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Hope for the masses

A foundation based in the Tampa Bay area is determined to provide scholarships for any student involved in golf.

By BOB HARIG

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 28, 2001

Few who are introduced to golf have the skills to compete as professionals. Few are good enough to compete at the highest levels of amateur golf, let alone earn scholarships.

That doesn't mean they can't be rewarded for their devotion to the game.

And that is what gave Doug Laseter an idea.

Laseter recently started the Tampa Bay Junior Golf Foundation, and the goal is not to give scholarships to proficient players. Golfers who have accepted scholarships from a fully funded college are not eligible.

The program is about participation.

"My hope is to give money to every student who applies and who qualifies," said Laseter, who worked at the Westin Innisbrook Resort for 20 years before leaving to start the project. "If a kid decides to play golf in high school, he has chosen golf to be one of his main activities. He could have chosen another sport.

"But how many are going to play college golf? We might have four or five players a year from the Tampa Bay area who are good enough. What about the rest?"

The foundation's goal is to provide scholarships to high school seniors based on their participation in a high school golf program or through work experience in the golf business.

Laseter also hopes to use the foundation to assist public schools in Pinellas and Pasco counties -- Hillsborough could be brought on board later -- by introducing golf to as many students as possible while also providing playing and instructional opportunities to developing junior golfers.

"I think school is a key element," Laseter said. "If you give a kid a chance at repetition, if you get him to a point where he is competent and then can do it with his friends, they are more likely to keep playing. If you play golf at school, you can practice at some level. But you need developmental programs. And one of the best ways to introduce golf to the most kids possible is through school. This way, they all have equal opportunities. "It's difficult to get started. How do you get them hooked? How do you get beginners the experience? Golf in school will give more kids the exposure."

The foundation has issued scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 to four students. For every year of participation in high school, a student can receive $1,000 per year for college, up to $4,000.

To qualify, students must participate in 75 percent of a team's matches or work the equivalent of 480 hours (12 weeks) in a golf-related job. And doing so as a senior is a must.

Once in college, students must maintain a 2.0 grade point average and complete a minimum of 24 credit hours per school year to receive $1,000 for the next year.

After the foundation gets more exposure, Laseter hopes to help schools attract participants -- and future scholarship recipients -- by providing PGA of America professionals for instruction and after-school programs at public facilities.

"My vision from the scholarship point of view is that in a short time it would become a competitive process, where I have more kids applying than I have money," Laseter said. "Long term, I hope the golf courses come on board and provide donations to the program. It's a good motivation for kids who don't play golf to get a summer job at a golf course. For each year they work, in addition to getting paid, they can have another $1,000 toward their college education."

All this requires money, of course. The Tampa Bay Junior Golf Foundation is a non-profit organization that is soliciting the support of businesses and individuals. The Tampa Bay Classic, Wadsworth Golf Charities and the American Junior Golf Association are among the organizations that have pledged support.

"My background is education, and I've always thought that is the place where we have to go if we're going to grow the game of golf," said Gerald Goodman, tournament director of the Tampa Bay Classic. "That's where you have to go in order to teach a lifetime sport. Not everybody can play basketball and football as they get older. This is attempting to teach a sport for a lifetime, and I think it's a good deal."

"I'm not trying to compete with any organization out there," Laseter said. "I want to help introduce kids into the game, and I want to reward the kid who chooses golf in adulthood."

For more information on the Tampa Bay Junior Golf Foundation, call (727) 789-2755.

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