The 25th Annual Haggin Oaks Easter Egg Hunt and Pancake Breakfast was a huge hit!

After 2 years of not having this event due to COVID-19 everyone at Morton Golf wanted to make sure this year was a HUGE success.

Easter morning moved fast.

Over a dozen junior golfers arrived at 8:00 a.m. to help layout 6,000 plastic eggs.  They needed to make sure all age categories between 0 -10 had their share of plastic eggs along with several plastic eggs with a WINNING ticket inside for a prize.  Your prize consisted of either a stuffed bunny rabbit, junior backpack or a junior golf club.  While the families waited for the much anticipated egg hunt at 11:00 a.m. sharp they enjoyed a FREE pancake breakfast cooked by Chef Blanca at Haggin Oaks. Then it was on to participate in the sidewalk chalk area to write your name so the Easter Bunny knew You were there. Several families had the opportunity to have their picture taken with the live bunny.

At 10:59 and 50 seconds we all counted down to when the “egg hunt” started.

Easter morning ended with smiles and happy family shouting, “See you next year!”. Thanks again to Morton Golf family for never forgetting to give back to our community.

We were able to catch up with Morton Golf Foundation 2019 College Scholarship Recepient, Natalie Groom to find out what she’s been up to since we last spoke.

How did the College Scholarship help you personally?

It aided me in the past to be debt free so far in my college years. I am now in my Junior Year at Wayne State University in Detroit, Ml

Please let us know how you are doing.

I am doing well. I have had a great college experience playing on the Women’s Golf Team and my academic path to a marketing career.

How have you used the tools from the game of golf in your everyday life?

Golf has taught me many life lessons that keep me going when life presents obstacles.

Are you or have you played golf on a college team? For which college team? If not, are you continuing to play the game recreationally?

This is my 3rd year playing for Wayne State University. I have opportunities to play across the country by being with the team

Are you giving back to your community or looking forward to using your skills for making a difference with others in your future?

My college golf team volunteers in Michigan at the Humane Society. We have a wonderful team camaraderie.

Thank you so much Natalie . We look forward to your continued success.

How did the Youth Development Grant help your junior golf development?

The Youth Development Grant helped me to be able to play in more events and grow within the game. I would not have been able to get better and obtain the experience that I did without this grant because my family and I simply could not afford to play in a bunch of tournaments.

How did the College Scholarship help you personally?

The scholarship tremendously helped me get started in school. Receiving various partial scholarships all added up and allowed me to purchase books and cover some of my outstanding fees such as a meal plan.

Please let us know how you are doing.

I am doing great! My team and I won our conference championship last season and I graduate in one semester! I just received honors by making the Dean’s list last semester and after I graduate I plan to attend graduate school.

How have you used the tools from the game of golf in your everyday life?

I have used the tools I have gained from golf in my everyday life because these qualities shaped me into who I am today. The perseverance, patience, and determination I gained from playing golf for all these years have helped me in and out of the classroom by being able to complete deadlines and I will continue to use my leadership and communication skills once I enter the work field.

Are you or have you played golf on a college team? For which college team? If not, are you continuing to play the game recreationally? Please share any special college golf or college experiences with us.

I currently play on the University of West Georgia Women’s golf team and the most special event that took place was definitely receiving our championship ring! We won the championship by one stroke and we were recognized as a team at one of our home football games.

Are you giving back to your community or looking forward to using your skills for making a difference with others in your future?

I definitely am giving back to my community and I plan to continue doing so. I am continuously teaching minority youth about the importance of this game and being living proof of how far the game could take you. I volunteer my time over the summers when I come home to different organizations such as One Swing Golf Academy and Black Child Legacy which both focus on teaching minority youth the basics of the game and providing them with the opportunity to play.

Thank you Ari, for letting us know what you’ve been up to. Congratulations on your Championship!

We recently spoke with Kattie Harris, one of the Morton Golf Foundation’s Youth Development Grant recipients, about what she’s been up to since we last saw her.

How did the Youth Development Grant help your junior golf development?

The grant gave me a lot of opportunities to decide what I wanted to do after High School

Please let us know how you are doing.

I am now in my Junior year at Portland State on a golf scholarship. Due to COVID I will stay in school for the 5th year and work on my Masters and continue to play on the golf team. I am aiming at a double major in Economics & Political Science with a Minor in Business.

How have you used the tools from the game of golf in your everyday life?

Golf gave me confidence. I would not be the person I am today without golf in my life.

Are you or have you played golf on a college team? For which college team?

Yes. I play on the Women’s Golf Team at Portland State

Are you giving back to your community or looking forward to using your skills for making a difference with others in your future?

In Portland, OR I am teaching junior golf at a local club. I automatically teach First Tee’s 9 core values without thinking because that is how I live my life.

Thank you so much Katie for letting us know what you’ve been up to. We look forward to your continued success.

We are starting a new column here with our Morton Golf Foundation scholarship recipients. First up is Thomas Coppola. Let’s take a look at what he’s been up to:

How did the College Scholarship help you personally?

It helped me afford my textbooks for my first year of college.

Please let us know how you are doing.

I ended up graduating from the University of Idaho with a B.S in business and my full class A PGA status. I am now working in Roseville At GOLFTEC as a personal instructor

How have you used the tools from the game of golf in your everyday life?

Golf is a game of patience and using patience is key in the workforce for dealing with students and other guests.

Are you or have you played golf on a college team? For which college team? If not, are you continuing to play the game recreationally? Please share any special college golf or college experiences with us.

I continue to play golf on most days off. It’s a game that I enjoy playing for fun or competitively with most friends.

Are you giving back to your community or looking forward to using your skills for making a difference with others in your future?

I feel like I’m giving back as being a mentor to some of my younger students who are in high school playing, or getting ready to play, on their golf teams.

Thank you so much Thomas! We look forward to following your career wherever it may take you.

Bing Maloney Golf Course hosted the Morton Golf Foundation’s “100 Holes of Golf on Saturday, November 6.

From the moment we drove in the entrance of Bing Maloney Golf Course & saw the “Welcome Junior Golf Marathon” on the marquee we knew it was going to be a great day.

30 juniors, families & friends gathered to play “100 Holes of Golf” on the E9 as a fundraiser to support the 2022 Junior Golf Development Grant program.

The juniors themselves go out to gather donations as many of them also receive funds & benefits from this program. This is a very rewarding way for these juniors to help pay it forward.

This was a day the juniors could just play the game, laugh with friends & not turn in a golf score.

Every player today was a Winner.

Not only in the prizes & fun on the course but off the course as they represent Morton Golf Foundation & the core values we all live by.

The event ended with new friendships made over lunch in the Maloney Grille as everyone looks forward to next year’s “100 Holes of Golf”.

On Monday, October 18^th, 2021 the 20 Scholarship WINNERS for Morton Golf Foundation were invited to go on stage and be recognized for their high school achievements through the game of golf.

The scholarship winners are awarded dollars to use to future their education.  They are not required to play golf in college to receive this scholarship.

This year with “Golf & Guitars” being held in October due to COVID-19 many of the 20 scholarship winners were already at school.

Their parents were invited to come to “Golf & Guitars” and cheer when their child’s name was announced.  It’s fun to see the picture where there are so many different ages because the parents are present in our 2021 scholarship picture.

Congratulations to all of our scholarship winners!