Schools go from ‘at-risk’ to title contenders
spent some time in winter driving
around the state to deliver grant
checks to at-risk high school golf programs
on behalf of the WSGA Foundation. It
was a great opportunity to meet with
athletic directors, coaches and players
and hear about their successes as well
as the challenges they are facing.
I think my favorite visit was to South-
western High School in Hazel Green. The
school received grants for its golf teams.
They called the golfers out of class so
they could snap a photo of the check
presentation for the school website. The
boys were wearing dress shirts and ties,
although it probably had more to do
with their basketball playoff game that
night than my visit.
I spent some time with their coach, Al-
bert Reiff, who expressed what an impact
the grant was going to have on all of the
players in the program. He also intro-
duced me to his top player, Josh Smith,
and we talked about golf and his aspira-
tion to get a college golf scholarship.
Fast forward to the WIAA State Boys
Golf Tournament at University Ridge near
Madison in June. I was there assisting
the WIAA with rules. Smith birdied the
18th hole to win the Division 3 individual
title. It was the first state golf title in
Southwestern High School history. I was
I
glad I was there so I could congratulate
him and his coach in person.
Hopefully this is the first of many
stories like this that will come from the
WSGA Foundation’s At-Risk High School
Golf Program. Without it, dozens of golf
teams around the state facing financial
difficulties would not have the financial
support they need to continue. It would
be a shame if talented golfers in the
future don’t have a chance to play high
school golf.
As the program has grown – to award-
ing more than $18,000 in grants this
year – the need to raise funds has also
grown. The largest fundraiser of the year
is the WSGA Foundation Golf Outing,
scheduled for Monday, Sept. 24, at Erin
Hills and Chenequa CC. Participants will
enjoy lunch, golf at a fantastic course,
dinner, as well as a great lineup of
auction items. More information can be
found here. We hope you will join us for
a fun day in support of a great cause.
I would also like to congratulate all of
the WSGA tournament champions so far
this season, as well as Syd Wells and
David Miley on their recent election to
the WSGA Hall of Fame.
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