In 1997, through the vision and leadership of Colorado golf legend Judy Bell, the United States Golf Association initiated Pikes Peak Linkers, a program focused on providing quality golf instruction from qualified professionals that will expose youth to the valuable life lessons golf has to teach. The focus of the program has remained simple through the years: getting clubs in kids’ hands and letting them experience the game through being on the golf course. Numerous staffers and volunteers provide age-appropriate instruction for youth aged 6-13 in putting, chipping, full swing and on the Par 3 at Cherokee Ridge in Colorado Springs. And through this model, the Pikes Peak Linkers program has supported over 250 kids annually for the last 27 years; a true testament of both longevity and value within the community they serve.
This year, in a continuation of promoting fun, teaching positive behavior and etiquette, Little Linkers were rewarded through earning coveted Linker Bucks! This positive behavioral interventions and support system, or PBIS for all my educators out there, allows for the youth golfers to earn dollars they can spend at the pro shop for snacks, candy or merchandise based upon the life skills they demonstrate while attending the program. a dollar-for-dollar trade, learning financial literacy and responsibility are at the core of this incentive program.
The biggest prize ever purchased: A brand-new rangefinder that was earned after nearly four years of saving … Not a bad haul for living up to the values of honesty, integrity, responsibility and teamwork!
This year, the Colorado Golf Foundation proudly continues our support of the Pikes Peak Linkers program by providing a $5,000 grant to ensure the next generation of youth golfers can learn about all the lessons this wonderful game offers.
To learn more about how you can get involved with the Linkers program, please connect with Program Director, Jennifer Lehrman at jkmilan@yahoo.com, or visit the Pikes Peak Linkers website.