Expanding the Game of Golf
Creating a team of Company Partners from the Golf
Industry to develop “feeder short courses” (three, six or nine hole)
across the country that provide affordable golf for youth,
families, adult beginners and individuals with injuries and
disabilities from all ethnic backgrounds.
Given the premise that golf is a good and powerful teacher for individuals, especially children, the concept is to build short courses (three, six or nine hole) that will provide affordable access to golf across the industry.
To bring about these venues and make these feeder short courses
a reality, the Foundation would partner with communities, park
districts, YMCA’s, developers, an existing course (that has the land),
hospital, forest preserve district or school district that can donate
the land and operate the facility. In addition, a team of Company
Partners from the golf course construction and golf facility industry
would be established, who will whenever possible contribute profit, goods or services to create the short courses at a significantly lower cost.
In addition to a financial contribution, the Wadsworth Foundation
would work with the ownership group to secure Funding Partners that are
interested in becoming a title sponsor for the Links Across America course or be the major donor and have it named after their Company or Family.
In conjunction with the Links Across America initiative a “Links” Guidebook will be developed. The “Links” Guidebook would be a resource document provided
to potential owners, Company Partners, Corporate or Foundation Funders
and associates in the Golf Industry. The “Links” Guidebook would
consist of design and operating templates, information on the Company
Partners, opportunities for Corporate/Foundation Funders, round
projections, budgets and financial pro formas, marketing and promotional
ideas and other materials to assist and enable “Links Across America” short courses to achieve many positive results while graduating future golfers to the next level of regulation courses.
The need for this type of facility is being
reconfirmed by the positive responses the Wadsworth Foundation has
received from park districts, municipalities, YMCA’s and First Tee
Chapters across the country. The goal of the Wadsworth Golf Charities
Foundation is to develop two short courses per year.
