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Kentucky Golf Foundation 2021 annual report

ABOUT THE KENTUCKY GOLF FOUNDATION

The vision of the Kentucky Golf Foundation (KGF) is to enhance lives through the game of golf. This is done through supporting programs that introduce and provide playing opportunities in the game of golf to all ages, skill levels and backgrounds; specifically youth, military Veterans, and people with diverse backgrounds.

A MESSAGE FROM 2021 CHAIRMAN DAVE NICHOLAS

The Kentucky Golf Foundation enjoyed a great year in 2021. I want to first thank the Kentucky Section of the PGA of America when they paid the remaining balance of the debt on the Golf House Kentucky building early in the year. As a result, funds previously directed for debt service can now be used for the important programs dedicated to growing the game of golf throughout the state.

Several gentlemen joined the KGF's Board of Directors last year and have already been instrumental in growing our fundraising efforts. They are and will be tremendous resources to the KGF, helping make each of our programs poised for increased success in the years to come.

Seeing the succcess stories originate from our many programs, including Youth on Course Kentucky, the Kentucky PGA Junior Tour, and PGA HOPE Kentucky among many others has been inspiring to take in. But this is just the beginning of the positive impact Kentucky golf is poised to receive. There is much to be done, but the KGF finds itself in a wonderful position following a prolific 2021.

2021 Board of Directors

Dave Nicholas - Chairman & Honorary President, Kentucky Golf Association

Phil Armbruster - Secretary, Kentucky Golf Association

Danny Baron, PGA - Vice President, Kentucky PGA Section

Greg Engle - Lexington, Kentucky

Matt Fuqua - Executive Vice President, Assured Partners

Pete Garvey, PGA - Honorary President, Kentucky PGA Section

Craig Heibert, PGA - President, Kentucky PGA Section

Jimmy Kirchdorfer - CEO, ISCO Industries

Chad Martin, PGA - Secretary, Kentucky PGA Section

Ches Musselman - CEO/President, Musselman Hotels

David Rudder - Lexington, Kentucky

Jason Siener - Owner, President/CEO Beltline Electrical Services

Dean Terry - Vice President, Kentucky Golf Association

Jim Thompson - President, Kentucky Golf Association

Partners

The businesses you see on the left kindly contributed to the Kentucky Golf Foundation in 2021. Thanks to their generosity, the KGF was able to maximize its mission of impacting Kentucky's citizens through golf. Hundreds if not thousands of folks will get further exposure to golf in the years to come thanks in large part to these companies offering their support.

Youth on Course Kentucky⭐

The core purpose of Youth on Course is to provide youth with access to life changing opportunities through golf. In Kentucky, children have the opportunity to acquire a Youth on Course membership for $5 each year. Players can then pay a green fee of $5 or less at every Youth on Course member facility in the state. In addition, Kentucky offers a caddie program through Youth on Course where each round looped earns the caddie $50, while a $500 college scholarship is accrued for every 10 loops completed. For the second consecutive year in 2021, Youth on Course Kentucky received gold status - the highest award an Association can receive.

Youth on Course Kentucky's 2021 Statistics

  • 510 active golfing members statewide
  • 11,000 rounds completed by YOC Kentucky members
  • 20 participating caddies
  • More than $2,000 in funds paid to caddies with more than $3,000 of scholarship money accrued for caddies who completed at least 10 loops
  • 62 Kentucky golf courses offer Youth on Course privileges to golfers
  • 3 facilities host Youth on Course caddie program

Bryson Berry - Youth on Course Scholarship Recipient

Each year, Youth on Course offers a select number of members across the country a college scholarship. In 2021, Lexington's Bryson Berry was one of twenty students across the country to receive one of these scholarships, which is helping him complete his freshman year at Dartmouth College. He's pursuing degrees in Government and Economics with Harvard Law School in his sights further down the road. Quite simply, he's determined to make an impact on life at the golf course and away from it. FULL STORY

Kentucky PGA Junior Tour

The premier place for Kentucky's youth to experience tournament golf. The Kentucky PGA Junior Tour provides events with a competitive atmosphere to junior golfers while encouraging sportsmanship and promoting the rules and etiquette of the game.

Kentucky PGA Junior Tour's 2021 Statistics

  • 816 members
  • 47 different tournaments conducted from March-October
  • 4,769 toutnament rounds completed
  • At least 50 graduating seniors from the class of 2021 now play for a college's golf team

Matthew Troutman - Kentucky Golf's Next Big Star?

