What is G-Ball?

SNAG Golf's flagship golf development program is called "G-Ball". G-Ball can be played in existing fields around the facilities and can be taught by parent coaches as the program is easy to implement. Finally a real golf experience can be achieved by beginners without the need of lengthy lessons and expensive green fees!

SNAG Golf has partnered with the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) to grow the game of golf through a national program called G-Ball, to be rolled out in Parks and Recreation Facilities over the next few years.  NRPA has awarded $180,000 in grants to 15 park and recreation agencies in the U.S. to pilot the new SNAG (Starting New at Golf) G-Ball program in 2011—in order to connect youth to the outdoors, and increase engagement in golf and recreational sports. 

Imagine how many of these children will want to play golf for a lifetime. G-Ball can best be described as golf’s version of T-Ball, focused on children 5 to 8 years old.  It will be conducted by parent-coaches on soccer fields and selected open space within municipal facilities.  

G-Ball will educate the next generation of golfers! Millions of children will learn to play golf in our parks!  G-Ball will bring golf into mainstream team sports through Parks and Recreation Facilities. Golf, for the first time, will enter the team sport arena to be more competitive with all other sports.

G-Ball has been several years in the making to ensure age-appropriate programming to develop a child’s golf motor skills as well as the culture of the game.  Dr. Robert Pangrazi, author of more than 50 physical-education textbooks, and Dr. Vanessa Anton developed the curriculum and activities so that parent-coaches can deliver the content effectively.  The program is intended to be activity based with progressive instruction to occur as the child develops.  Play will be the focus of the program in a non-competitive format.

Grants of cash and SNAG equipment valued at $12,000 each were awarded to the following agencies for 2011:

Glendale Parks and Recreation – Glendale, Ariz.
Carson Parks and Recreation – Carson, Calif.
Manhattan Beach Parks and Recreation – Manhattan Beach, Calif.
Santa Clarita Parks, Recreation, and Community Service – Santa Clarita, Calif.
Hyland Hills Parks and Recreation – Federal Heights, Colo.
Miami-Dade County Park and Recreation – Miami, Fla.
Orange County Parks and Recreation – Orlando, Fla.
Treasure Island Recreation – Treasure Island, Fla.
Indian River County Recreation – Vero Beach, Fla.
Lawrence Parks and Recreation – Lawrence, Kan.
Ann Arbor Parks and Recreation – Ann Arbor, Mich.
Springfield-Greene County Parks and Recreation – Springfield, Mo.
Roseville Parks and Recreation – Roseville, Minn.
Los Alamos County Recreation – Los Alamos, N.M.
West Allis-West Milwaukee Recreation – West Allis, Wis.

NRPA CEO Barbara Tulipane remarked, “NRPA believes this partnership with SNAG® is a fantastic opportunity to help enrich and expand park and recreation agency programs, while emphasizing our commitment to support health and wellness across the U.S.”

“We are proud to become partners with NRPA and hope to reach the shared goals of impacting over a million families with G-Ball,” said Terry Anton, the SNAGDADDY and co-creator of SNAG®.  “We appreciate the encouragement and support we have received from the World Golf Foundation in bringing golf to our municipal parks and recreation facilities.  We believe that many of these new golfers will want to play the game for a lifetime.”

Steve Mona, CEO of the World Golf Foundation, continued, “The G-Ball program promises to bring golf into parity with other organized sports by having entry-level programming at the grass-roots level.  We hope that the low cost of participation will bring families to the game that would not otherwise have an opportunity to participate.”


This is initiative is perfect for the NRPA as they have a commitment to inclusion and diversity while supporting health and wellness. SNAG Golf and G-Ball gets kids moving while teaching them the lifelong principles learned in the great game of golf. SNAG Golf and G-Ball promises to deliver a safe, affordable, and accessible golf experience in line with the principles of the NRPA.


ABOUT SNAG & NRPA:
SNAG® is an easy and fun way to learn and play golf at non-traditional venues.  SNAG® contains all the elements of golf but in a modified form.  Falling somewhere between miniature golf and regulation golf, SNAG® allows for full shots, pitching, chipping and putting.  It is a proven learning and training program for the entry-level golfer. Currently, SNAG® is the skills-acquisition program used in our national schools golf program headed by the World Golf Foundation’s First Tee Program.  There are more than 5,000 schools that are successfully introducing children to golf in the U.S. and over 8,000 worldwide. 


The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts that enhance quality of life for all people.  Through its network of 20,000 recreation and park professionals and citizens, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy lifestyles, recreation initiatives, and conservation of natural and cultural resources. 

For more information on the SNAG G-Ball grant program, go to www.NRPA.org/SNAG, or contact Nancy Logan at 703.858.2199 or nlogan@nrpa.org.

For more program specifics and resources: CLICK HERE

To view the official Press Release: CLICK HERE 

To view the article about G-Ball in the April Parks & Recreation magazine, page 72: CLICK HERE

To download a brochure: CLICK HERE

To view video from Miami-Dade County Park & Rec Dept: http://youtu.be/b__N4_kFWGE