Nebraksa Junior Golf June 25 2012 Newsletter

Click PLAY to get into the minds of some of our favorite

Nike athletes as they share their putt-sinking secrets!

In This Issue…

Junior Tour Results … 1-4

Meet the Field Directors … 4, 16

Event Photos … 6-11

NJGT Schedule … 12

Tournament News … 13-17

Game Ideas … 18

Fore! Program … 20

Follow all of the latest Nebraska Junior Golf action on Facebook!

Visit www.NJGT.org to check out the 2012 schedule and more!

Questions? Contact NJGT: Ph: (402) 505-4653 ext 105

E: [email protected]

NJGT Event Results May 29th - June 18th

Click HERE to view scores from each event.

Nike Golf Junior Four-Ball at Indian Trails CC, May 30th

Age Division Top 3 Finishers

Boys 18 –Hole 1-Spencer Lindahl / Cale Benson 2-Cameron Bargell / Brett Beal 3-Cory Leffler / Drew Bohl

Girls 18 –Hole 1-Elizabeth O'Doherty / Madison Romjue

2-Alexa Ruwe / Lindsey Thompson 3-Kimberly Barmettler / Brittany Holen

NJGT Event at Holmes Park GC, May 29th

Age Division Top 3 Finishers

Boys 9 –Hole, 7-8 1-Parker Jones, Omaha

Boys 9 –Hole, 9-11 1-Steven Strasheim, Lincoln 2-PJ Davis, Omaha 3-Zach Haggstrom, Glenwood

Boys 18 –Hole, 12-13 1-Evan Rich, Lincoln 2-Greyson Skrobecki, Waverly 3-Jackson Hayes, Omaha

Boys 18 –Hole, 14-15 1-Nolan Thomas Maschka, Omaha 2-Mitch Grosserode, Lincoln 3-Carson King, Kearney

Boys 18 –Hole, 16+ 1-Ben Maschka, Omaha 2-Carter Rau, Lincoln T3-Baylor Bond, Lincoln

Girls 9 –Hole, 7-8 1-Neely Adler, Lincoln

Girls 9 –Hole, 9-11 1-Brynn Sundquist, Lincoln

Girls 9 –Hole, 12-13 1-Frankie Hendricks, Clarks 2-Kristin Goertz, Omaha 3-Allison Temple, Norfolk

Girls 18 –Hole, 14-15 1-Emily Jezewski, Omaha 2-Allison Vondra, Papillion 3-Kaitlynn Mcshane, Bennington

Girls 18 –Hole, 16+ 1-Chloe Foote, Lincoln 2-Madeleine Koenig, Lincoln 3-Jordyn Wendlandt, Omaha

Four-Ball, Boys: (L-R) Front: Brett Beal, Cory Leffler, Drew Bohl , Back: Cameron Bargell, Cale Benson, and Spencer Lindahl Four-Ball Girls: (L-R) Alexa Ruwe, Lindsey Thompson, Madison Romjue, Elizabeth O'Doherty ,Brittany Holen and Kimberly Barmettler...Check out more pictures of the winners on page 6!

NJGT Event at West Nine GC, May 31st

Age Division Top 3 Finishers

Boys 9 –Hole, 7-8 1-Parker Jones, Omaha

Boys 9 –Hole, 9-11 1-Hunter Hall, Lincoln 2-Griffin Hendricks, Clarks

Boys 18 –Hole, 12-13 1-Alex Zillig, Lavista 2-Nate Vontz, Lincoln 3-Reece Rhodes, Grand Island

Boys 18 –Hole, 14-15 1-Mitch Grosserode, Lincoln 2-Caleb Moyer, Cambridge 3-Jack Minnick, Lincoln

Boys 18 –Hole, 16+ 1-John Christ, Omaha 2-Zach Wagner, Omaha

Girls 9 –Hole, 9-11 1-Lindsey Thiele, Wahoo 2-Brynn Sundquist, Lincoln 3-Emmaline Goodman, Grand Island