In recent years, no youth golfer in Kentucky has achieved the success that Matthew Troutman has. His starpower first became especially noticeable during the 2018-19 Drive, Chip & Putt season when the qualified for the National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club. Since then, Troutman has become a fixture at the top of Kentucky's biggest tournaments. In 2021, that included winning the KHSAA Boys Individual State Championship plus the Team Championship with his teammates at Christian Academy of Louisville. He also notched runner-up finishes in the Barbasol Junior Championship and the Kentucky Boys Junior Amateur. The success was found away from Kentucky Junior Golf as well, when Troutman finished T6 in the Kentucky Open. It all helped him win Golf House Kentucky Boys Junior Player of the Year and earned him an athletic scholarship at the University of Oklahoma, which he will begin attending in the fall of 2022. LISTEN TO GOLF POD KENTUCKY FEATURING MATTHEW

PGA HOPE Kentucky

PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) provides all Veterans with free golf instruction taught by local PGA Professionals. The HOPE program is designed to provide golf as a therapeutic rehabiliation tool for all Veterans. The lifetime sport of golf has proven to be an excellent outlet for activity and competition, but also allows Veterans to assimilate back into their community through the social interaction the game provides. Sessions include instruction, camaraderie and playing opportunities.

PGA HOPE Kentucky's Statistics

  • 150 Veterans impacted since inception in 2018
  • 96 graduates of the program
  • 17 trained and certified Kentucky PGA Professionals to teach participants
  • Competed in PGA HOPE Secretary's Cup for first time in 2021 and guaranteed to continue playing through 2025
  • Successful sessions at two chapters in 2021 and expanding to a total of four in 2022 - PGA HOPE Louisville (Quail Chase GC), PGA HOPE Florence (World of Golf), PGA HOPE Boots Randolph (Boots Randolph GC @ Lake Barkley - 2022), PGA HOPE Paducah (Country Club of Paducah - 2022)

Jennifer Nunez - PGA HOPE Kentucky's Ambassador

Jennifer Nunez served in the U.S. Army and accomplished a great deal during her service. After returning home and looking for ways to connect with fellow Veterans, she decided to get involved with PGA HOPE. It ended up being a life-changing choice for the better. Now, Nunez has an infectious passion for golf that compelled her to get involved with the game at a deeper level. In 2021, she was appointed as PGA HOPE Kentucky's first Ambassador which has led to her participating in several fun events to raise awareness for PGA HOPE. Among them, a Fun Run FORE-K that concluded at Valhalla Golf Club and participating in Congressional Country Club's National Golf & Wellness Week.

PGA Jr. League

Since its inception in 2011, PGA Jr. League has been a game-changer when it comes to introducing children to golf. With a unique team format perfect for kids, hundreds of Kentucky's youth have taken part in PGA Jr. League the last several years. In this setting, local PGA Professionals coach their teams of junior golfers who participate in friendly matches against neighboring teams. Falling in love with golf is just a snippet of what PGA Jr. League has proven it can do, as numerous friendships made combined with a greater appreciation of sportsmanship have been at the forefront of what PGA Jr. League can offer.

PGA Jr. League's 2021 Statistics

  • 1,596 participating golfers (up 14% from 2019)
  • 130 unique teams registered
  • 54 Kentucky PGA Members captained at least one team
  • 2nd highest participation of the 41 PGA Sections across the country in membership/participation ratio

Drive, Chip & Putt

A joint initiative founded in 2013 by the Masters Tournament, United States Golf Association and the PGA of America, Drive, Chip & Putt is a free nationwide junior golf development competition aimed at growing the game by focusing on the three fundamental skills employed in golf. By tapping the creative and competitive spirit of girls and boys ages 7-15, Drive, Chip & Putt provides aspiring junior golfers an opportunity to play with their peers in qualifiers around the country. This free initiative welcomes golfers to participate in separate divisions in four age categories. Local Qualifying takes place throughout all 50 states during the months of May, June, July, and August. Participants who advance through Local, Sub-Regional and Regional Qualifying in each age/gender category earn a place in the National Finals, which is conducted at Augusta National Golf Club the Sunday before the Masters Tournament and is broadcast live on Golf Channel.

Drive, Chip & Putt's 2021 Statistics in Kentucky

  • 433 players participated in one of the state's four Local Qualifiers
  • 92 of those players advanced to and participated in Kentucky's Sub-Regional Qualifier
  • More than 20 Kentuckians competed in a Regional Qualifier in surrounding states
  • 3 Kentuckians successfully qualified for the 2022 National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club

Singh, Thompson & White Are Augusta-Bound

As referenced above, Athena Singh (pictured), Jacob Thompson and Matthew White will be headed to Augusta National Golf Club to compete in the National Finals this April. It will be the second consecutive year Singh competes in the National Finals as she'll seek the biggest victory of her career in the Girls 12-13 Division. Thompson will tee it up for the Boys 12-13 Division crown while White will look to bring back the Boys 7-9 title to Kentucky. Sunday, April 3 will be the day to tune in to see each player compete at Augusta National.

