Mallinger Makes Time for the Kids

Feb 8, 2010

By PGA TOUR Staff

LOS ANGELES—John Mallinger realized if the kids couldn’t come to him then he would have to go to them.

Last week during the Northern Trust Open, Mallinger wanted to make sure that youngsters affiliated with The First Tee of South Los Angeles who weren’t able to watch PGA TOUR golf at Riviera Country Club in nearby Pacific Palisades would still get to see—and meet—a PGA TOUR player.

So on Tuesday of tournament week, Mallinger got in his car and headed toward 98th Street, home to The First Tee facility situated at the par-3 Maggie Hathaway Golf Course, hard by Jesse Owens Park. Once there, not far from Los Angeles International Airport, Mallinger gave a clinic for two hours, teaching the assembled junior golfers about the golf swing and demonstrating some of the things he can do when he has a golf club in his hands. Mallinger also encouraged the youth to not only play golf but to set goals, both in golf and in life. He finished his day by holding a putting contest and throwing in a three-hole challenge on the course for some of the more experienced players. Not far from the Pacific Ocean, Maggie Hathaway Golf Course was a setting familiar to the 29-year-old Mallinger, a Southern California native who grew up in the San Diego suburb of Escondido. He graduated from the University of California-Long Beach in 2002.

“It is important that we, as PGA TOUR pros, are willing to reach out to inner-city children whenever possible to promote golf,” Mallinger said. “Kids are the foundation of golf’s future. This was a unique opportunity for me to build into kids who, if it weren’t for The First Tee, might otherwise not get the exposure to our sport. It was a lot of fun, and I hope they all learned a little more about the golf swing.”
While youth can go to The First Tee facility and practice their games and learn the core values of what The First Tee teaches, it’s a treat when a PGA TOUR star stops by for a visit. Mallinger, ranked 129th in the Official World Golf Ranking, enjoyed his time interacting with and teaching the junior golfers.”

“The First Tee is definitely helping these kids learn how to hit the golf ball and play the game of golf with respect for one another. Golf becomes the vehicle for these kids to learn things like respect for others and respect for the game,” he said. “They learn patience and persistence that hopefully will translate to other areas of their lives.”