Past Rotary Presidents together again

After working together as Rotary Club Presidents four years ago, Cliff Hood, Past President of the Helen, GA Rotary Club and Tsali Bentley, Past President of the Blairsville GA Rotary Club are reunited through their sons. Cliff's son, Alex, and Tsali's son, T, are playing together in the 13/14 and 11/12 divisions, respectfully, of The Ridges Junior Golf Tour this year. Recently, Cliff asked Tsali to speak at the Helen Rotary Club about the Tri-County Junior Golf Association and Rotary's involvement during its infancy.

Three years ago The Tri-County Junior Golf Association finished their first year with less then 20 players and was looking for ideas to help spur growth and provide

funding. Tsali, a Tri-County Junior Golf Association Board Member approached several Rotary clubs in northeast Georgia about the idea of helping fund the golf group. What followed was The Rotary Junior Golf Tour with 6 individual tournaments on a fall tour, a weekend tournament and a skills competition.

The tour is now called The Ridges Junior Golf Tour, named after the association's primary sponsor, The Ridges Resort, in Hayesville, NC. This year's tour has 78 junior players (full capacity) traveling each week from seven of the surrounding counties. Three past participants are currently playing golf at the college level. According to Steve Gonyea, President of

The Tri-County Junior Golf Association, and Golf Course Superintendent at Brasstown Valley Resort, "Rotary's involvement was like a shot in the arm that got us climbing toward our full potential. The Rotary clubs and their members were vital in our growth and still play an essential part".

The purpose of The Tri-County Junior Golf Association is "To teach the values of sportsmanship, honesty, self-discipline, integrity and competitive spirit through the game of golf." It is not a teaching tour of how to play the game of golf but a competitive tour teaching values. For information on The Tri-County Junior Golf Association, contact Tsali Bentley at 706-745-0001.