Gay Brewer, Jr. and Justin Thomas Grants

Each spring, the Kentucky Golf Foundation awards grants to junior golfers in the name of two of Kentucky's finest champions. Thanks to the Brewer and Thomas families, multiple junior golfers in Kentucky each year are awarded a grant that provides funding for them to be able to play in highly-ranked junior golf tournaments to assist in their dreams of playing professional golf.

2021 Gay Brewer, Jr. Grant recipients: Micah Bertram, Macey Brown, William Carr, Cameron Roberts (pictured), Zach Watterson

2021 Justin Thomas Grant recipients: Maddi Hudson & Cameron Roberts (pictured)

Don Fightmaster Golf Outing for Exceptional Children

Held annually on the Tuesday of Kentucky Derby week, the Don Fightmaster Golf Outing brings special needs children together with golf clubs in hand. PGA Professionals from the Kentucky Section, members of the Kentucky PGA Junior Tour and staff from First Tee - Louisville volunteer to give these children swing tips and guide them along the golf course. The participants get to experience the vast joy golf can provide, while those involved depart with one of the most rewarding sensations of service imaginable. The event has been canceled in 2020 and 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but will hopefully return in 2022.

ISCO Industries Youth on Course Kentucky Pro-Am

The Kentucky Golf Foundation's biggest fundraiser, the ISCO Industries Youth on Course Kentucky Pro-Am takes place the first Monday of August at Valhalla Golf Club. One professional and three amateurs make up a team of four players where all proceeds raised benefit Youth on Course Kentucky. These funds support operation of all aforementioned programming and provide opportunity for growth of current initiatives and development of future program opportunities.

Kentucky Golf Hall of Fame

The Kentucky Golf Hall of Fame was established in the early 1980s as a joint effort by the Kentucky Golf Association and the Kentucky PGA to honor individuals in Kentucky with significant achievements and accomplishments in various areas of golf. The Kentucky Golf Hall of Fame’s membership includes 88 individuals with remarkable records as players, golf professionals, golf course superintendents, educators, and golf administrators.

On December 9, 2021, the Kentucky Golf Hall of Fame welcomed its seven newest inductees. Five folks were enshrined as the class of 2021 with two more representing the class of 2020 welcomed following that year's ceremony being canceled by the COVID-19 pandemic. Videos commemorating each of these inductees can be viewed below.

Ernie Denham | Dave Nicholas | Bobby Baldwin, PGA | Walter Cisco | Marty Donlon | Margaret Jones | Jimmy Kirchdorfer

How You Can Contribute

The Kentucky Golf Foundation might have had its best ever year in 2021, but why stop there? Let's raise the bar and make 2022 even better! There are a variety of ways you can get involved and build upon the great work that has been accomplished.

First, spread the word about any of the above programs or initiatives to your family and friends. As we all know, word of mouth is the most effective marketing tool out there. Start a conversation about it and let the conversations trickle towards people who would benefit from one of the KGF's services.

Second, you can donate! You can easily provide a pledged gift by clicking here, but there are other methods too. If you use Amazon to order products, use Amazon Smile instead. Amazon will prompt you to select a charitable organization before you check out and they will automatically take a percentage of the price and donate it to that organization. This happens at NO EXTRA COST to you! By choosing the KGF as your charity, you are seamlessly growing the game by still getting the products you need.

Lastly, we are always accepting volunteers to assist with the events you've read about above. To get involved, reach out to one of the staff members below and we'll find the perfect place and time for you to help out. Their respective contact info can be found by clicking here.

Golf House Kentucky Staff

Jeff Adkerson, PGA - CEO/Executive Director

Sally Morgan, PGA - Assistant Executive Director

Ethan Fisher, PGA - Director, Communications & Marketing

Brad Martin - Director, Amateur Competitions

Ray Moehlman, PGA - Director, Professional Competitions

Barbara Peak - Director, Finance-Administration

Erin Rowland - Coordinator, Player Development

Connie Saner - Senior Director, Member Services

Michael Vick, PGA - Director, Junior Programs

On to 2022!

We'll see you on the links this year! Thanks for doing your part to grow the game of golf in Kentucky! Remember to stay up to date with all the news and continued happenings through www.kygolf.org, www.kyjuniorgolf.org, and our social media platforms (@GolfHouseKY and @JuniorGolfKY).