The nonprofit’s 2013, “Little Golf, Big Purpose” events to be played at six prominent Orlando area courses to raise funds for future national expansion.
Deltona, FL, March 5, 2013:
“We are very excited about our upcoming 100 hole marathon series and scholarship fundraiser program” says PGA Golf Professional Brendon Elliott, Founder of The Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development. “In our first year as a 501c3 we made some tremendous strides forward” Elliot says. In 2012, the nonprofit received a grant from the Florida State Golf Association License Plate Program as well as the Barbara & Jack Nicklaus Junior Golf Endowment fund which is administered by the PGA Foundation. It also had other donations come their way in 2012 including a sizable check from the Eric Baker Fund which is administered through the Orlando Golfweek Amateur Tour. “It was very encouraging to have the support of these organizations and companies in 2012 and we were so very grateful. After last year’s 100 hole marathon and nearly $13,000 raised we are very hopeful that we will be able to have a very, very fruitful go at it in our 2013 campaign” Elliott adds.
The Events
The “Little Golf, Big Purpose” 100 Hole Marathon had its inaugural event in 2012 at Orange Lake Resorts Legends Walk course. For 2013, the fundraising effort will grow to a six event “series” which will benefit the Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development. The marathons will be played at the following Central Florida courses:
- June 17th – Harmony Golf Preserve
- June 30th – Ritz Carlton Grande Lakes
- July 7th – Reunion Resort
- July 8th – Heathrow Country Club
- July 22nd – West Orange Country Club
- July 28th – Orange Lake Resort – Legends Walk Course
Participants will pledge to play 100 holes of golf at any of the locations listed above. All those interested in playing will register through the http://littlelinksters.org/home/little-linksters/website. Once registered, a participant will create their own personal fundraising showcase page. On this page they will find tools that will help them broadcast to the world their fundraising efforts and channel folks to their fundraising page where donations can be made. It is suggested that emailing friends, family and co-workers and broadcasting through social media is the best way to direct traffic to a participant’s personal page.
Donors will be able to contribute with credit card or Paypal directly to the participant and this cause. All money collection, thank you letters, and tax receipts are handled automatically online. All they need to do is go play some golf! All donations are 100% tax deductible and all donors will receive a tax receipt and thank you letter automatically through the website.
The fee for participation is $0 for anyone raising over $1,000. Otherwise the fee will be $65 at Orange Lake Resort or $115 at all other facilities. These fees must be paid by way of making a starting donation in the appropriate amount to the participant’s personal fundraising page.
Top fundraisers can earn great prizes….
Last year the prizes included but were not limited to: a two hour private lesson with Sean Foley, signed Tiger Woods memorabilia, PGA Tour event ticket packages, PGA Championship weekly ticket packages, equipment from Nike and STX, rounds of golf and much more. Prizes for 2013 will be posted on the http://littlelinksters.org/home/little-linksters/ website very soon.
NEW for 2013…
Scholastic Golf Team Players or Supporters
High School Golf teams and their supporters can help Little Linksters too and raise money for their teams at the same time!
All those registering as scholastic golf team players or supporters agree to the following: Anyone representing a scholastic golf team will need to indicate their allegiance in the registration process. We need to know where to send your money! They may select any of the provided golf courses on the dates listed, or if preferable, the team may decide to play at their home course.
Net proceeds will be distributed as follows:
50% – To your team 50% – To Little Linksters Junior Golf
Little Linksters NEW Scholarship Program
The Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development is very happy to announce their new “Scholarship” program! Parents, Grandparents and friends of children ages three to eight that want to take part in Little Linksters programming can also raise money through this fundraising site in 2013. The money raised for the children will be earmarked for them to use towards Little Linksters instruction programs and the Little Linksters “Tour” series.
Anyone engaging the Little Linksters fundraising website for the purpose of raising scholarship money will need to indicate such in the registration process. You or your child will not need to play in the 100 hole marathons, therefore you will not need to select a golf course. Once a child is registered and their personal fundraising page is set, let everyone know about your efforts! We suggest emailing and broadcasting through social media to direct traffic to your child’s personal page. Donors will be able to contribute with credit card or Paypal directly to you and your Little Linksters participation fees.
All donations are 100% tax deductible and all donors will receive a tax receipt and thank you letter automatically through the website. Funds raised will be distributed as follows:
All net proceeds go to your child’s own Little Linkster account
Other stipulations include:
- Money raised for a scholarship student can be used for any Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development program or tour event.
- Unused donations raised for each student can be transferred to another child that would like to join in our programming.
- Any monies raised for a scholarship student that is not used or transferred to another student after one year will be used to support other program costs.
How Businesses Can Help…
“The Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development is also looking for sponsors to provide us with prizes to go out to the top fundraisers. Last year we had amazing prizes such as a two hour private lesson with Sean Foley, signed Tiger Woods memorabilia, PGA Tour event ticket packages, PGA Championship weekly ticket packages, equipment from Nike and STX, rounds of golf and much more” Elliott explains. “We are also looking for hole sponsors for only $500, and that is good for all six events” Elliott adds.