Girls 9 –Hole, 12-13 1-Kendra Placke, Seward 2-Frankie Hendricks, Clarks 3-Kristin Goertz, Omaha

Girls 18 –Hole, 14-15 1-Hannah Thiele, Wahoo 2-Murphy Elaine Sears, Crete

Girls 18 –Hole, 16+ 1-Kelsey Marshall, Lincoln

NJGT Event at Hidden Valley GC, June 4th

Age Division Top 3 Finishers

Boys 9 –Hole, 7-8 1-Parker Jones, Omaha

Boys 9 –Hole, 9-11 1-Steven Strasheim, Lincoln 2-Colton Arias, Ceresco

Boys 18 –Hole, 12-13 1-Alex Zillig, Lavista 2-Ryan Van Ostrand, Lincoln 3-Evan Rich, Lincoln

Boys 18 –Hole, 14-15 1-Aaron Ficek, Lincoln 2-Trenton James Rohde, Lincoln 3-Derek Carlson, Lincoln

Boys 18 –Hole, 16+ 1-Eric Schilling, Omaha 2-Zach Wagner, Omaha 3-Josh J Enholm, Omaha

Girls 9 –Hole, 7-8 1-Neely Adler, Lincoln

NJGT Event at Indianhead GC , June 5th

Age Division Top 3 Finishers

Boys 9 –Hole, 7-8 1-Ethan Smith, Doniphan

Boys 9 –Hole, 9-11 1-Jake Ellis, Kearney 2-Griffin Wright, Broken Bow 3-Griffin Hendricks, Clarks

Boys 18 –Hole, 12-13 1-Collin Toner, Grand Island 2-Spencer Martin Goodman, Grand Island

3-Nick Christiansen, Fairbury

Boys 18 –Hole, 14-15 1-Ashton Graham, Hastings 2-Joshua Cuddy, O'Neill 3-Tucker Flodman, Eagle

Boys 18 –Hole, 16+ 1-Josh Hinrichs, Hastings 2-Sam Johnson, Hastings 3-Zackery Rehtus, Minden

Girls 9 –Hole, 9-11 1-Danica Badura, Aurora 2-Lucille Lou Dietz, Amherst

Girls 9 –Hole, 12-13 1-Frankie Hendricks, Clarks 2-Faith Marie Harris, Grand Island

Girls 18 –Hole, 14-15 1-Jessica Rehtus, Minden

Girls 18 –Hole, 16+ 1-Leigh Uhing, Grand Island T2-Gabby Kunzman, Grand Island T2-Kaylee Kubik, Aurora

NJGT Event at Warren Swigart GC, June 7th

Age Division Top 3 Finishers

Boys 9 –Hole, 7-8 1-Parker Jones

Boys 9 –Hole, 9-11 1-Jack Truscott 2-M D Rivera 3-PJ Davis

Boys 18 –Hole, 12-13 1-Jose Lira 2-Ben Becker 3-Jayden Anderson

Boys 18 –Hole, 14-15 1-Blake Tooley 2-Sam T Martin 3-Joshua Taylor Spaccarotella

Girls 9 –Hole, 7-8 1-Zacharia LaRoda

Girls 9 –Hole, 9-11 1-Maya Northcutt 2-Kelsey Kares 3-Lindsey Thiele

Girls 9 –Hole, 12-13 1-Nia Stations 2-Kristin Goertz 3-Opal Montes Fox

Girls 18 –Hole, 16+ 1-Rachel Cunningham T2-Rachel Smith T2-Lauren Mohatt

2

NJGT Event at Quail Run GC, June 7th

Age Division Top 3 Finishers

Boys 9 –Hole, 9-11 1-John Millard Canham, Norfolk 2-Griffin Hendricks, Clarks

Boys 18 –Hole, 12-13 1-Trevor Kosch, Humphrey 2-Cabe Debower, Columbus 3-Harrison Helmer, Seward

