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By ERIC SODERSTROM
Editor/Digital MediaREUNION, Fla. – The Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy signed a sponsorship deal this week with the American Junior Golf Association, AJGA executive director Stephen Hamblin confirmed Nov. 28 at the Polo Golf Junior Classic.
The AJGA plans to formally announce the terms of the partnership next week, though Hamblin said the deal centers around the GGGA’s umbrella sponsorship of the Junior All-Star Series, the association’s events for players ages 12 to 15.
The Junior All-Star events had gone through two full seasons without a sponsor, following Nike’s withdrawal two years ago, and Hamblin said the AJGA had been running the events “basically at a loss.”
Over the years, Hamblin has maintained the AJGA is in the business of competition and not instruction. He has said an AJGA academy isn’t in the picture.
“I’m not interested in instruction ... but we are interested in partnerships,” he said Friday.
“There’s a synergy between us and Gary where we can help him and he can help us. We really liked what he was trying to represent, working on the whole person. It goes right along with the AJGA’s mission.”
Gilchrist worked at the IMG/David Leadbetter Academy in Bradenton and the International Junior Golf Academy in Hilton Head Island, S.C., before starting his academy at Mission Inn Resort & Club in Howey-in-the-Hills, Fla. His 21-student membership includes Patrick Winther, winner of this week’s Polo Golf Junior Classic at Ginn Reunion Resort near Orlando. Winther, 16, also spent time at the IMG and IJGA academies before joining Gilchrist.
“For me ... now that I’m under my own umbrella, now when kids do well it’s more of a satisfaction to me,” Gilchrist said.
“Because that’s been my passion since the beginning, my greatest enjoyment back in South Africa was playing junior golf, and being a part of it now where we can influence these young people and tell them that, you know what, you can be a Patrick Winther. All you have to do is go out there, focus on a plan and stick to your plan.”
Gilchrist’s plan includes an academy on California’s Central Coast at Cypress Ridge Golf Club in Arroyo Grande, set to open in August. One source close to the situation said that was a big selling point for the AJGA.
There are more AJGA members from California than any other state.
Posted: 11/28/2008
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