Reaching Montana’s golfing youth through grants and endowments
Long ago, in a boardroom far, far away, a collection of committed MSGA Board Members discussed the importance of getting golf clubs into the hands of juniors who might not have any familiarity or connection with the sport.
Okay, it was 10 years ago, and it was in Great Falls, but the memory is still vivid for me. I listened to various board members speak with conviction about the opportunity to introduce golf to more juniors, particularly when they are young and still determining where their interests may lie.
Jim Redmond, out of Polson, waxed poetically about a young PGA professional who was doing amazing things in the schools of his community, as well as how we needed to develop a way to get more knowledgeable golfers involved and provide learning opportunities for kids in schools across Montana. That professional was Cameron Milton, who is still in Polson and just as youthful as back then. He was unknown to me at the time, but quickly gained legendary status as both the meeting and Jim’s recounting of his teaching methodologies went on.
But how might we fund such programs, as school curriculums rarely include any funding for golf supplies?
Enter Teresa Brown of Havre, spearheading the effort to bring a fundraising opportunity with a raffle for vacations and cash prizes. The idea had spirited conversation, and it was clear that the energy and enthusiasm were there. But would the funding be?
Fast forward, and I now call Cameron Milton a friend of the MSGA. He has served on this year’s review committee to continue his service to the game well beyond his own community. His son, Max, has developed into a phenom on the links, but the legacy of Polson’s junior golf program has exceeded low rounds from the Polson Pirates – it’s also the high turnout for the teams and the consistent site of juniors at Polson Bay that is the enduring legacy which continues to grow in the relatively small community, where golf is a fixture for all ages.
This year marks a milestone for golf in Montana: 10 years of the MSGA Junior Development Grant Program. What began as a simple idea – helping more kids experience the game we all love – has now grown into a statewide movement reaching communities from Eureka to Wibaux, and everywhere in between.
During the past decade, the MSGA has awarded $130,000 in financial support to juniors in grades K–8 through schools, golf courses, and community programs. Fifty-eight Montana communities have benefited – some hosting junior golf programs for the first time ever. These grants introduce, inspire, and instruct the next generation of Montana golfers, opening doors that didn’t exist before.
This progress is possible thanks to the continuation of our Trip-of-the-Month fundraising raffle and the MSGA board’s continued investment from the general fund to help grow the program. In combination, this has allowed us to triple our average grant size and reach more communities each year.
Ten years ago, golf in Montana was in a different state of being. The last five years have created immense popularity and exposure, to where it’s now less about introducing golf to juniors, and more about providing them opportunities to have access, instruction and inspiration. As we work to continue this program, increase our reach and continue the momentum of the past decade into the next 10 years, we’re looking for our membership’s support.
Junior grant funding has provided everything from SNAG equipment (perfect for our youngest beginners) to clubs, bags, training aids, and range balls. Grants have also funded youth clinics, P.E. curriculum, volunteer support, and even meals and awards that help turn a simple event into a memory that keeps a child coming back to the “lifetime sport,” as we like to call it.
Growing the game in rural Montana is not easy. Large travel distances, limited facilities, tight school budgets, and the need for knowledgeable volunteers can make junior programming difficult to sustain. Yet, year after year, we hear about the impact. We see the smiles. We watch kids who first touched a club through an MSGA grant soon begin to play high school golf, while becoming part of our extended MSGA family.
As we celebrate a decade of progress, we’re not slowing down. We’re expanding our efforts to increase access, deepen programming, and support even more Montana communities in the years ahead.
And we need your help to make the next 10 years even stronger.
Will you join us with a year-end gift to the MSGA Junior Golf Fund?
Every tax-deductible contribution – whether large or small – directly supports opportunities for Montana kids. Your gift keeps golf in Montana accessible, affordable, and full of possibility. It ensures that the values of achievement, character, and community continue to be passed on to the next generation.
Together, let’s continue building the future of Montana golf. I hope you’ll consider joining the hundreds of individuals who have played a role in bringing the game we love to children across the Treasure State.