PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., June 18, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Father's Day is the perfect opportunity for quality family time on the golf course. Rather than gifting dad a day on the golf course with himself or his friends, the PGA of America is encouraging families to play a few holes or visit the driving range together on June 21.
The traditional view of golf as "dad's pastime" is shifting, and the game is being played and enjoyed by the entire family. According to the National Golf Foundation, the number of women and junior golfers has increased over the last year. In 2014, 3.2 million juniors (ages 6-17) and 5.7 million women hit the links, up from 3 million and 5.3 million in 2013, respectively.
"Golf is a game that can be played and enjoyed by everyone, regardless of age, athletic ability or skill level," said PGA of America President Derek Sprague. "Whether you're playing six holes together or hitting balls on the range, golf is something every member of the family can enjoy. It's a healthy activity that's accessible to everyone."
Mike Aldrich, a PGA Professional and PGA Player Development Manager in the Washington, D.C. market, picked up the game after watching his dad hit balls in a field across the street from his childhood home. Mike's dad and grandfather took him to a local course when he was seven, where he chipped in for a birdie on his sixth hole. Golf became a way for him to bond with his father and grandfather – and ultimately became his career. "A career in golf didn't enter into the picture until my mid-twenties. I just wanted to spend time with the two most important men in my life and in return, they instilled in me the value of golf as an important business tool."
"My greatest Father's Day gift was when my wife and daughters starting playing golf with me last year," Aldrich added. "We ended up playing over 20 rounds together as a family."
After becoming a PGA Professional, Aldrich's wife, Laura, decided to learn the game. She started playing with her husband or her girlfriends each week, but things got busy and she put down her clubs for a period of time. As their two daughters grew, she decided to give it another try – this time introducing them to the game in 2014.
Laura and her daughters went through Get Golf Ready, an introductory-to-golf program supported by the PGA of America, which offers a series of group golf lessons at an affordable price. After brushing up on the basics, the foursome played together as a family for the first time on Father's Day in 2014.
"Playing with your family is such a wonderful experience, and it allows you to carve out time you wouldn't normally spend together," said Aldrich. "Over the course of last summer, we spent some 40-50 hours together, which is something a dad may not normally experience with a 19- and-15-year-old."
To find programs in your area, visit PlayGolfAmerica.com and search by zip code. Check with your local facilities for Father's Day promotions and events.
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