If you are interested in helping, you can contact The Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development atnonprofit@littlelinksters.com
More about the Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development
Since July of 2008, the Little Linksters Golf program has brought the game of golf to a typically non-traditional sect of the golfing population; the “Pee-Wee” Golfer (Ages 3-8). The Little Linksters Golf Program is a great introduction to the game of golf for all children in this age group. The program is taught in a fun and interactive way using a combination of both traditional golf instruction methods and very non-traditional ways. The bottom line with the Little Linksters program is FUN!
The program is run by PGA Golf Professional Brendon Elliott. Brendon is the former General Manager/Head Golf Professional at the historic Winter Park Country Club located in downtown Winter Park, FL. Elliott was with WPCC for 13 years. He resigned from his position in July of 2011 to focus solely on the expansion of Little Linksters. Brendon, along with his wife Melisa are the owners of Little Linksters, LLC and the Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development which is their 501c3 Non-Profit organization. The home office of the company is in Deltona, FL.
In August of 2011, in a second phase of expansion, the Little Linksters Golf Academy @ Metrowest Golf Club located in Orlando, FL was opened.
The Little Linksters “mobile” program which is ran by the Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development, has been run at various daycare centers, schools, and municipalities in the Winter Park, FL, Lake Mary, FL and Deltona, FL areas since July of 2008. “Expansion of the program is in the works” said PGA Golf Professional Brendon Elliott, the founder and lead instructor of Little Linksters, LLC. “After almost four years of running our “pilot” or “test” programs, we have started taking steps toward taking this central Florida based, part-time business and program to a broader, national market. In early 2010, we re-branded, created an easy to follow program guide/coloring book and started putting a great package together for other PGA and LPGA Professionals to eventual purchase an implement in their area so that they too may be able to share in the rewarding work of bringing golf and all of the lessons that it teaches to the littlest of golfers. The time frame now to launch our “National Program” will be sometime in late 2013″ said Elliott.
The Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development will be the vehicle that will launch the acclaimed Little Linksters Golf Program to areas nationwide in late 2013.
Elliott, is a 2010, 2011 & 2012 US Kids Golf Top 50 Kids Teacher, a 2012 Top 50 Growth of the Game Instructor as named by the Golf Range Association of America, the 2011 & 2012 ECC Junior Golf Leader and the 2011 & 2012 NFPGA Junior Golf Leader award winner. He was a finalist for the PGA’s National Junior Leader award in 2012.
Elliott is the Chairman of the ECC Junior Golf Committee as well as the NFPGA Junior Golf Committee. Brendon also is a member of the PGA of America’s 2012-2014 National Junior Golf Committee and the 2012-2014 Public Relations & Communications Committee.
Little Linksters, LLC Oversees the following:
• The Little Linksters Golf Academy at Metrowest (Private Lessons)
• Private Lessons at other places (In-Home lessons, Glen Abbey GC, etc.)
• Online Instruction
• Sales of our Coloring Book
• Consulting
Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development (501c3) Oversees the following:
• The Little Linksters “Mobile” Program (At locations throughout Central FL)
• The Little Linksters “Tour” Series
• The Best Pee Wee Swing in the Workd Video Contest
• Soon to launch “National Certification Program”
• Speaking on and Promoting Junior Golf for younger kids
The goal of Little Linksters, LLC and the Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development is to provide children from ages three years to eight years of age with quality introductory golf instruction and to expose them to all of the wonderful life lessons that the wonderful game of golf teaches us all. “Although our target group is children ages three through eight, we will not limit ourselves solely to those age groups. Additionally, Little Linksters will strive to be a leader in the “Pee-Wee” golf arena and provide tools and information to all PGA Professionals, educators and parents that share in our vision. To accomplish our goal, we will provide services and products at reasonable rates, be responsive to the needs of our customers, and make ourselves available as much as possible to our patrons” Elliott states.
The mission statement of the Little Linksters program:
“Through a fun and friendly learning environment, students will accomplish three major goals; which in turn will produce a passion and respect for the game of golf. Through vigorous efforts each player will learn; how the game teaches real life lessons (patience, integrity, respect, honesty and friendship), how to master the basic fundamentals of the golf, and finally how to enjoy the experience that the game of golf offers”
PGA & LPGA Professionals interested in learning how they can get involved, become a Little Linksters “Certified Instructor” and offer Little Linksters programs in their area can go here: http://littlelinksters.com/history/certified-instructo-information-pga-lpga/
If you are a business or individual interested in become a sponsor or partner you can go here: http://littlelinksters.com/new-partnership-opportunities/
Contact:
Melisa Elliott
Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development
Phone 321-278-1611
NonProfit@LittleLinksters.com
PO Box 6384 Deltona, FL
Phone 386-532-9639
www.LittleLinksters.com
