Alliance News
Issue 3 Fall 2013
GOLF COMMUNITY MAKES A
DIFFERENCE THROUGH AWGA
BUILD-A-TEAM PROGRAM
Arizona Women’s Golf Association, Coaches,
Volunteers Statewide Bring Golf to High
School Girls
By Mary Ann Souter
The AWGA High School Girls Golf – Build-aTEAM program was started as a pilot in the
fall of 2012. It seeks to bring the women’s golf
community at the local levels around our state
together with the high school administrators
and coaches at neighborhood schools, to ensure
that every high school in Arizona that wants to
build a successful girls golf team, has the
resources to do it. Since the Fall of 2012, the
AWGA has “adopted” 8 high schools, matched
the coaches up with volunteer mentors,
program leaders, and LPGA Teaching
Professionals.
Although it is a relatively new undertaking,
the Build-a-Team program has already
affected many lives. From the high school girls
it was designed to assist, and the coaches who
are guiding them, to the women golfers who
volunteer as mentors, and the volunteer
leaders who manage the program, everyone is
benefitting from the golf community working
together.
Kathy Cohen, Program Leader for two high
schools in the Tucson area – Mountain View
High and Marana HS, describes the Build-aTeam program as “a source of much needed
assistance for girls golf.” According to Kathy, a
volunteer from The Gallery, there were three
clinics in Marana to help the girls before the
school year. “We’re in the process of learning
what the teams need and offering AWGA
support. The coaches are enthusiastic and the
ladies from The Gallery WGA have adopted the
Mountain View girls.” The women have been
raising money and collecting equipment for the
team. Kathy added, “I have a passion for
helping youth so this program complements
my interests. I wish I had this opportunity
when I was in high school.”
As Coach for the girls’ golf team at Kellis
High School in Glendale, Brooke White is
excited about her first year with the team. “I
want the girls to like playing golf,” she said.
“Some of the girls have already said they would
like to play college golf but I want to instill the
love of golf in these girls whether they go to
college or not. It’s a sport they can play
throughout their lives.” Brooke is thankful for
the AWGA’s Build-a-Team program for
assisting her and for providing uniforms and
equipment. Ladies from Peoria Pines WGA
have adopted the Kellis girls’ golf team and
have enjoyed several days on the course with
them. “It’s great for the girls to play golf with
women of all skill levels to realize you don’t
have to shoot par to have fun,” Brooke said.
Build-A-Team Program Cont’d page 10
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