Dustin Johnson Becomes First Contributor To Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues

Dustin Johnson

PGA Tour star Dustin Johnson has made the first pledge of support to the new Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues, an organization powered by SNAG (Starting New At Golf) designed to help bring golf in National Recreation and Park Association facilities across the country. Johnson's Foundation will make a $10,000 contribution to the effort.

The Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues (JNLL), powered by SNAG is supported by a non-profit entity known as G.O.L.F. (the Global Outreach for Learning Foundation).  Sponsor donations and funds are being raised to help reduce entry costs and to ensure JNLL will be successful for future generations.  G.O.L.F.’s mission is to help people develop golf skills and have fun through developmentally appropriate programs.  The goal is to ensure retention and provide a sustainable model for transition to other programs at golf facilities, in order to increase participation for current and future generations.

“Junior golf is the developmental cornerstone of our game, and it is critically important to the continued growth and popularity of the sport,” said Johnson.  “My Foundation and G.O.L.F. are both focused on the next generation of golfers, and I am proud to support Mr. Nicklaus and his new Learning Leagues with my donation.  Perhaps we will someday have a Jack Nicklaus Learning League here in my hometown of Myrtle Beach (S.C.).”

The Dustin Johnson Foundation was founded in 2010 for the purpose of supporting various youth initiatives with the primary focus of promoting and supporting youth and college golf programs. Johnson owes much of his success to strong youth golf programs that he participated in and believes that youth programs are important to give children and young adults strong foundations that they can carry throughout their lives both on and off the course.

The Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues will launch in May at select National Recreation and Park Association facilities in five major markets.  The innovative Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues, combined with SNAG’s well-established, first-touch development program, will provide a golf learning experience for children, ages 5 through 12, in a safe, affordable and accessible environment.

The Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues will ultimately become a global philanthropic endeavor to bring the sport to emerging golf regions and countries that are embracing the game as part of the Olympic movement.  For further information about the Jack Nicklaus Learning Leagues, powered by SNAG, call (866) 946-5092 or e-mail jnll@snaggolf.com.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf