TGA Premier Junior Golf Launches New Franchise in Minneapolis Area

PGA Apprentice and former First Tee instructor shifts focus to bring golf delivery system directly to school campuses, community centers and golf courses

(Minneapolis, MN) – Alex Tegels always knew junior golf development was going to be her career direction. With her acquisition of a TGA franchise territory in Central Hennepin County, MN, one of the strongest golf markets in the country, she has a clear path to career success, as well as the opportunity to help thousands of young golfers.

“The Twin Cities area offers tremendous potential to reach new players in the game of golf and I am very excited for the opportunity to introduce the game and impact youth in this community,” Tegels said. “After working at TGA’s corporate headquarters and witnessing first-hand the success of the model and impact it is having on the industry, I recognized quickly that this was the career opportunity I wanted to move forward with.”

Tegels grew up in Minnesota where she started playing golf at age eight. She first entered the golf industry while at the University of Minnesota through internships with the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) and the Minnesota Golf Association. While finalizing her degree she began her apprenticeship to become a member of the PGA of America as an assistant golf professional, and taught youth golf lessons through the area’s First Tee program.

In 2010, Tegels joined the staff of the Southern California Section of the PGA (SCPGA) where she spent four-years working as the Director of Youth and Player Development. She oversaw the development of Neighborhood Golf, a consumer-marketing program which reaches new golfers, and was instrumental in bringing together the SCPGA and TGA with its Golf in Schools partnership utilizing TGA’s franchise model.

Soon after, Tegels joined TGA in Los Angeles managing its company owned golf franchises, as well as working with TGA franchises nationwide on business development. She also focused on developing TGA’s recreational league program and incorporating STEM education components into the TGA curriculum.

Tegels’ TGA of Central Hennepin County will be one of the top TGA territories in the country and impact youth in the area’s 150 public/private schools. She will have access to more than 90,000 students through the western suburbs, including Eden Prairie, Edina, Maple Grove, Minnetonka and Plymouth.

TGA (Teach, Grow, Achieve) is currently scaled through an innovative franchise business model, the only one of its kind in the industry. TGA vests entrepreneurs through business ownership opportunities that solve the golf industry’s biggest road blocks relating to growth and participation through a unique delivery system.

The model successfully breaks down the barriers to entry by bringing golf directly on to school and community center campuses nationwide. By putting it on the menu of activities with other mainstream sports and youth activities, TGA has created a level playing field for youth to have an easy access point to the lifelong sport. Over 60 percent of TGA’s participants have never played golf before.

“There are several great programs in the industry to grow golf, but none of them solve the industry’s problems like TGA,” Tegels said. “As a PGA Apprentice, TGA is also providing a tremendous career opportunity at the grassroots level to grow the game, which is ensuring my future in this industry.”

For more information about TGA Premier Junior Golf, visit www.playtga.com or follow @TGAJuniorGolf on Twitter.