President's Message
As you know, 2020 presented many challenges and has been a year unlike any in our generation. Ensuring the safety, health & well-being of our families, friends and members of our community is always a top priority, but this year it was magnified.
At the NJGF, impacting lives and communities through the game of golf is not only our mission, but also our passion. As we continue to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, we remain optimistic that our event schedule and core programming will resume in a safe and responsible way in 2021.
After the initial shutdown in the spring, the outlook was very bleak, but the golf industry rebounded quickly and experienced a surge with record equipment sales and a huge uptick in rounds played. The Back2Golf initiative, developed by the PGA alongside allied partners, reignited the golf industry, while establishing new protocols to operate golf in a responsible manner – enabling people of all ages and from all backgrounds to enjoy the many benefits of the game. This allowed our core programs: PGA HOPE, PGA Junior League and Special Olympics Golf to restart, and while there are still many challenges to address, we do see a reason for HOPE.
I want to thank my colleagues and fellow PGA Professionals, your resilience and ability to adapt under the most challenging circumstances, allowed us to deliver much needed programming for our youth, military Veterans and individuals with special needs.
Thank you to our partners and donors for continuing to support us, even during these incredibly challenging times. Let’s close the door on 2020, and forge ahead as we look to 2021 and our commitment to continue to make a difference through the game of golf. If you are looking to get involved in 2021 please contact the NJGF’s Executive Director, Chris Hunt at chunt@pgahq.com or (732) 465-1212.
Dan Pasternak, NJGF President
New Jersey Golf Foundation Receives $50K in Bucky Kavanagh's Honor to Benefit Military Pillar
On November 11, the New Jersey Golf Foundation hosted a PGA HOPE Pro Am in honor of Veteran's Day.
Before the Pro Am started, Panther Valley Golf & Country Club generously donated $50,000 to the New Jersey Golf Foundation, in honor of the recently deceased Bucky Kavanagh, an active Golf Professional who had a special love for the military. Dan Pasternak, President of the New Jersey Golf Foundation and General Manager at Essex Fells Country Club, shared his thoughts on Bucky's life and his lasting impact on Veteran Programming, "Bucky was a great ambassador for the game of golf, members, and guests at Panther Valley Golf & Country Club, for nearly fifty years. He made the game fun and had the uncanny ability to remember everybody's name. Bucky had great respect for our veterans, volunteering his time freely in teaching and fundraising to support the well being of our troops. We are proud to honor our friend in support of those for whom he did so much."
Francis "Bucky" Kavanagh died Sunday, November 10, 2019. The well respected and much loved Bucky, was the Golf Professional at Panther Vally Golf & Country Club since 1977. He began his 41 year career in the Golf Shop soon after winning the 1977 Club Championship at Panther Valley. Bucky was known for his intense love for golf, his infectious smile, and most of all his ability to remember the name, face, and preference of each golfer at Panther Valley. According to former members and guests who played at Panther Valley, Bucky was always welcoming and accommodating in any way possible.
Chris Hunt, Executive Director of the New Jersey Golf Foundation shared his deep appreciation to Panther Valley Golf & Country Club for their generous donation, "I need to thank the members of Panther Valley Golf & Country Club and all of Francis "Bucky" Kavanagh's friends. Funds raised in Bucky's name will be earmarked for the New Jersey Golf Foundation's Military Pillar. We look forward to working with Panther Valley's owners and members to continue to recognize Bucky's commitment to the game of golf and his love for our American heroes."
As part of the Veteran's Day event, a group of 24 veterans were honored with breakfast and 9 holes of golf at Fiddler's Elbow Country Club. The event was part of the PGA's Helping Our Patriots Everywhere (HOPE) program. PGA HOPE is the flagship military program of PGA REACH, the charitable foundation of the PGA of America. PGA HOPE introduces golf to Veterans with disabilities to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being.
South Bergen Jointure Commission Teaching Day & Virtual Classroom
While wearing masks and adhering to social distancing requirements, students from the South Bergen Jointure Commission enjoyed the opportunity to tee it up and experience the game of golf. Members of the NJGF Staff visited with the students, delivering tips on the fundamentals of the game, and helping the students work on their chipping and putting using SNAG equipment.
To further support this program, the NJGF hosted a virtual classroom for the 30 students, where NJGF staff members shared personal stories and educated the students about the golf industry. This virtual session turned into an interactive Q&A with the students.
Special Olympics NJ Golf
In September, the Plainfield West Nine played host to a SONJ Sectional Championship, as SONJ athletes enjoyed the opportunity to compete with pride and passion.
While the SONJ State Championship in late October was canceled due to COVID-19, we look forward to seeing all athletes back on the course in spring 2021.
Fiddlers Elbow CC hosted the 4th Annual Special Olympics New Jersey Level 1 Skills Challenge, as 25 SONJ Athletes tested their golf skills in the following competitions: Iron Shot, Chip Shot, Pitch Shot, Long Putt, Short Putt.
PGA National Day of HOPE
Click here to watch News 12's feature on the New Jersey Golf Foundation and PGA HOPE.
Improve Your Golf Game with These Training Exercises
In order to improve your golf game, it’s important to incorporate golf-specific strength exercises into your training plan. Focusing on the legs, hips, core and shoulders are a great place to start as these body parts all work simultaneously during a golf swing. Exercises for your golf game can be broken into two categories: range of motion or flexibility. Range of motion exercises allow an improvement of motion at a specific joint, while also strengthening and training the muscles to move through a pattern. Flexibility exercises allow the muscles to warm up, stretch and cool down. Below are a few exercises you can incorporate into your routine today. Before beginning any exercise program, please speak to your primary care doctor, as well as a certified personal trainer who can demonstrate these exercises.
Try these exercises before beginning your golf game:
Kneeling hip flexor— Excellent for loosening the muscles which can become tight from sitting.
Standing hip openers— Opens up the hip allowing for greater range-of-motion (and ultimately power) from the hips during the back swing. Perform 8-12 repetitions on each leg; rest for 30 seconds; repeat for two sets.
Lunge with twist— Like the trunk rotations, hold a golf club straight in the air to create a minimal amount of resistance. The lunge does not need to be deep, simply step forward with either leg, hold the split stance position and rotate away from the forward leg. Perform 8-12 repetitions on each leg (alternating legs); rest for 45 seconds, repeat two times.
Try these exercises two to three times a week to help improve flexibility, strength and power in golf:
Standing wood chop — A great exercise for integrating the movements of the hips, back and shoulders. Requires the use of a medicine ball or dumbbell (if using a dumbbell, hold it horizontally with both hands around the ends of the weight). Perform 8-12 repetitions; rest for 30 seconds; repeat 1-3 times.
Lateral lunges — Effective for improving the range-of-motion, strength and power of the hips by using them in a different plane of motion by going to the side. Make sure to focus the work in the hips by pushing your tailbone back as you lower over your leg. Alternate legs, perform 8-12 repetitions; rest for 30 seconds; repeat 1-3 times.
Try these flexibility exercises to improve range of motion during your golf swing:
Perform these stretches AFTER the previous strengthening exercises. Doing static stretches after a workout can help to lengthen the involved muscles, which improves the range-of-motion of the affected joints.
Hip flexors: Hold for 20-30 seconds, alternate legs; repeat 1-3 times.
Child’s pose: Hold for 20-30 seconds; repeat 1-3 times.
Cobra: Hold for 20-30 seconds; repeat 1-3 times.
If you do not know how to perform any of these exercises, try using YouTube as a resource for demonstrations.