News Release Header
For Immediate Release:
June 26, 2014
Media Contact:
Laura Phillips
[email protected]
305-755-7842

Mayor's Cup Youth Golf Series encouraging kids to give golf a swing this summer


(MIAMI, June 25, 2014) —The Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department will present the Mayor’s Cup Youth Golf Series, during the months of June and July.  A series of two unique summer golf competitions, for boys and girls, which include the “Mayor’s Cup Youth Golf Tournament” for seasoned golfers, ages 17 and under, and the “Mayor’s Cup Youth SNAG Golf Challenge” for beginner golfers of all abilities, ages 14 and under.  The annual youth sporting events are part of the Youth Sports Championship Series, an initiative of Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez aimed at increasing participation in youth athletics. Registration is now open for both golf competitions.

As a father, grandfather and lifetime advocate of the long-term health benefits of regular exercise for children, Mayor Gimenez knows first-hand the esteemed values developed from continuous involvement in athletics. “Youth sporting events, such as the Mayor’s Cup Youth Golf Series, are a great way for children to learn how to play and compete in a sport,” he said. “Through sports like golf, they also learn life-skills such as good sportsmanship, teamwork, responsibility, and discipline, which are the core ingredients for successful living.”

Mayor’s Cup Youth Golf Tournament and Championship - Ages 17 and under

Sponsored by Golf Miami-Dade and the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade 

Miami-Dade Parks’ five golf courses are designated tournament sites. Qualifying tournaments were held at Palmetto Golf on June 15 and at Briar Bay Golf on June 22.  Below are the dates and locations of three remaining qualifying tournaments. Advance registration is required. The cost is $10 per player. Tournaments tee off at 11:00 a.m. 

June 29

Country Club of Miami

6801 NW 186 Street, Miami 

(18-hole site)

 July 13

Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne

6700 Crandon Boulevard, Key Biscayne

(18-hole site)

 July 20

Greynolds Golf Course

17530 W Dixie Highway, North Miami Beach

(9-hole site) 

The format for the Youth Golf Tournament is individual stroke play and by age division: 12 and under, 13-15 and 16-17. Top golfers from each of the five qualifying tournaments will compete in the Mayor’s Cup Golf Championship taking place on August 10, at Crandon Golf. The public is invited to attend and watch the Championship free of charge.  

Mayor’s Cup Youth SNAG Golf Challenge and Championship – Ages 6-14

Sponsored by Golf Miami-Dade, Jack Nicholas Learning League, 2 Up Golf Club of Miami, Inc., and Golfing Gals

                                                                                                           

The innovative “Starting New At Golf” (SNAG) program offer players of all ages and abilities the opportunity to learn and play the game of golf in almost any environment. Since 2013, SNAG/JNLL (Jack Nicholas Learning League) has been a component of the Miami-Dade County Parks’ Fit2Play® after-school and summer camp curriculum.  The format uses lighter, kid-friendly golf clubs, Velcro balls, targets, and other teaching tools. 

Youth SNAG Golf teams will consist of four (4) players and be co-ed, having at least one boy and one girl on a team.  Teams in the 6-9 and 10-14 age groups are invited to participate in one of these regional SNAG Golf Challenges being held from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., on July 22: 

North Region

Gwen Cherry Park

7090 NW 22 Avenue, Miami 

Central Region

Tamiami Park

11201 SW 24 Street, Miami 

South Region

Goulds Park

11350 SW 216 Street, Miami

Registration is free and required by Monday, July 21. Age-appropriate golf equipment will be provided. The regional SNAG Golf Challenges will culminate in the Mayor’s Cup Youth SNAG Golf Championship, taking place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., on August 11, at Tamiami Park.  The public is invited to attend and watch the Championship free of charge. 

To register for the Mayor’s Cup Youth Golf Series competitions and for more information, visit www.PlayMiami.org, or contact Chris Evans at (305) 755-7885 or [email protected].

Registration fees for these sports competitions support the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade’s efforts for the youth sports development component of Miami-Dade County Parks’ Fit2Play® after-school and summer camp programs.

About the SNAG & JNLL

SNAG® Golf ('Starting New At Golf') is the a program to effectively teach the game of golf to people of all ages and ability levels. SNAG® Golf offers the versatility to learn and play in almost any environment. Over the past 10 years, SNAG® Golf has built a premier learning system recognized by industry leaders around the world as the superior method to teach golf fundamentals in a fun and easy way. In 2013, a national grassroots initiative to bring entry-level golf to millions of children and adults was spearheaded by Jack Nicklaus and SNAG® Golf in conjunction with the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA). Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues (JNLL), using SNAG® programming and equipment, and are used in Parks and Recreation facilities across the country in order to increase access to and engagement in the game of golf for youth and active adults.

About the Youth Sports Championship Series:

The Youth Sports Championship Series featuring the newly coveted Miami-Dade County Mayor’s Cup, is the vision of Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez who as a father, grandfather and volunteer youth sports coach believes in the values and benefits children derive from participating in organized sports. Awarded the 2014 National Association of Counties Achievement Award, The Mayor’s Youth Sports Championship Series aims to build and support a strong foundation of organized sports throughout Miami-Dade County through a series of sport championships coordinated by the Miami-Dade Parks Department and the local governing body of the individual youth sport. Champions will be crowned in 10 sports at 15 events, predominantly at Miami-Dade County owned parks and facilities. Winners of championships in tennis, track and field, basketball, baseball, flag football, golf, swimming, cross country, cheer/dance, and soccer will be crowned with the Mayor’s Cup.

About the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department: 

Nationally accredited, a three-time winner of the NRPA National Gold Medal Award, winner of the 2013 Florida Governor’s Sustained Excellence Award and the 2009 Florida Governor’s Sterling Award for excellence in management and operations, Miami-Dade County Parks is the third largest county park system in the United States, consisting of 260 parks and 12,825 acres of land. It is one of the most unique park and recreation systems in the world. Made up of more than just playgrounds and athletic fields, it also comprises out-of-school, sports-development, and summer-camp programs; programs for seniors and people with disabilities; educational nature centers and nature preserves; environmental restoration efforts; arts and culture programs and events; the renowned Zoo Miami and the Deering Estate at Cutler; the Crandon Tennis Center, home of the Sony Open; golf courses; beaches; marinas; campgrounds; pools; and more. For information about Miami-Dade County Parks call 3-1-1, or visit www.miamidade.gov/parks/

Miami-Dade County Parks is supported by The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade a non-profit 501(c)3 organization supporting the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department’s efforts to further develop Miami-Dade County’s world-class parks system for residents and visitors. Its mission is to create a healthier, more livable and sustainable Miami community by ensuring the implementation of the Parks Open Space Master Plan and the development of year-round park and recreation programs for local children, adults and people with disabilities.  For more information on the Parks Foundation, please visit www.liveaparklife.org

To request material in accessible format, information on access for persons with disabilities, or sign language interpreter services (7 days in advance), call (305) 755-7848.