Make Golf Your Thing is providing grant money to help underrepresented communities in golf

A collaborative golf industry movement that seeks to make the sport more inclusive is now accepting applications for its grassroots grant program.

Make Golf Your Thing is supporting charitable organizations that are dedicated to increasing golf participation among historically underrepresented communities within the industry such as Black, Latinx, Asian, Indigenous, women, members of the LBGTQ+ community, veterans, and individuals with disabilities.

The founder of the Latina Golfers Association, Azucena Maldanado, heads an organization that has already benefited from the GGP.

“Words cannot express how grateful we are to the Make Golf Your Thing Grassroots Grants Program,” said Maldonado said in a statement. “We are able to parlay the funds we receive into impactful programs that touch the lives of Latina youth for whom golf, up to now, had been an unattainable sport. Our girls come from economically challenged communities not traditionally served by the game and yet they embrace the sport and relish the opportunities and life-skills golf offers them to enhance their lives."

Make Golf Your Thing was established in May 2021 through the American Golf Industry Coalition. It has awarded $1.8 million to more than 200 organizations through its four phases of funding. This month marks the official start of the application window for Phase V, inviting charitable organizations to apply between now and March 4. A total of $700,000 is available."

Another example of how a grant has helped an organization was the Middle Atlantic Blind Golf Association's junior golf program. Program director Mike Molloy started out as just a parent taking his son to play golf.

The organization has now grown to help countless blind or visually impaired youth play the sport and make connections through the game.

“We’ve sent kids to Ivy League schools, we have kids who just competed in the Paralympics, we have kids working at Google,” Molloy said in another statement. “Seeing their successes really makes this all worthwhile.”

Organizations and individuals can learn more about grant eligibility by visiting makegolfyourthing.org.

UNF's Nick Gabrelcik sets ASUN record

University of North Florida senior Nick Gabrelcik has racked up another record.

Gabrelcik was named the ASUN men's golfer of the week after finishing tied for eighth in the Puerto Rico Classic, shooting 12-under 204 to help the Ospreys finish fourth in the team standings.

It is Gabrelcik's 14th ASUN Player of the Week award, which broke the record he had shared with Dawson Armstrong of Lipscomb.

"Just another solid week for him," said UNF coach Scott Schroeder said of Gabrelcik's performance.

Gabrelcik has earned the weekly ASUN award for the third time this season. UNF players have earned it five times.

Gabrelcik, who set a record last year with his third ASUN Player of the Year award, is third on the PGA University's rankings.

UNF plays at the Gator Invitational this weekend.

Marsh Landing shows off new clubhouse

Players in the Jacksonville Area Golf Association Spring Four-Ball on March 25 will be able to enjoy the new clubhouse, which has been finished by the new owners, Concert Golf. Course renovations are also coming.

The tournament is open to men and women, pros and amateurs, with a gross and net division. It will begin with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.

Entry information is at jaxareagolf.org.

Tournament proceeds go to breast imaging

The St. Johns Golf and Country Club will host its "Pink Up the Par" charity tournament on April 4, with registration at noon and a shotgun start at 1 p.m.

The proceeds will go to breast imaging exams for uninsured St. Johns County residents to assist in the early detection of breast cancer.

In addition to the scramble golf format, contests will be held for longest drive, most accurate drive, closest to the pin and a par-3 hole-in-one. Information can be obtained at pinkupthepace.com.

First area albatross reported

The first albatross (a 2 on a par-5 hole) to be reported by a First Coast resident was by Deerwood Country Club member and 2024 Players Championship first Vice-Chairman Tyler Oldenburg. He used a driver and a 5-iron at the 494-yard 16th hole of the Secession Golf Club in Beaufort, S.C. His second shot was 194 yards. ... U.S. Open local qualifiers in the area will be May 13 at Marsh Creek in St. Augustine and May 14 at the Conservatory at Hammock Beach in Palm Coast. The Conservatory also will host a U.S. Amateur local qualifier on June 26. ... The San Jose Country Club will be the site of a U.S. Mid-Amateur qualifier on Aug. 26. ... Ward Clayton of St. Johns has an extensive update of his 2004 book, “Men on the Bag: The Caddies of Augusta National.” The new book, “The Legendary Caddies of Augusta National,” will be out later this spring. Clayton was the former sports editor of the Augusta Chronicle and a member of the PGA Tour Communications staff. He now operates Clayton Communications.

Statewide results

Stephanie Connelly-Eiswerth, a teaching pro at San Jose, shot 66 in the first round and went on to finish solo fifth at 6-under 209 in the PGA Winter Championship at the Wanamaker Club Ryder and Dye Courses in Port St. Lucie. She finished four shots behind winner Dylan Newman of Jericho, N.Y. ... Therese Quinn of Jacksonville and Lin Culver of Palm Coast shot 72-76--148 and tied for ninth in the 77th Women's International Four-Ball Feb. 14-15 at The Wanderer's Club in Wellington. They finished nine shots behind winners Maria Hammer and Gaby Coello of West Palm Beach.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Golf industry movement accepting grant applications from underserved groups