Boys 18 –Hole, 14-15 1-Samuel Hartmann, Fremont 2-Spencer Marxsen, Omaha 3-Brook Klinetobe, Stanton

Boys 18 –Hole, 16+ 1-Sam Sommers, Kearney T1-Sam Johnson, Hastings T1-Cody Belzer, O'Neill

Girls 9 –Hole, 12-13 1-Emerson Belitz, Columbus 2-Allison Temple, Norfolk 3-Sherridan Bancroft, Valentine

Girls 18 –Hole, 14-15 1-Jessica Rehtus, Minden 2-Samantha Bruening, Norfolk 3-Ashton Bancroft, Valentine

Girls 18 –Hole, 16+ 1-Michelle Renning, Valentine 2-Tiffany Henning, Norfolk 3-Amy Price, Columbus

NJGT PREMIER Event at Golf Club at Table Creek, June 8th

Age Division Top 3 Finishers

Boys 18 –Hole, 12-13 1-Alex Zillig, Lavista 2-Nate Vontz, Lincoln 3-Steven Strasheim, Lincoln

Boys 18 –Hole, 14-15 T1-Max Kiely, Lincoln T1-Jeffrey Paschal, Papillion T3-David Hansen, Omaha

Boys 18 –Hole, 16+ 1-Reid Wiebe, Sutton 2-Greg Stanek, Bellevue 3-Cameron Bargell, North Platte

Girls 18 –Hole, 14-15 1-Hannah Thiele, Wahoo

Girls 18 –Hole, 16+ 1-Haley Thiele, Wahoo 2-Katelyn Strudthoff, Omaha 3-Chloe Foote, Lincoln

NJGT Event at Eagle Hills GC, June 12th

Age Division Top 3 Finishers

Boys 9 –Hole, 7-8 1-Parker Jones, Omaha 2-Martin Lira, Omaha

Boys 9 –Hole, 9-11 1-PJ Davis, Omaha 2-M D Rivera, Omaha 3-Hunter Hall, Lincoln

Boys 18 –Hole, 12-13 1-Alex Zillig, Lavista 2-Chris Rasmussen, La Vista 3-Jose Lira, Omaha

Boys 18 –Hole, 14-15 1-Spencer Marxsen, Omaha 2-Grayson McCartney, Papillion 3-Samuel Hartmann, Fremont

Boys 18 –Hole, 16+ T1-Adam Gilbertsen, Papillion T1-Chase Keitges, Lincoln 3-Ross Martens, Portsmouth

Girls 9 –Hole, 9-11 1-Kayla Chapman, Omaha T2-Kelsey Kares, Omaha T2-Brynn Sundquist, Lincoln

Girls 9 –Hole, 12-13 T1-Julia Paschal, Papillion T1-Sydney Miller, Omaha T3-Kristin Goertz, Omaha

Girls 18 –Hole, 14-15 1-Elle Thompson, La Vista 2-Katherine Kares, Omaha 3-Emily Jezewski, Omaha

Girls 18 –Hole, 16+ 1-Veranecca Gerdes, Papillion 2-Nathalie Sanchez, Bellevue 3-Rachel Cunningham, Omaha

NJGT Event at College Heights CC, June 13th

Age Division Top 3 Finishers

Boys 9 –Hole, 9-11 1-Reed Daniel Malleck, York 2-Jake Ellis, Kearney 3-Hunter Hall, Lincoln

Boys 18 –Hole, 12-13 1-Justin Peterson, Fairbury 2-Nick Christiansen, Fairbury T3-Caleb Badura, Aurora

Boys 18 –Hole, 14-15 T1-Brook Klinetobe, Stanton T1-Brad Kathol, Hartington 3-Dana Van Ostrand, Lincoln

Boys 18 –Hole, 16+ 1-Nick Cepure, Lincoln 2-Adam Gilbertsen, Papillion 3-Michael Feulner, Hebron

