Unique and awarding programs for youth and community.
MMJGA is one of the most unique programs of its kind. We differ from other "growth of the game" programs by:
- Developing life skills
- Developing entrepreneurial skills through caddying
- Awarding scholarships to qualifying caddies
- Encouraging parental involvement
How The Program Works
Each year we recruit and train over fifty caddies. Recruitment is done through Minneapolis public schools, community centers and the Minneapolis Urban League. Before becoming a caddie, each youth receives extensive training from MMJGA staff and graduates. MMJGA caddies then have the opportunity to work at private golf clubs throughout the Twin Cities and receive free golf training. An MMJGA Caddiemaster provides ongoing training and ensures that caddies continue to develop their skills.
We have established partnerships with a variety of private courses to provide caddying opportunities for participants. These include:
- Golden Valley Golf and Country Club
- Minikahda Club
- Minneapolis Golf Club
- Oak Ridge Country Club
Learn The Game.
In addition to learning caddying, the MMJGA has teamed with the University of Minnesota to provide an outlet to play the game of golf. Every other Monday we will have golf lessons with our head professional, Dee Forsberg-Voss, at Les Bolsted University of Minnesota practice center. On the non-lesson Monday's we will be playing golf at the area courses, courtesy of the Minneapolis Park Board.
Caddies with two years of excellent caddie service, financial qualifications and good grades could become eligible for the Evans Scholarship — a full tuition scholarship to the University of Minnesota. One proud graduate of our program, Tasha Phillips, received this honor and is currently a junior at the U of M majoring in urban studies. For more information on the Evans Scholarship visit their website at http://www.evansscholarsfoundation.com.
MMJGA Caddie Success Stories.
We have also had multiple graduates go on to have on course successes as well. Many of our graduates go on to excel in their high school golf teams and some have even had national success. Desmond Calloway and James Cannon were both selected to participate in The Tiger Woods Foundation Golf Camp in 1999. In 2005, Tasha Phillips became the first alumnus of the MMJGA to win the Evans Scholarship, a national caddie scholarship program providing full tuition and rooming for four years. Additionally, a number of other graduates from MMJGA are attending college and reinvesting their time and energy recruiting and training new caddies.