August 2007

Journal - Issue 4

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Calendar of Events

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Columnists



2007 Scholarship Recipients
at the PGA Jr. Golf Academy

July 15-20, 2007


Youth Dominates at Erin Hills Event

Congratulations to Blake Jens, age 14 and Drew Langan, age 13, for their first and second place finish in our annual "Playing the Game With All Your Heart" tournament held at Erin Hills GC on July 21. With their impressive play, Blake and Drew beat out a group of twenty-one adults including their proud dads.


How do you show SIS Pride?

These SIS Members show off their pride everywhere they go. Let us know how you show off your pride.


Jim Christain, Nashville, Tennessee


Trevor Willmott, Lexington, Kentucky


 

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Contact Us

Steve Cohen, President
Shivas@shivas.org

Jo Crisp, Member Services
Jo@shivas.org

Office: 831.899.8441
Fax: 831.899.8453

We can smell freshly sharpened pencils and hear parents everywhere breathing a sigh of relief because schools around the country are opening their doors after a long summer break.

Here at the Society,
kids are making all the news!

 

Teaching Positive Life Skills To Our Children

Thanks to the contributions by SIS members to the Shivas Irons Society Scholarship Fund, disadvantaged youth from around the country learn and develop positive life skills through their exposure to the game of golf.

Each summer, the Society sponsors a group of at-risk and deserving youth for a one week camp at the Tennessee PGA Junior Golf Academy at Golf House in Franklin, TN. In 2007, the Society sponsored 8 children from Chicago, Atlanta, and Nashville (pictured left). In addition to camp tuition the Society provides air transportation and, if necessary, a clothing allowance and spending money for the participants.

Since the inception of this program in 1995 the Society has provided more than $121,000 in scholarship funds. The cost is approximately $1,000-$1,500 per child to cover tuition, travel, and
other essentials.

Through the camp and follow-up contact, the Society provides opportunities for personal growth and self-awareness for the attendees. In addition to golf instruction, the juniors are exposed to and educated in the traditions, history and virtues of the game of golf. They learn how to apply the positive attributes that the game offers into their daily lives while they realize improvements in their own level of play. As part of the camp experience the juniors are greeted by and often hosted by local members of the Shivas Irons Society during their time in Tennessee.


WHAT THE KIDS SAY…

PAST RECIPIENTS DETAIL THEIR EXPERIENCE AT CAMP

~Yaa- Asantewaa Boakye - 2005 Recipient

"I was first intrigued by this crazy game of golf, the summer before my sophomore year as a caddie in the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Foundation (DMSF). I wanted to really learn how to play the game of golf well especially since I helped golfers throughout the summer. Luckily an opportunity arose for the possibility for one DMSF girl caddie and one DMSF boy caddie to attend the golf camp, Allison recommended me and Marcus to be the recipients our sophomore year to attend with all expenses paid. Let me tell you I felt so privileged to be able to attend without the burden of payment, I’ve worked so hard each summer to help my mom pay bills and to be able to pursue my ambition of attending a golf camp and becoming better versed about how to play golf made me really ecstatic.

I really enjoyed the various lessons that were held; chipping, putting, and driving. Before I arrived I was quite nervous about other kids who were going to be there making fun of my lack of skill and lack of nice clubs. However, it wasn’t as I imagined it at all. It was very stunning to have the experience of being in a small group of kids that had a similar level of golf experiences sharing tips, being encouraging and an enthusiastic with me and patient instructors willing to do their best to help us improve our game. It wasn’t the golf lessons that made me have such a valuable experience it was also, my 6 lovely roommates from various regions of the Midwest and West Coast who helped get over my fear of playing golf with other and shared their tough experiences of being an inexperience golfer like myself.

Now 2 years have passed since I’ve attended the camp; but, I still have the confidence and tips that I gained when I attended. I’ve watched golf on TV ever since, I chip on a huge field on my high school with a couple of people I know and I also take lessons with a golf pro Juan during the summer and will continue taking lessons as a fourth year caddie this summer. I hope to take lessons during the school year when I attend Northwestern University Communication School this fall as a Chick Evans Scholar. But no matter where I end up in life golf will definitely be on my mind, it’s my favorite obsession. The golf camp definitely set in stone my soon to be lifelong obsession of the game of golf. Thanks so much for the opportunity to attend; I hope others will be able to gain this obsession as well through your support."


~Marcus Thomas Jr. - 2005 Recipient

"My name is Marcus J. Thomas Jr. I am currently a senior at Hales Franciscan High School and a Daniel Murphy Scholar. I will be attending the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana as a Chick Evans Scholar. I was writing this letter to thank you for giving me the opportunity to attend the Jr. Golf Academy in Tennessee two years ago. The Jr. Golf Academy helped me develop a sense of self-discipline for myself and for the game of golf. I have developed a strong passion for the game that no one can take from me thanks to the Shivas Iron Society and Jr. Golf Academy.

Now that I have developed this self-discipline, I will go on to the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana majoring in chemical engineering. The engineering program at University of Illinois usual takes five years but I will try to finish in four while playing golf. I have set high goals for college and thanks to the Shivas Iron Society and Jr. Golf Academy.

In conclusion, I feel that if the Shivas Iron Society continues to help young golfers like myself then the Shivas Iron Society will continue to make an impact on the lives of many children to come."


How You Can Help...

Click here to make a tax-deductible contribution to the Shivas Irons Society Scholarship Fund.

Support our annual online auction coming in late September!

Donate an item or bid on a donated item. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Scholarship Fund.

To donate an item, please contact Jo at Jo@shivas.org or by calling 831.899.8441

Shivas Irons - The Band

Shivas Irons has taken on a new look and sound.

Trevor Willmott, Vinay Shroff, and Jonathan Beam of Lexington, Kentucky have been playing together since junior high school, recording their first album of original music in 2005.

When asked how they picked their name, Trevor stated that his father and 90 year old grandfather are avid golfers. Rick, Trevor's father, suggested Shivas Irons to the boys and they agreed they liked the "mystical theme" behind the name. In fact, three of the songs on their 2005 album were inspired by the cover of Michael Murphy's The Kingdom of Shivas Irons.

Now seniors in high school, they are in their studio writing and recording for a new album of mostly instrumentals. Influenced by and yet transcending all genres, their sound is uniquely their own. In their free time, they play venues and charity events around Lexington and give music lessons.

Recently they were contacted by iLLUMINA records in Tennessee and have been selected to be part of a promotional campaign with a total of 20 bands to increase awareness of drunk-driving through shows, online magazines, and a promotional CD which will include their latest song “The Stitches".

These fine young men define discovery and community. Check them out and hear their newest songs at:

http://www.myspace.com/shivasirons

Purchase the Shivas Irons CD here.

*Special thanks to Ted Cowen for bringing this story to our attention.

 

 

 

CONNECTIONS is intended to promote the exchange of information between members in all geographic areas and in transcendent and synchronistic ways. It is a forum for reporting on past events, announcing upcoming ones, seeking assistance, and connecting with others.

We wish to generate discussion on local, regional, national, international and inter-dimensional levels. Our inspiration comes from a poster labeled “Dangerous Connections” that Shivas Irons revealed to Michael Murphy in Golf in the Kingdom. Like the philosophers and their inventions on that poster, we are all connected in a deep, mysterious, and intriguing way.

Along with our website and The Journal of the Shivas Irons Society we shall continue to bring you feature articles, in-depth reflections and stories from members and other writers, past and present.

Please make the “Connection” and let us know what is going on with YOU and the group in your area, however large or small. Submit pictures, experiences, comments or questions to CONNECTIONS@shivas.org