Grandfathers For Golf

Summer 2013 Classes Start Tuesday, June 11!

Sign up using our online form. Click here.

Beginners

The Summer 2013 Schedule begins on Tuesday, June 11. Classes will be held one day a week, on Tuesdays with two sessions: either 7:30 to 9 a.m. or 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Golden Era Golf Course.

Classes are open to children from the ages of 5 to 19. Pee Wee golfers (ages 5-6) will have instruction during the 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. class only.

There is no charge ever for the Grandfathers For Golf program. Donations are accepted. Suggested donation: $25 per child.

Classes that will be held at Echo Hills Golf Course will be announced in the near future.

Children ages 5-7 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Intermediates

Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Contact: Ernie Kercmar (702) 289-8141, erniekercmar@gmail.com

Advanced Classes

For Advanced Class schedule, contact: Frank McCollum (951) 368-3855 g4golf13@aol.com

About Grandfathers For Golf

Grandfathers For Golf is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to teaching children from both low-income families and financially solvent families how to play the game of golf. Grandfathers is based in San Jacinto, in the Inland Empire area of Southern California. We work with school districts to sign up students and arrange busing to and from participating golf courses. We currently have two participating golf courses, the Golden Era Golf Course and The Country Club at Soboba Springs. We also work with the Southern California Golf Association (SCGA) and its Youth on Course program.

In addition to learning the game of golf, kids learn other invaluable life skills including patience, manners, etiquette, responsibility, teamwork and so much more.

How To Get Involved

Contact Grandfathers For Golf President Tony Viola, grandfathersforgolf@yahoo.com,
(909) 754-4148.

The “Steeleheads”

Kids and volunteers in the Grandfathers for Golf program call themselves the “Steeleheads,” in honor of pro-golfer Brendan Steele. Steele, who is on the board of directors for Grandfathers, grew up in Idyllwild and honed his golfing skills on the same Hemet/San Jacinto courses the kids play on.

In May, 2012, Steele named the Grandfathers program to be the recipient of a $10,000 donation granted by the Valero Energy Foundation. Steele’s first tour victory was at the Valero Texas Open in 2011, and as returning champion he was asked to name the charity of his choice for the cash award.

The name was coined by Grandfathers president Tony Viola when Steele was still on the PGA’s Nationwide Tour, where budding tour players compete for prizes and a chance to move up to the PGA tour. When Steele was scheduled to play in the Nationwide at the Soboba Golf Classic at the Country Club at Soboba Springs in San Jacinto in 2009, Viola had 200 Grandfathers For Golf shirts made to include the “Steeleheads” logo. He passed these out to kids and volunteers participating in the golf clinic held during the tournament. The Steeleheads logo is now on every Grandfathers shirt.

As a kid, Steele and his father, Kent Steele, donated his clubs to the Grandfathers program as he grew out of them.

Viola said that kids and the volunteers who teach eagerly follow Steele’s progress on the Internet and television. They cheer his success. They make use of his trying rounds as examples for the kids. “Kids learn that you have to contain yourself and if you have a bad day, you have to let it go,” he said.

pee wees

Pee Wee Golfers

Grandfathers For Golf welcomed a string of new Pee Wees to the club for the summer 2012 session. Each Pee Wee gets a shirt and hat and leprechaun-sized golf clubs.

In The News

Statement of Condition

March 4, 2013: Grandfathers for Golf has had a great winter session thus far. Besides our school program which includes San Jacinto's North Mountain Middle School and Monte Vista Middle School there were over 30 "at large" students in our Beginner Classes.

The Intermediate program's numbers have increased for the second straight year. Our Advanced program remains in full swing producing some stellar golfers.

Grandfathers has branched out and has invited students from Riverside County's Twin Pines Ranch. These boys have proved to be a welcome addition to our program.

We look forward to our spring session which will start in late March. Participants in our next session will include Hemet's middle schools, Diamond Valley, Acacia, Dartmouth and Rancho Viejo.

Grandfathers' working capital has taken a big hit this winter as a result of Mother Natures with three rainouts for our Snow Bird Golf Days which lost us nearly $7,000.

The Marty Finn Memorial on March 2 was great success this year with over 60 participants. A great time was had by all.

Grandfathers is looking forward to partnering with Valley Wide recreation beginning this spring with its new golf course Echo Hills opening soon.

—Tony Viola, President