Girls 9 –Hole, 9-11 1-Danica Badura, Aurora

Girls 9 –Hole, 12-13 1-Frankie Hendricks, Clarks 2-Kendra Placke, Seward 3-Faith Marie Harris, Grand Island

Girls 18 –Hole, 14-15 1-Murphy Elaine Sears, Crete 2-Jessica Rehtus, Minden

Girls 18 –Hole, 16+ 1-Rose Medill, Lincoln 2-Rachel Cunningham, Omaha 3-Cassaundra Trumbley, Lincoln

3

NJGT Event at Tara Hills GC, June 18th

Age Division Top 3 Finishers

Boys 9 –Hole, 7-8 1-Jack Eggers, Elkhorn

Boys 9 –Hole, 9-11 1-M D Rivera, Omaha T2-Jack Truscott, Omaha T2-Josh Kramer, Omaha

Boys 18 –Hole, 12-13 1-Jackson Hayes, Omaha T2-Adam James Eich, Omaha T2-Ryan Van Ostrand, Lincoln

Boys 18 –Hole, 14-15 1-Trevor Grace, Papillion 2-Dana Van Ostrand 3-Jacob Thomas Hudson, Omaha

Boys 18 –Hole, 16+ T1-Adam Gilbertsen, Papillion T1-Andrew Morrissey, Omaha 3-Blake Kostal, Papillion

Girls 9 –Hole, 7-8 1-Kaitlyn Hanna, Omaha

Girls 9 –Hole, 9-11 1-Lindsey Thiele, Wahoo

Girls 9 –Hole, 12-13 1-Kristin Goertz, Omaha 2-Spencer Roach, Papillion 3-Julia Paschal, Papillion

Girls 18 –Hole, 14-15 T1-Makenzie Fuss, Omaha T1-Gabby Carollo, Elkhorn 3-Emily Jezewski, Omaha

Girls 18 –Hole, 16+ 1-Katelyn Strudthoff, Omaha 2-Nathalie Sanchez, Bellevue 3-Veranecca Gerdes, Papillion

4

I'm Bob Planansky, a recently retired lawyer and nonprofit executive from Wash-ington, DC. After 30 years on the East Coast, I retired to the city where I went to undergraduate and law school . . . downtown Lincoln. I intended, in retirement, to play lots of golf . . . very bad golf as it turns out. The good news is that I became very interested in giving back to the game (since my talent was very deficient). Golf has been a constant, stimulating, and positive distraction and influence dur-ing 30 years of very tough work. I am now a member of the USGA Junior Champi-onship Committee, a co-field director for the Nebraska Junior Golf Tour, and a rookie golf rules official for Nebraska Golf Association, USGA qualifiers, and the NSAA State Championships. As you can see, I love junior golf. Seeing unbelievable young talent with very respectable behavior and following them through their en-

suing lives, is a joy. I'm thrilled the Nebraska Golf Association and the Nebraska Section of the Professional Golf Association has given me such a great stage on which to live my retirement.

Meet Bob Planansky ~ NJGT Field Director

6

Nike Golf Junior Four-Ball at Indian Trails CC, May 30th

Boys 18-Hole (L-R) 1st- Spencer Lindahl

and Cale Benson

Boys 18-Hole (L-R) 2nd- Cameron Bargell

and Brett Beal

Boys 18-Hole (L-R) 3rd- Cory Leffler and

Brew Bohl

Girls 18-Hole (L-R) 1st- Elizabeth O'Doherty and Madison Romjue

Girls 18-Hole (L-R) 2nd- Lindsey Thompson

and Alexa Ruwe

Girls 18-Hole (L-R) 3rd- Birttany Holen

and Kimberly Barmettler.

