GILBERT, AZ: Mark Lowry, Founder and President, located in Gilbert, AZ has announced the sponsorship of The National Golf Player Development Foundation, (“NGPDF”) by PGA TOUR SUPERSTORE, (“PGATSS”) in efforts to deliver resources and in-store discount programs to athletes pursuing competitive golf.
Additionally, “This collaboration will grant NGPDF a VIP PGATSS’s Player’s Club Membership experience. With the aid of PGA TOUR Superstore-certified golf instructors, our members will benefit from the expertise PGATSS already has in developing golfers of all abilities. Our members can play on state-of-the-art equipment, progress their skills, and evaluate the analytics necessary to advance their game mentally and physically.”
Lowry noted “The relationship with PGA TOUR Superstore supports our mission to provide resources and services to increase opportunities and to develop competitive players from underserved communities. We are appreciative of the commitment from PGATSS to support our young NGPDF members.”
He also noted that, “The collaboration creates opportunities for:
- Building an informed support team (Player, Parent, and Instructor) to assist in the development of the competitive player.
- Provide the opportunity for members to have access to national stores; and
- Access to professional services (golf instruction, equipment fitting, repairs, and more)”
“At PGA TOUR Superstore we are committed to growing the game of golf and inspiring people to play their best,” said Ralph Stokes, VP of Diversity, Partnerships & Community Relations. “We are proud to provide resources to the young men and women of NGPDF to help them develop their game and build their confidence on the course.”
About The Founder
Mark Lowry’s work and success with instituting a player development system was well documented in the mid-90s when, in 1995, he was selected to create and launch the Chicago Public School’s Elementary school golf training program to feed a struggling High School team program. By 1998, the program began to receive national acclaim as over forty elementary schools were offering after-school golf instruction while simultaneously, Mark expanded the high school golf program with growth from nine of the CPS system’s seventy-three high schools to over thirty who competed and advanced from city competition to producing qualifiers at the regional and state level. In 1998, Lowry joined the new industry initiative, The First Tee, where for 20 years he held positions in senior leadership. Lowry played a key role in developing the strategies that would guide the development and operations of the organization from a concept to a nationally recognized youth golf development organization. As Vice President of Network Management, Mark oversaw the development and support of the organization’s eight national regions and over 150 network chapters. These experiences gave rise to the National Golf Player Development Foundation (NGPDF).
Lowry says, “The time has come to support the efforts of the players, parents, organizations and institutions that are working to deepen the competitive player pool of players of color. The NGPDF, through its efforts to secure individual, corporate and industry funding resources and developmental partnerships, will identify deserving young players of color and provide support to individuals, programs and institutions that equally share the goal to increase the competitive player pool representing minority communities.”
For more information on NGPDF please contact us at:
The National Golf Player Development Foundation
www.ngpdf.org
(480) 294-3532
NATIONAL GOLF PLAYER DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, Is a Not For Profit 501c3 established to create funding sources to create additional funding sources to: 1)Support the development of skilled, competitive male and female golfers of color; 2) Connect aspiring golfers of color with instructors and development programs in their local community; 3) Assist in connecting competitive golfers of color with programs and tournaments that will advance their developmental skills at strategic competitive levels that include junior golf, high school, collegiate and professional and assist with support resources to educate parents, coaches and instructors involved with the development of competitive golfers of color. The NGPDF has established both a governance and advisory board.
The mission of the National Golf Player Development Foundation, is, “To provide unprecedented funding opportunities to programs that provide skill development and playing opportunities to young people of color and connect them to premier experiences in competitive golf.”
About PGA TOUR Superstore
PGA TOUR Superstore is operated by Golf & Tennis Pro Shop, Inc., a subsidiary of AMB Sports + Entertainment and is headquartered in metro-Atlanta. As the PGA TOUR’s exclusive off-course/off-airport retail partner in North America, PGA TOUR Superstore provides customers with access to the same technology and expertise as card-carrying PGA TOUR pros. All stores are staffed with teaching professionals and have multiple state-of-the-art swing simulators, practice hitting bays, and large putting greens. There is also an in-house club-making and repair facility. Along with equipment and accessories, PGA TOUR Superstore has an unmatched selection of men’s, women’s and juniors’ apparel and footwear for golf and tennis. For more information, visit www.pgatoursuperstore.com.
