Smiling Fore Life
Smiling Fore Life
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In 2010, The South Florida PGA Foundation created Smiling Fore Life, a program whereby SFPGA Professionals visit local children’s hospitals weekly. The PGA Professionals bring golf into children’s lives who may be experiencing hardship, and afford them with an opportunity to forget about the struggles they are experiencing, get out of their hospital room and enjoy a fun and new activity. In addition to the great benefits this program provides to the children it also affords SFPGA Professionals the opportunity to get more involved in the local community. Currently four hospitals and one children’s healthcare facility are participating in this program, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital in Hollywood, the Children’s Hospital at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, Golisano Children’s Hospital of SW Florida in Fort Myers, the Quantum House in West Palm Beach, and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami.
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Due to the international public help crisis, our PGA Professionals will not be able to visit our Smiling Fore Life host facilities for the rest of the year. Until we are able to join them in person again, we have provided a way for their Child Life Specialists to continue carrying the purpose of Smiling Fore Life. One of our PGA Professionals recommended we share "The Game of Golf" with those who normally participate in Smiling Fore Life. This game was taught to pediatric patients by PGA Professionals to help the kiddos learn golf lingo and understand scoring. By rolling die and keeping your individual score on a custom scorecard, patients can learn the game of golf indirectly. If you would like to use this game for teaching young golfers, feel free to download it via the button below. |
The Game of Golf |
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After nine years this program has experienced much growth and success, and impacts more than 1,100 young patients annually. In addition to not just providing golf to the patients, in September of 2012 a permanent mark was left at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital with the installation of an astroturf putting green on the facility’s fourth floor. This installation was a “hole in one” with the patients and physicians, said Nick Masi, Director of Family Centered Care at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital. Here is a snapshot of Smiling Fore Life in 2019:
Fast Facts
Our Smiling Fore Life locations:
For more stories on Smiling Fore Life & the positive impact it's made on the PGA Professionals that teach and the children participating click below!
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We are thankful for the financial support from our partnership with the Florida Junior Golf Council grant that supports our endeavor to support our local youth community through the game of golf. You can learn more about their organization's mission HERE. |
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