7

NJGT Event at West Nine GC, May 31st

Boys 7-8: 1st- Parker Jones

Boys 9-11: (L-R) 2nd- Griffin Hendricks and 1st- Hunter Hall

Boys 12-13: (L to R) 3rd- Steven Strasheim and 1st- Alex Zillig

Boys 14-15: (L to R) 3rd- Jack Minnick, 1st-Mitch Grosserode and

2nd- Caleb Moyer

Boys 16+: (L-R) 1st-John Christ and 2nd- Zach Wagner

Girls 9-11: (L to R) 3rd- Emmaline Goodman, 1st- Lindsey Thiele and

2nd- Brynn Sundquist

Girls 12-13: (L to R) 1st- Kendra Placke and 3rd- Kristin Goertz

Girls 14-15: (L to R) 1st- Hannah Theile and 2nd- Murphy Sears

16+: 1st- Kelsey Marshall

NJGT Event at Hidden Valley GC, June 4th

8

Girls 7-8: 1st- Neely Adler (L) Boys 7-8:

1st- Parker Jones (R)

Boys 9-11: 1st- Steven Strasheim

(L) and 2nd- Colton

Arias (R)

Boys 12-13: (l to R) 1st- Alex Zillig, 2nd- Ryan Van Ostran

and 3rd- Evan Rich

Boys 14-15: (L to R) 1st- Aaron Ficek, 2nd-

Trenton Rohde

and 3rd- Derek

Carlson

Boys 16+: (L to R) 1st- Eric Schilling, 2nd- Zack Wagner

and 3rd- Josh Enholm

NJGT Event at Warren Swigart GC, June 7th

9

Boys 7-8: 1st- Parker Jones

Boys 9-11: (L to R) 3rd– PJ Davis, 2nd– M D Rivera and 1st- Jack Truscott

Boys 12-13: (L to R) 2nd– Ben Becker, 1st– Jose Lira and 3rd– Jayden Anderson

Boys 14-15: (L to R) 1st– Blake Tooley, 2nd– Sam Martin and 3rd–

Joshua Taylor Spaccarotella

7-8: Zacharia LaRoda

Girls 9-11: (L to R) 3rd– Lindsey Thiele, 2nd– Kelsey Kares and 1st– Maya Northcutt

Girls 12-13: (L to R) 3rd– Opal Montes Fox, 1st– Nia Stations and 2nd– Kristin Goertz

Girls 16+: (L to R) 1st– Rachel Cunningham, T2– Rachel Smith, T2–

Lauren Mohatt and 4th– Claire Bumel

10

NJGT PREMIER Event at Golf Club at Table Creek, June 8th

Boys 12-13: (L to R) 1st- Alex Zillig, 2nd- Nate Vontz, and

3rd- Steven Strasheim

Boys 14-15: (L to R) 3rd- David Hansen, 2nd- Jeffery Paschal,

and 1st- Max Kiely

Boys 16+: (L to R) 3rd- Cameron Bargell, 1st- Reid Wiebe and

2nd- Greg Stanek

Girls 14-15: (L) 1st—Hannah Thiele Girls 16+: (L to R) 1st- Haley Thiele, 2nd- Katelyn Strudthoff and 3rd- Chloe Foote

