August 2013 - Parks & Recreation - 48

S T AY I N G O N C O U R S E

In January 2012, the City of Pico
Rivera entered into an agreement with
golf course concessionaire GolfLinks
Management, Inc., and gave them
$55,000 to begin renovations. Much
of this $55,000 was used for improving the clubhouse and banquet facility with new paint, lighting, doors,
windows and floors. These small
changes gave new life to the tired
buildings and began to create a desirable community destination. As revenue slowly began to rise, GolfLinks
spent an additional $142,000 over the
rest of the year, improving and repairing the course and greens, adding
carts and reinvesting in the facility. A
short course turned into a championship facility, one that was ready to
give back to the community.
Attracting Youth
In an effort to encourage new golfers
to try the course, GolfLinks partnered
with the city's Department
of Parks and Recreation.
City demographics showed
that 48 percent of the households had children 18 years
old and younger. An effort
to reach out and inspire these

younger community members to learn
the game of golf resulted in a commitment to provide free rounds to any
junior resident of Pico Rivera. The
Parks and Recreation Department introduced this new program to the city's
schools, with the message that the
game of golf helps youth learn how
to succeed in life, with an emphasis on
sportsmanship, honor, integrity and
teamwork with people from all walks
of life. The new free golf program was
extremely successful, attracting more
than 250 participants of all ages, with
many visiting the Pico Rivera golf
course for the first time.
In early 2013, even more exciting
things began to happen. The golf
course was selected as a partner by the
Southern California Golf Association
(SCGA) Youth on Course program,
which is designed to provide southern
California juniors affordable access to

Kids in Pico Rivera's golf
program learn character
development and other life
lessons through play.

Parks & Recreation

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golf. The selection of Pico Rivera by
Youth on Course from more than
300 golf course facilities in southern California was an encouraging
sign for the revamped facility. In the
spring, SCGA Youth on Course and
GolfLinks launched a program to
teach more than 300 junior golfers,
ages 7-17, golf skills and decisionmaking techniques as it relates to both
life and golf. The first session was
only $8 for an eight-week course. Free
clubs were provided by GolfLinks,
and each student received a shirt, hat
and Youth on Course membership.
Members who completed the online
certification for rules, etiquette and
decisionmaking also had access to
more than 125 Southland facilities for
$1-$5 green and range fees.
The mission of SCGA Youth on
Course is to promote the education
and character development of southern California youth through golf.
The organization believes that golf
teaches life lessons and develops
character in a way no other sport
can. Through its programs, Youth on
Course focuses its efforts as follows:
Create affordable access to golf for
all youth
Teach smart decisionmaking both
on and off the course
Instill integrity, character and responsibility in youth through the game
Provide educational opportunities
for youth from 5th grade to college
Inspire a passion fotr lifelong learning in youth
Develop a culture of healthy lifestyles
Even more intriguing is that junior
participants of this program earn
points for academics, volunteering
and leadership, and can spend them
on golf outings, tournaments and
equipment. A scholarship program
is also part of Youth on Course, designed to help active participants
continue their lifelong learning ex-

August 2013 - Parks & Recreation

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