The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has awarded $180,000 in grants to 15 park and recreation agencies in the U.S. to pilot the new SNAG (Starting New at Golf) G-Ball program in 2011 -- in order to connect youth to the outdoors, and increase engagement in golf and recreational sports.
ShareThis 
We congratulate our 2011 SNAG G-Ball grantees, who will bring golf, recreation and the outdoors to the children of their communities in a fun and innovative way.
Ashburn, Va. (PRWEB) May 09, 2011
The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has awarded $180,000 in grants to 15 park and recreation agencies in the U.S. to pilot the new SNAG (Starting New at Golf) G-Ball program in 2011 -- in order to connect youth to the outdoors, and increase engagement in golf and recreational sports.G-Ball, best described as golf’s version of T-Ball, was designed to be a fun and exciting entry point for golf, targeted toward children 5 to 6 years old. The activity-based program focuses on progressive and developmental play in a non-competitive format, and is conducted by parent-coaches in recreation centers, on sports fields and in other public open spaces.
Grants of cash and SNAG equipment valued at $12,000 each were awarded to the following agencies for 2011:
- Glendale Parks and Recreation -- Glendale, Ariz.
- Carson Parks and Recreation -- Carson, Calif.
- Manhattan Beach Parks and Recreation -- Manhattan Beach, Calif.
- Santa Clarita Parks, Recreation, and Community Service -- Santa Clarita, Calif.
- Hyland Hills Parks and Recreation -- Federal Heights, Colo.
- Miami-Dade County Park and Recreation -- Miami, Fla.
- Orange County Parks and Recreation -- Orlando, Fla.
- Treasure Island Recreation -- Treasure Island, Fla.
- Indian River County Recreation -- Vero Beach, Fla.
- Lawrence Parks and Recreation -- Lawrence, Kan.
- Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation -- Ann Arbor, Mich.
- Springfield-Greene County Parks and Recreation -- Springfield, Mo.
- Roseville Parks and Recreation -- Roseville, Minn.
- Los Alamos County Recreation -- Los Alamos, N.M.
- West Allis-West Milwaukee Recreation -- West Allis, Wis.
Agencies will administer programs during the summer of 2011, with some programs offering additional opportunities throughout the year. The SNAG G-Ball grant program was made possible by Player Development Products, LLC.
“We congratulate our 2011 SNAG G-Ball grantees, who will bring golf, recreation and the outdoors to the children of their communities in a fun and innovative way,” said Barbara Tulipane, CEO of NRPA.
“We are excited to bring golf into the youth team sports arena with our G-Ball program, and we thank NRPA for bringing this program to life in America’s local communities,” said Terry Anton, president of SNAG Golf.
For more information on the SNAG G-Ball grant program, go to http://www.NRPA.org/SNAG, or contact Nancy Logan at 703.858.2199 or nlogan(at)nrpa(dot)org.
ABOUT
SNAG® is an easy and fun way to learn and play golf at non-traditional venues. SNAG® contains all the elements of golf but in a modified form. Falling somewhere between miniature golf and regulation golf, SNAG® allows for full shots, pitching, chipping and putting. It is a proven learning and training program for the entry-level golfer.
Currently, SNAG® is the skills-acquisition program used in the national schools golf program headed by the World Golf Foundation’s First Tee Program. There are more than 5,000 schools that are successfully introducing children to golf in the U.S. and over 8,000 worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.snaggolf.com/.
The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people. Through its network of 20,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy lifestyles, recreation initiatives, and conservation of natural and cultural resources. For more information, visit http://www.nrpa.org/. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit http://www.parksandrec-magazine.org/.
