A Brief History
In 1999 Hook A Kid On Golf started the Traditions of Golf Challenge to allow participants in the program the opportunity to gather and compete against each other in a fun three day event. The Traditions of Golf Challenge is an annual event that combines playing scores with rules, etiquette and history knowledge. Each team's score from their round is combined with their "Traditions of Golf" score to determine the overall champion of the two-day tournament. Knowing what to do after a ball has splashed into a lateral water hazard and how to properly repair a ball mark are just as important as sinking birdie putts.

This will be the 9th year that teams from around the country, Canada and Mexico have come together to test not only their golf skills but their knowledge of the game. This year 18 teams will gather at the Cascades Golf Course in Bloomoington, Indiana to see who will become the Traditions of Golf Challenge Champion.

Past Winners    
1999  West Palm Beach, FL   2000  Derby, Kansas
2001  New Braunfels, Texas 2002  Cuernavaca, Mexico
2003  Cuernavaca, Mexico   2004  Prospect Heights, IL 
2005  Prospect Heights, IL  2006  Cuernavaca, Mexico 
2007  Prospect Heights, IL 
 
Peoria Park District (Ill.) to host 2008 Traditions of Golf Challenge Aug 8-10

Back in 2000, Hook A Kid On Golf’s annual event – the Traditions of Golf Challenge – was still relatively new. The Peoria Park District (Ill.) – a Hook A Kid On Golf site since 1996 – was eager to get involved and agreed to host the second ever Traditions. Since then the event has grown to include communities from several countries across North America, and the Peoria Park District has been present every step of the way.

 

Eight years later, Peoria Park District is again excited to be hosting the Traditions of Golf Challenge. On August 8 youth golfers from across North America will descend upon Kellogg Golf Course in Peoria for three days of fun, exercise and learning.

 

“We welcome it, we can’t wait to do it,” Petty said. “We held one of the first and since then we’ve been waiting for it to come back.”

 

Of the five different courses utilized by the Peoria Park District, Kellogg Golf Course was chosen for the 2008 Traditions site. Kellogg Golf Course consists of an 18-hole course for medium to low handicap golfers, as well as the Kellogg Executive 9 – a nine-hole executive course, recommended for all players wanting to improve their game and enjoy family fun.

 

“We welcome the opportunity to show off our program,” Petty said. “We have a lot of golf interest in this area so we think it will be beneficial to the program and to the city.”

 

The tournament, the only one of its kind in the country, tests not only players’ abilities at negotiating their way around the course, but also their knowledge of golf’s rules, etiquette and history of the game. 

 

Petty – a golfer of 40-plus years – knows full well how golf participation and instruction can benefit a youngster.

 

“Sportsmanship, the etiquette, it’s a gentleman’s sport that teaches honesty and all of those things,” he said. “I came to golf by being a caddy when I was younger. Starting at that age aids in coming back to the sport. Most of the kids I caddied with are still playing golf well into their old age.”

 

In the past the Traditions has consisted of teams from 12 different communities. However, this year Hook A Kid On Golf is striving to have 16 teams participate. Hook A Kid On Golf is also currently in the process of awarding travel grant opportunities for those communities in need of funding.