 39