Youth and Family Golf Summit set for 2014

Virtually every golf industry professional and observer believes that the future of golf is dependent on a strong commitment to youth & family participation. The rub has always been: What's the best way to encourage kids and family in a way that's fun for them and good for golf?

Golf industry professionals will now have the expertise of some of the game's most trusted and experienced advocates for youth & family golf at "The Youth & Family Golf!" Summit to be held at the start of the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando.  

There is a registration fee to be a part of the summit. Those interested in learning more can sign up here or call 800-474-2776 for more details.

Full release on the Summit can be found below.

Passion and profitability will be foremost among the many topics covered at the inaugural Youth & Family Golf Summit on Jan. 20, 2014, in Orlando, Fla., which kicks off the week of the 61st PGA Merchandise Show.

Carrying the theme, "The Power of Youth & Family Golf!" the Summit is designed, according to PGA member and Youth and Family Summit Committee Chair Rick Murphy, "to drive value to your facility and your bottom line."

There are plenty of reasons for PGA members and other industry representatives interested in growing their business to attend the Summit - from keynote speaker Dottie Pepper to presentations by Nicole Weller, the 2013 PGA Junior Golf Leader; and previous national Junior Golf Leader recipients Don Law, Rick Grayson, Sandy La Bauve and John Godwin.

Pepper, an ESPN golf analyst and assistant captain of the 2013 U.S. Solheim Cup Team, will discuss why junior golf was so important for her personal and professional development and the role that PGA Professionals played in that process. Pepper is currently an Independent Director on the PGA of America's Board of Directors.

The Summit will also feature presentations on:

• Fitness for Youth and Families
• Teaching & Coaching for Real Learning
• Club Fitting Challenges and Solutions for Growing Golfers

PGA Honorary President Allen Wronowski, long a proponent of youth golf, supported the idea of an event that would delve more deeply into a subject where profit might not always be the main motivator. Wronowski will speak at the Summit and says he is pleased with the balance he envisions being struck in Orlando between a passion to grow the game and the ability to profit from it.

"This Summit is about the commitment that PGA Professionals have for what is good for the game and what is good for themselves and their facilities," says Wronowski. "The lineup of speakers and presenters is outstanding and I'm highly confident that those in attendance will emerge from the Summit with fresh, exciting ideas that will serve the game well and enhance their professional standing."

The Summit will be held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando.

Scheduled Presenters:

o Allen Wronowski, PGA Honorary President & Youth Development Committee Chair
o Rick Murphy, PGA
o Dottie Pepper, keynote speaker
o Nicole Weller, PGA & Brendon Elliott, PGA
o Dr. Robert Bjork, UCLA Bjork Learning Center & Michael Hebron, PGA
o Glenn Cundari, PGA of Canada
o Rick Grayson, PGA
o Dennis Johnsen, PGA
o Don Law, PGA
o Gary Gray, Gray Institute, Chicago
o Sandy La Bauve, PGA
o John Godwin, PGA
o Ashley Anderson, LPGA program director