Mission and History

The Cape Coral Junior Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth sports organization, established in 1989 in Cape Coral, Florida, to expose the youth in Cape Coral and the surrounding communities to the game of golf.

Mission

The mission of the Cape Coral Junior Golf Association program is to introduce and stimulate an interest in the game of golf for children ages 7 to 18 by offering golf instruction, golf etiquette, introducing the life skills of discipline, responsibility, respect and fellowship, all provided in a venue that promotes healthy competition and sportsmanship at affordable means.

History

The Cape Coral Junior Golf Association program was founded in 1989 by PGA Master Professional Mike Clayton. His Vision was to create a program for children that would grow the game of golf, and create a tradition in Cape Coral that would sustain itself for many years.

Two Original Cape Coral Junior Golf Association volunteers, Marianne Drahos and Carole Egan, took over the program in the early 1990’s and coordinated the best junior golf program in Southwest Florida for the next 25 years. These two ladies were honored in 2012 by the Southwest Florida PGA as Henry Watkins Award recipients, which recognizes individuals for their contributions to amateur golf. They retired from the program at the completion of the 2015 season after serving the youth in Cape Coral for 30 years and will be remembered as pillars in the Cape Coral golfing community.

Since the inception of the program, hundreds of volunteers have assisted in introducing the game of golf to more than 7000 boys and girls, age 7 to 18. Some Children who participated in the program have gone to play college and professional golf, many have become successful in business, and some are leaders in our community. We see many former participants come back and volunteer, and some of them are now bringing their own children to come and play.

The City of Cape Coral Mayor, Council, and Administration have been instrumental in allowing this program to succeed by providing the golf course at no charge for six Mondays every summer since the beginning of the program. The Coral Oaks Golf Course staff including PGA Professionals in our area assist in making the program a huge success and we look forward to maintaining these great partnerships for many years in the future.

With approximately 13,000 children enrolled in 26 schools throughout Cape Coral, The Cape Coral Junior Golf Association’s Junior Golf Program has a bright future and many years of success ahead to maintain the history and tradition of this great program.