11

NJGT Event at Eagle Hills GC, June 12th

DATE EVENT CITY START TIME

June 26 Wayne CC Wayne 9:00 SG

June 26 Elmwood Park Omaha 9:00 TT

June 27 Westwood Heights Omaha 9:00 TT

June 28 Willow Lakes Bellevue 8:00 TT

July 2 Beatrice CC Beatrice 9:00 SG

July 2 Kearney CC Kearney 9:30 TT

July 3 York CC York 9:00 SG

July 9 Woodland Hills Eagle 8:00 TT

July 10 Tregaron Omaha 10:30 TT

July 11 Shoreline Carter Lake, IA 8:00 TT

July 11 Meadowlark Hills Kearney 9:00 TT

July 12 The Knolls CC Lincoln 9:00 SG

July 12 Eagle Run Omaha 9:30 TT

July 16 Heritage Hills McCook 8:00 TT

July 17 Johnny Goodman Omaha 11:00 TT

July 17 Cross Creek Cambridge 8:00 TT

July 18 Council Bluffs CC Council Bluffs, IA 8:00 SG

July 18 Eldorado Hills Norfolk 9:00 TT

July 19 North Bend CG North Bend 9:00 TT

July 19 Pioneers Lincoln 8:00 TT

July 23 River Wilds Blair 9:00 TT

July 24 Highlands Lincoln 8:00 TT

July 25 Tiburon Gretna 8:00 TT

July 26 Yankee Hill Lincoln 9:00 TT

July 26 Benson Park Omaha 9:00 TT

July 30 Mahoney Lincoln 8:00 TT

July 31 The Pines Valley 9:00 SG

July 31 Wild Horse Gothenburg 9:00 TT

July 31 Stone Creek Omaha 10:00 TT

August 2 NJGT CHAMPIONSHIP Lincoln 8:00 SG

Events listed in bold and red font are PREMIER events.

12

NJGT poster

D anielle Lemek Makes History Winning Fourth Straight Girls Match Play Championship

York – Doniphan's Danielle Lemek became the first four-time winner of the Nebraska Girls' Match Play Cham-pionship defeating Hannah Thiele of Wahoo 8 and 7 in the tournament's 18-hole final. Lemek topped Thiele's older sister Haley in a semifinal match that same day 3 and 1.

After trading the first two holes in her final against the younger Thiele (14), Lemek won hole 3, halved hole 4 and then won holes 5-11 to close out the match. Thiele had defeated Abbie Hunke of Snyder 2 and 1 in her semifinal to advance.

Lemek played in five girls' match play championships, the first and fifth at the York Country Club. Since a first round loss in 2008 she's rattled off 16 straight victories and four state titles. Fitting for her to end it at the York Country Club where it all began, with birdie none the less.

Lemek begins college in the fall at Bradley University where she’ll play on the women’s golf team. Prior to that she’ll have an opportunity to win a fourth consecutive Nebraska Girls’ Amateur Championship at Norfolk Country Club July 9-10.

Click here for the complete match play bracket and details on the stroke play qualifier.

14

Z ach Taylor Claims 23rd Nebraska Junior Match Play Championship

Junior Golf Tour Highlights

York – Earlier this month Zach Taylor of Omaha won the 23rd Nebraska Junior Match Play Championship at York Country Club defeating Cale Benson of Grand Island 2 up in a 36-hole final. Taylor took control early in the match building a 3 up lead fol-lowing 5 holes only to see Benson win the next six holes to take his own 3 up lead. Taylor won five of the next seven to enter intermission 2 up.

After trading holes in the afternoon session Benson was able to square the match on the 34th hole, YCC's 16th after a Taylor 3-putt. With hon-ors on the next hole, YCC's eventful 17th, Benson hit driver into a green-side water hazard. Taylor laid up eventually winning the hole with a conceded birdie. A pitch in birdie on the 36th hole sealed his first state championship.

Taylor began the week earning med-alist honors in qualifying and the 1 seed with a score of 1-under par 69. Benson was the tournament’s 14 seed after tying for 11th in the qualifier.

Both golfers recently graduated from high school, Taylor from Omaha Burke, Benson from Grand Island High School.

Click here for the complete match play bracket and details on the stroke play qualifier.

Danielle Lem

ek

Zach Taylor

Deadline Nears for State Junior Amateur Championships Norfolk will host the state's best junior amateur golfers in July when the 44th Nebraska Junior Amateur Championship and the 12th Nebraska Girls’ Amateur take place at the Country Club July 9-11. The historic private club on the north edge of town has hosted two previous junior amateurs won by Hap Pocras of Lincoln (1984) and Jeff Holm of Gothen-burg (2001), it is the first time the girl’s amateur has been staged at the course.

