Journal - Issue 4 
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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
Submit Your Story
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Please send your ideas or story to CONNECTIONS@shivas.org.
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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
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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.
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