PGA Golf and its Charities

PGA Golf and its Charities

As world-class athletes, TOUR players have long been role models for charitable involvement. In 1938, professional golfers donated a $10,000 check for charity at the Palm Beach Invitational, setting into motion a tradition of giving that has guided the PGA TOUR for decades. The PGA of America is the world's largest working sports organization, comprised of 28,000 men and women golf professionals who are the recognized experts in growing, teaching and managing the game of golf, while serving millions of people throughout its 41 PGA Sections nationwide.

Since its founding in 1916, The PGA of America has enhanced its leadership position by growing the game of golf through its premier spectator events, world-class education and training programs, significant philanthropic outreach initiatives, and award-winning golf promotions. Examples of significant philanthropic charities are so numerous; you could write for days and not cover all the money the PGA raises for charity. More money is raised from golf than any other sport. In a recent Reuters report, dated February 11, 2009, a record $124 million was raised for charity by the PGA Tour and its tournaments during 2008 despite the global financial crisis.

Events on the PGA Tour, the satellite Nationwide Tour and the Senior Champions Tour have generated an all-time total of $1.38 billion in charitable donations. The Phoenix Open, held in Scottsdale, Arizona, set a Tour charity record for a single event last year by raising $8.6 million. Unlike any other sport, charitable giving is very much the focal point of the PGA. Player's Pass, the nation's leading provider of reduced-fee golf at golf courses nationwide, announced a major milestone. The company passed the $7 million mark in charitable contributions for high school athletics, golf teams and junior golf.

Since 2001, Player's Pass has helped more than 500,000 golfers play more golf while saving money on their rounds of golf. For the year 2009, Player's Pass will focus its fundraising effort solely on junior golf development. The PGA TOUR has done a lot for charity over the years, like the passion for giving back shared by the players, tournaments, sponsors, charities, volunteers and fans. To get a feel for the quality and types of charities golf provides, you should consider putting interest in supporting some interest in a charity of your choice, or consider starting one on your own, with like people in your community.

One recent example of solidarity towards charities would be the overwhelming support the players have for their comrades or their spouses like Amy Mickelson who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Most of the players you’ll see playing with pink ribbons on their hats or clothing to bring out the awareness factor of such a serious condition. A subject the media lacks giving attention to, or other contributions the PGA makes to charities, unless it affects their ratings. Additionally, you don’t hear how much the 2,000 other charities benefit from each year, because of golf.

The PGA TOUR has developed communications for a plan to reach out to their fans, to add support on a national level. The TOUR will build a charity page at PGATOUR.com that fans can use as a way to learn more about the charitable involvement of their favorite players, tournaments or charities. This is real leadership in the quest to assist or search cures to some of the most feared and stressful conditions of our time. The Tour site will enable fans to donate money and identify volunteer opportunities that directly benefit local charities.

The PGA TOUR, its tournaments and players have a rich history of community involvement, volunteerism and philanthropy. This story of the PGA TOUR and its volunteers is a tangible demonstration of the impact that giving of your time and talents can have on your local community and this country. We are very proud of the PGA Tours efforts and wish to give our thanks and recognition to all its participants here at VanillaGorillaGolfTips.com.

Bobby Lewis–

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