DELTONA, Fla: Kids from across the world get ready! Little Linksters, LLC, The Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development and The Littlest Golfer Inc. are pleased to announce the eighth installment of their Annual Best "Pee Wee" Golf Swing in the World Video Contest.
This is the eighth straight year of this kid-centric contest for children 8 years old and under. Once again, some very heavy hitters from the golf world have joined the cause, including World Golf Hall of Fame members, Annika Sorenstam and Jack Nicklaus, LPGA Superstar, Michelle Wie, Golf Channel personality, Charlie Rymer and 2017 PGA National Teacher of the Year, David Leadbetter. They will join regular yearly judges, 2014 PGA National Youth Player Development Award winner Nicole Weller, US Kids Golf Top 50 instructors Michelle Holmes and Tom Reid and the contest's host, and Little Linksters founder, Brendon Elliott, who recently won the 2017 PGA National Youth Player Development award winner.
"We are ecstatic to again have this opportunity to showcase to the world what the youngest among us can do with a golf club," explained PGA Professional Brendon Elliott, founder of Little Linksters. "We are very humbled to have had such a recognized and esteemed panel of judges over the years, including Jordan Spieth, Lydia Ko, Brooke Henderson, Andrew "Beef" Johnston, Tony Jacklin, Annika Sorenstam, Hank Haney, Kelly Sheehan, Lexi Thompson, Jim McLean, Win McMurry, Paula Creamer, Nicole Weller, Chuck Evans, Brittany Lincicome, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus, Keegan Bradley, Mark Bradley, Allen Wronowski, Frank Nobilo and Holly Sonders," added Elliott. In last year's contest, 200 entries poured in from over 14 countries from around the world.
Elliott, who is a US Kids Golf Top 50 Kids Teacher (2010-12), a 2013 US Kids Golf Top 50 Master Kids Teacher, a four-time NFPGA Junior Golf Leader award winner (2011-14), as well as a five-time Top 50 Growth of the Game Teacher as named by the Golf Range Association, was named the PGA of America's National Youth Player Development award winner this year and was recently named a 2017 GRAA Top 50 Elite Status Growth of the Game Teacher. Brendon will lead the judging of the Best Pee Wee Swing contest once again this year. He will be assisted by this year's celebrity panel of judges. Taking part in the 2017-2018 campaign:
•Annika Sorenstam
•Jack Nicklaus
•David Leadbetter
•Michelle Wie
•Charlie Rymer
•Nicole Weller
•Michelle Holmes
•Tom Reid
Parents are encouraged to participate in this contest by uploading a video (no longer than 60 sec) to YouTube of their "Little Linksters" swing. Once the video is posted to YouTube, parents must share that video link to the Contest Entry Form on the contest page on www.LittleLinksters.com. The contest entry period runs from November 29th, 2017 through Jan. 15th, 2018. Contest registration, complete details and instructions are available at https://littlelinksters.com/pee-wee-golf-swing-contest/
Prize packages will be awarded in four age categories: Under 3; 3-4 year olds; 5-6 year olds; and 7-8 year olds. Each prize package is valued at more than $1,000 and includes items from some of the industry's best children's golf apparel, equipment and training aid companies.
Winners will be announced at the 2018 PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando at the Littlest Golfer Inc. booth.
The Little Linksters golf program in Central Florida is designed specifically for children ages 3 to 8 years old. The program is taught in a fun and interactive way, using both traditional and non-traditional instructional methods to ensure children's first introduction to golf is FUN!
One of the Association's newest projects, called G.O.A.L.S. (Golf Outreach Advances Life Skills) is specifically aimed at introducing children ages 3-12+ with special needs to the game of golf. In doing so, children will learn valuable life skills that will help them throughout their life. The Special Olympics of Central Florida is a proud partner of Little Linksters efforts with this program. Support of the G.O.A.L.S. program has also come from the Alliance for Accessible Golf as well as Jordan Spieth and the Jordan Spieth Family Foundation.
Little Linksters hopes to add additional programming in 2018 that will touch children ages 3-8 that are in economically challenged situations, enduring lengthy hospital stays due to chronic illnesses and other youngsters that may have never had an opportunity such as those that Little Linksters offers. "Golf is more than a game; it is a tool to teach young children so much more and we hope to use this tool to enhance the lives of as many children as possible explains Elliott, Little Linksters founder and Executive Director.