The junior amateur is a 54-hole stroke play championship that features a cut to 40 golfers following 36-holes. Since it runs alongside the state girl's amateur the boy's field is limited to 117 entrants. Those in the top 50 of the NGA Junior Player Rankings have priority; the remaining players are determined by order of entry. The girl’s championship is limited to 39 players. Like the boys, the field will be comprised of those in the top 25 of the NGA Girls Player Rankings that file an entry; the remaining players will be determined by order of entry. The deadline is July 2 at 5 p.m. CST. Click here to access the championship web sites.

Send Us Your “Swoosh”

In each issue of the NGJT Junior Newsletter, we’ll be featuring our NJGT junior golfers wearing and using gear from presenting sponsor of the Nebraska Junior Golf Tour, Nike Golf. Show some love for our sponsor and

send in your pictures or videos of your Nike moments to Brett Bender at [email protected].

Send Us Your “Swoosh” Moments

15

Place Points Place Points

1 50 16 15

2 45 17 14

3 40 18 13

4 35 19 12

5 32 20 11

6 30 21 10

7 26 22 9

8 23 23 8

9 22 24 7

10 21 25 6

11 20 26 5

12 19 27 4

13 18 28 3

14 17 29 2

15 16 30 1.5

Place Points Place Points

1 100 16 30 2 90 17 28

3 80 18 26

4 70 19 24

5 64 20 22

6 60 21 20

7 52 22 18

8 46 23 16

9 44 24 14

10 42 25 12

11 40 26 10

12 38 27 8

13 36 28 6

14 34 29 4

15 32 30 3

For events that have over 30 competitors, each competitor finishing after 31st place or higher will receive 1 point.

Potential Premier Event Points:

*31st Plus will receive 2 points.

Tour Championship NEW in 2012 is the chance to earn a spot into the NJGT Nike Golf Tour Championship. The top point get-ters in each of their respective divisions will be given an invitation to the Tour Championship that will be played on August 2nd at Wilderness Ridge Golf Club. Points will be awarded to each participant in every event and a run-ning total will be kept on NJGT.org.

How Points are Awarded:

Spots Available into the Tour Championship:

7-8 Year Old Division- 6 Girls and 6 Boys

9-11 Year Old Division= 9 Girls and 9 Boys

12-13 Year Old Division- 15 Girls and 15 Boys

14-15 Year Old Division- 15 Girls and 15 Boys 16-18 Year Old Division- 15 Girls and 15 Boys

My name is Gary Austin and I’m the Volunteer Coordinator, among other things, for the Nebraska Golf Association (NGA). This summer I agreed to be one of two NJGT Field Directors. In that position I help coordinate and oversee the two NJGT championships and the four Premier events. I grew up in central Nebraska and graduated from the Uni-versity of Nebraska – Lincoln before going on to become a Navy helicopter pilot. After retiring from the Navy, I moved to Omaha where I worked for several years, then retired for good about five years ago. Shortly thereafter I started working with the NGA as a volunteer rules official. I accepted my present volunteer position in July 2009. I enjoy working with the NGA staff, all the volunteers, and particularly the golfers from the jun-ior ranks up through the seniors. Being an avid, but not particularly good, golfer, I enjoy

watching with envy how the young players hit the ball and wish I had had an opportunity to take up the game ear-lier. I’m also a board member with the Nebraska Senior Golf Association, whose members are much more in my competitive category, for the most part. I look forward to seeing many of you on the course this summer and for years to come. Thanks for your support of the NJGT and the great game of golf!

Meet Gary Austin ~ NJGT Field Director

16

17

Games to Improve Your “Game” Tic-Tac-Toe Putting

SETUP Create a tic tac toe grid with tape or string (includes

nine squares).

Use marked or colored golf balls for “X” and “O”.

ACTION Putt your ball into the grid with a friend.

GOAL The winner is the first player who lines up three balls

in the grid.

Mission Impossible

BASICS This game is a nine-shot competition with any num-

ber of friends.

ACTION

To start, the first player picks out a near-impossible shot for the other competitor to execute (example: ball behind tree, in a divot or buried in sand).

