“What the JGA has meant to me”
It’s hard to come up with a definitive answer as to what makes JGA special to me. Because of the amount of time I’ve spent within the organization and how many great memories I have, I am confident when I say that JGA means more to me than just a junior golf tour. Looking back on the first time I played in a JGA event in 2017, I didn’t realize the impact and the mission that the association had for junior golfers. With the knowledge and experiences I have now, I feel blessed to have been able to have been a part of the organization since that first tournament in 2017.
I think it’s important to highlight what I think separates JGA from other junior tours or golf organizations. For one, I would describe the environment that JGA creates for its players as welcoming and enjoyable. I can’t write about this and not mention the people that make these events possible each and every week. So to all the Board of Directors, I just want to say thank you for your time and commitment to organizing these events each year during the summer. I have to say that one thing that I’ll always remember about JGA is how good they’re starters were, by far the best in junior golf. Seeing Mr. Hinesley on the first tee would instantly make my morning that much better. I think that’s a really important thing that sticks out about JGA. Every event you play in you feel like you are being welcomed back into the JGA family, where it’s important to have fun and enjoy the competitive atmosphere. I also think that the structure of the organization’s tournaments are very clever and make sure that everyone that plays in the event is in a competitive environment that suits their level. As a player, that has to make playing these events more enjoyable because you know that the people you are playing with are always going to be around your level.
Over my years being a part of JGA, I’ve made a lot of great memories along with meeting some people that I’ve become close with. From other players that I’ve played with for years to the staff that I see at every event each week, JGA has only furthered my love for the game of golf and the ability to play it competitively. One of the things I’ll always look back on is the bigger events that JGA puts on like the Tour Championship and the team events we play in every year. The tour championship is great to be a part of because of how many smiles all the younger kids have after being celebrated for their play on the course. I don’t think I’ve seen kids with bigger smiles on their faces when receiving a trophy than at the closing ceremony for the championship. Also, the team events that we play each year are always a good time. I’m really thankful to have had the opportunity to represent JGA at these events and get to compete alongside some of my friends while doing so.
Overall, I feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to be a part of JGA these past few years. As I look ahead to my future on the golf course and in the classroom, I feel honored to be able to carry the experiences I have of JGA with me.
Oscar
