New England PGA honors Mike Foster as recipient of Junior Golf Leader Award

Mike Foster, head professional for the past 34 years at Larry Gannon Municipal Golf Course in Lynn, received the 2009 PGA Junior Golf Leader Award from the New England PGA at the organization’s special awards celebration dinner Saturday night at the Wollaston Golf Club in Milton.

The Junior Golf Leader Award is given to the PGA Professional as recognition of outstanding leadership in junior golf, providing opportunities and experiences for juniors to learn and play the game of golf.

Foster was the founder of what is now called the Callaway NEPGA Junior Golf Tour. He volunteered Mount Hood, Gannon Municipal, and Hillview Golf Course for the inaugural events on consecutive days. That success has led to the growth of the NEPGA Junior Tour with a membership of more than 700 golfers in 2009 and 70 tournaments scheduled during the summer and fall throughout New England.

Over the years, Foster has promoted and developed junior golf by offering free clinics along with junior golf tournaments every July and August. Foster visits Lyn public schools during the school year and the city’s playgrounds during the summer to promote junior golf by giving free clinics to the youth of Lynn.

Foster has also begun several golf tournament fundraisers, most notably the Lynn English/Lynn Classical High School Reunion Fundraiser that raised $16,000 in its first year for scholarships for high school students.

Foster is very proud of the number of his juniors that have decided to become members of the PGA of America. These PGA Professionals include Brian Gilchrist, Paul Boland, John O’Connor, Brian Hamilton, Dave Christy, John Boniface, Tony Sessa, Lou Katsos, and Chris Carter.

(The story above is reprinted from the PGA New England Section souvenir booklet).

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