MGA Links: the year in review!

Some of you may not know that the MGA owns and operates an 18-hole par-3 golf course in Norton. MGA Links at Mamantapett is the headquarters of The First Tee of Massachusetts and a hub for junior golf in southeastern Massachusetts! Each summer, we invite many different youth groups and service organizations down to the Links for clinics and a fun day on the course. Membership at the Links is affordable and offers kids (and parents!) a no-stress way to get into the game of golf. Here are some highlights from our program year:

Carroll School for the Blind Clinic

Clinics at MGA Links: This year, we had some really great groups come down to Norton for clinics. Beacon Academy spent a day here over the summer, as did the Boys & Girls Club of Dorchester, among many other organizations - too many to list! One really special day was when the Carroll School for the Blind made their annual trip to MGA Links. All of the students - who are either visually impaired or physically disabled - enjoyed the day thoroughly, but I think the instructors enjoyed it even more. Bob Beach volunteered as an instructor (of course he did!) as well as TFTM executive director Joe McCabe, MGA Links Head Pro Pete Walsh, TFTM volunteer Tom Bernier, and many others. These people work so hard to give young people meaningful experiences on the golf course.

Boys & Girls Club of Dorchester visits MGA Links

MGA Links Club Championship: Two perfect summer days! Jeremiah Sullivan won the boys 36-hole division, and Allison Hunt took the girls title. Kyzer Joshi won the 9-hole division.

Anna Haynes (right)

Proud of our members!: Three MGA Links junior members were honored with invitations to national events: Evan Ryan - Hank Haney IJGA Academy, The First Tee Scholar, Ouimet Scholar; Cora Bernier - The First Tee PLAYer Advanced Academy; Anna Haynes - Auntie Anne's Leaders & Entrepreneurs Forum. Not too shabby! Plus, Evan and Cora are now excelling in collegiate golf programs, and Anna will enter college next fall. It is fantastic to see these MGA Links success stories.

Evan Ryan, now a freshman at Nichols College

Cora Bernier, now a freshman at Univ. of Hartford

Power Mom: Kim Ryan, who is the mother of two MGA Links members (Evan & Aidan) was the grand prize winner in the Ouimet Fund Golf Essay contest. Her essay really shows how important and useful a tool golf can be in youth development. Super inspiring. You should really read her submission - it's awesome.