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Department of Parks
KPGA Honors Wasioto Winds Professional as 'Junior Leader'
FRANKFORT, Ky. - The Kentucky Section of the Professional Golfers’ Association of America (KPGA) has presented its "Junior Golf Leader" award to Jerry Shoffner, the golf professional for Wasioto Winds Golf Course at Pine Mountain State Resort Park in Pineville, Ky.
According to KPGA, the award recognizes someone who "provides opportunities and experiences for juniors to learn and play golf."
Wasioto Winds is part of "The First Tee" program, which teaches young people golf along with positive life lessons and values such as responsibility, honesty and sportsmanship.
According to Shoffner, about 260 youngsters from all backgrounds participated in the program last summer. They learned everything from chipping and putting to the rules and etiquette of the game. "Most of the kids never even held a golf club until they came here," Shoffner said.
The primary reason more children, and especially economically disadvantaged children, don’t golf is because of a lack of affordable places to play. "The First Tee" is remedying that situation by opening 209 golf-learning facilities across the country and introducing golf to more than 450,000 participants.
Shoffner said the award is a tribute to Wasioto Winds staff as well as the vision of parks’ officials in joining The First Tee program.
The Kentucky State Park System is composed of 52 state parks plus an interstate park shared with Virginia. The Department of Parks, an agency of the Commerce Cabinet, operates 17 resort parks with lodges -- more than any other state. Each year, Kentucky parks draw 7 million visitors and contribute $317 million to the economy. For more information on Kentucky parks, visit our Web site at http://www.parks.ky.gov.
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