Then, after the competitor has hit the shot, the first

player tries to execute the same shot. The player who has hit the ball closest to the target

scores a 0, the other competitor scores a 1.

GOAL

After nine shots the player with the least amount of points wins.

Climb the Ladder

SETUP This game starts on the putting green. Set up pairs of tees two feet apart and two feet long

until you have six sets of tees set up.

ACTION Putt the ball into each square in order from the first

square until the six square.

GOAL When you have stopped the ball in each square, you have

climbed the ladder.

Tic-Tac-Toe P

uttin

g

Clim

b the Lad

der

18

As an extension of other initiatives that first introduce the game, the Nebraska Golf Association created FORE!, a program that will provide opportunities for juniors to play golf more frequently. This statewide initiative will offer deserving youth the opportunity to play some of the ar-ea's best courses for $4 putting to use the life skills and values training they learn prior to membership. FORE! will begin in 2012 as a pilot program in the Omaha Metropol-itan area. In 2013 FORE! will begin a statewide push.

FORE! membership will be open to participants aged 7-17 in one of the following certified programs: First Tee of Omaha, Great Golf Expectations Omaha, Junior Golf Pro-grams at Host Facilities, LPGA/USGA Girls Golf of Omaha, Nebraska Junior Golf Tour and Omaha Metropolitan Area High School Golf Teams. FORE! members will be labeled "Full Access" or "Supervised Access" based on age and or playing ability. "Supervised Access" members must be accompanied by an adult at 18-hole facilities. The fee for both membership classifications is $10 which includes NGA membership. Members will receive their FORE! membership cards once their program director has sub-mitted the completed application and individual mem-berships are paid.

Participating Facilities

Landscapes Unlimited Public Facilities (Pacific Springs & Shoreline)

Play More with FORE!

How do I become a FORE! member?

FORE! membership is open to participants aged 7-17 in one of the following certified programs: First Tee of Omaha; Great Golf Expectations, Omaha; Junior Golf Programs at Host Facilities; LPGA/USGA Girls Golf of Omaha; Nebraska Junior Golf Tour and Omaha Metro-politan Area High School Golf Teams. Qualified candi-dates must submit a membership application to the NGA. Applications are available in the Junior section of the NGA web site (nebgolf.org) under FORE!

How long does my FORE! membership last?

FORE! membership is good during the months of June and July only in 2012.

What are the age restrictions for FORE! participation?

FORE! membership is available to golfers aged 7-17.

Am I a NGA member when I receive my FORE! membership card?

Yes. FORE! members will receive NGA membership infor-mation including details on maintaining a GHIN Handi-cap Index along with their membership card.

Am I limited on rounds I can play?

No. Play as many rounds as you can, the more the better as far as we’re concerned.

Are there any additional fees besides the $4 per round for golf?

The fee for membership is $10. Each 9 or 18-hole round is $4. That’s it.

Are there any restrictions on when I can play for the reduced FORE! rate?

No. Participating golf courses may limit some rounds based on availability. FORE! members cannot make a tee time reservation more than 48 hours in advance. Prior to that full paying customers have priority.

FORE! FAQ’S

19

Omaha Municipal Golf Courses (Benson, Elmwood, Johnny Good-man, Spring Lake, Steve Hogan, Warren Swigart & Westwood)

Papillion Municipal Golf Courses (Eagle Hills & Tara Hills)

Funding

FORE! is based on the following formula. The NGA has negotiated a preferred junior golf rate with participating facilities. The FORE! member will pay a $4 fee for a round of golf (for 9 or 18 hole rounds). The NGF subsidizes the difference between the preferred rate and the FORE! member payment.

Duration

FORE! will take place during the months of June and July only. Membership forms and payment may be submitted to the NGA office at 6618 South 118th Street, Omaha, NE 68137.

Contact

Contact NGA Executive Director Craig Ames at (402) 505-4653, ext. 102 or Junior Golf intern, Brett Bender at 402.505.4653, ext. 105 with questions.