Recreation, Education, Awareness, Community and Health
The Championship Committee of Bellerive Country Club and the Gateway PGA Foundation are committed to an expansive economic and community investment program under the banner of PGA REACH. This collection of initiatives in the St. Louis regional area will encompass recreational benefits of golf, enhancements to educational performance, and awareness of golf's substantial economic impact and contributions to family health for St Louis communities. To achieve this, PGA REACH will utilize the Gateway PGA Foundation, Bellerive Country Club, allied golf and civic minded organizations.
Recreation
Golf is a fun, affordable family activity and the Gateway PGA and other golf organizations in the state will partner with community-based organizations to promote participation. The vision will include golf parks in inner city St Louis and Joplin, MO, to serve as green space welcome centers for juniors and their parents. Leveraging programs such as the PGA Junior Sports Academy, Family Golf Month, and a new partnership with the Boys and Girls Club (B&GCA), golf will be a part of more Missouri families. A Fresh Soil Golf Park will host the first inner city high school golf teams in St Louis.
Education
Through golf mentoring programs, such as Midnight Golf, and other family service initatives such as K Life and B&GCA, we will positively impact the academic performance of St Louis youth resulting in an improvement of the high school graduation rate. Each percentage point gain has millions of dollars of economic impact for our community.
Awareness
Leveraging the state's golf assets and the 2013 Senior PGA Championship and the 2018 PGA Championship will attract millions of new visitors to our State generating millions of dollars of incremental revenue and supporting job creation in tourism. With a total annual economic impact of $1.7 billion, golf is a vital part of communities throughout the State. The Championships alone will generate an estimated $100 Million of economic imact. Missouri Golf Day, a Missouri Golf Trail, and the recruitment of additional high-profile events further enhance the impact of golf in the State.
Community
PGA REACH is committed to working with state and local governments to address long-term education, economic development and health issues facing communities. To achieve measurable outcomes, PGA REACH will enlist the combined talents of the Gateway PGA Foundation, Bellerive Country Club; Missouri allied golf organizations, and civically involved organizations.
Health
Healthy families are the foundation of every successful community and REACH will bring focus on health and nutrition to millions of Missouri family members. From Golf in Schools, to the First Tee, to Let's Move Outside, the Gateway PGA Foundation, and Bellerive Country Club, and allied golf organizations will combat childhood obesity, increase awareness of the benefits of nutrition and exercise, thus improving the health of Missouri communities and the families within them.
To read a letter about the Outreach and its efforts click here.
Exciting planning is underway and more news about the Gateway PGA Outreach will be posted when it becomes available.
