Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development: Big Plans 'Fore' Small Golfers

The Pee Wee golf program established in 2008 looking to broaden horizons and grow the game; Industry taking notice

(Deltona, FL) - "We are very excited about the future with what we are looking to accomplish" explains PGA Golf Professional Brendon Elliott, Founder of The Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development. "Our 501c3 has not even been in place for two months yet and we are making some tremendous strides forward already," Elliot says.

The nonprofit recently received a grant from the PGA Foundation and the Barbara & Jack Nicklaus Junior Golf Endowment fund. It also had a laser printer donated from Lexmark, who is the official printing technology provider of the PGA of America.

"It is very encouraging to have the support of these organizations and companies and we are so very grateful," Elliott adds. "We have some other grants we are looking to secure soon and we are hoping to gain even more support as we continue to gain momentum."

Other companies such as Almost Golf Balls, The Golfers Footprint, Golf Coach Direct and the Littlest Golfer, Inc. have pledged their support.

The Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development will be the vehicle that will launch the acclaimed Little Linksters Golf Program to areas nationwide in 2012. PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is the founder of Little Linksters, LLC and the developer of the Little Linksters program designed for kids 3-8 years of age.

Elliott, a 2010 and 2011 US Kids Golf Top 50 Kids Teacher and the 2011 NFPGA Junior Golf Leader award winner, developed the program in 2008 in the greater Orlando area. From the beginning, Elliott had a desire to have PGA & LPGA Professionals nationwide share in his vision by introducing kids 3-8 to golf in a streamlined, uniform and most importantly, FUN format.

"Kids start golf far too late in life," explains Elliott. "Traditionally, kids are introduced to golf at age 9 or 10 and by then they have been exposed to so many other sports and activities. With all that the game of golf offers, the values and life lessons it teaches along with giving young children a sense of self discovery, accomplishment and individuality, we need to get kids into the game sooner ... much, much sooner. That's what Little Linksters does."

Elliott has put together a rather impressive National Advisory Board to aid in obtaining the objectives of the Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development. The board consists of the following golf industry professionals:
* Kris Wilson- President & CEO- The Littlest Golfer, Inc.
* Rich Smith- Executive Director/CEO of the North Florida PGA
* Hal Yost, PGA- National Director of AAU Golf
* Tom Horan, Host/Owner Speaking of Golf Radio
* Joe Hallett, PGA- Director of Instruction, Vanderbilt Legends Club; Golf Magazine Top 100 Instructor
* Lorin Anderson- Director of GBN Instructor Division
* Anthony Stepney, PGA- Director Player Development/Instruction, Quantum Performance Institute
* Kelly Sheehan, PGA, LPGA Professional; PGA Magazine
* Jason Sobel- GolfChannel.com Senior Writer; Golf Channel On-Air Talent

Still in the early stages of development is the July 22 100 holes of golf fundraising event, "Little Golf for Big Purpose" to be played on the Legends Walk short course at Orange Lake Resort in Kissimmee, FL.

"This will be our major fundraiser event for the year which will have two components to it," Elliott explains." "The first will be the 100-hole fundraising aspect, which comes from the event, and the other will be the online component of raising funds, which will see prizes for the top fundraisers on both a monthly bases and for the year."

Brendon Elliott is a 1993 graduate of Norwich High School in Norwich, NY and a 1996 graduate of the State University of New York at Delhi with a degree in Golf Course Operations. In September of 2009, he completed the PGA of America's Golf Professional Training Program and in doing so became a Class A PGA Professional.

Elliott is the former Head Golf Professional at the Winter Park Country Club in Winter Park, FL where he was from 1998-2011. He is the owner of the newly opened Little Linksters Golf Academy @ Metrowest Golf Club in Orlando, FL. He developed his Little Linksters "mobile" program for kids 3-8 years of age in early 2008. The four-week program runs continually throughout the year and takes place at Daycares/Pre-Schools, City Parks, YMCA's and at Golf Courses.

In addition to the "mobile" program, Little Linksters runs the Little Linksters "Tour," which will see 11 events in 2012 that will be contested throughout central and northern Florida. These introductory and non-competitive tournaments for kid's ages 3-8 is the on course component to the Little Linksters program. Both the "mobile" program and "Tour" are run through the non-profit, Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development.

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