FAR HILLS, N.J. (July 24, 2015) – A spirited group of more than 35 young golfers took part in the summer's second MGA/MetLife Youth Clinic, hosted by the USGA at their headquarters in Far Hills, N.J. on Wednesday. Groups from The First Tee of Metropolitan New York’s Plainfield West and Essex County facilities were in attendance and able to enjoy the day’s events.

Participants were greeted by USGA Manager of Marketing & Outreach, Kim Gianetti, who filled everyone in on the activities that take place at Golf House and the role the USGA plays in the game. Participants were entertained by a golf exhibition put on by First Tee ambassador and Honorary Lifetime PGA Member Dennis Walters, who was left paralyzed from the waist down after a 1974 accident at Roxiticus Golf Club in New Jersey. Despite being physically challenged, Walters has persevered to continue playing the sport he loves, performing over 100 clinics worldwide each year from his customized golf cart. He has used his own personal experience as an example to encourage everyone to always follow their dreams and not let unforeseen challenges become obstacles.

Following the show, participants were treated to lunch with Snoopy, MetLife’s mascot who spent the day with them.

After lunch, Shannon Doody, USGA Film and Video Archivist, presented a short video on the life and achievements of Jack Nicklaus. The video came full circle toward the end of the day when participants were able to experience the newly opened Jack Nicklaus room in the USGA Museum.

The participants rotated between three stations, where they received a guided tour of the USGA Museum and the aforementioned Jack Nicklaus room, watched demonstrations of some of the machines used to test new golf equipment at the USGA Equipment Testing Center, and rolled putts alongside Snoopy with replica putters from the early 1900s on the USGA’s expansive Pynes Putting Course modeled after the famed Himalayas course at St. Andrew’s in Scotland.

Related: Photos | Inside Nicklaus’ Room

At the Equipment Testing Center, each child learned how the USGA determines if a piece of equipment adheres to the Rules of Golf from Operations Manager of Equipment Standards Steve Quintavalla. Quintavalla gave demonstrations of the machines used to test new golf equipment and explained the aerodynamics of a golf ball. In addition, he used a machine to put 2,000 pounds of pressure onto a golf ball, the approximate measure a professional golfer exerts with a driver, and showed how the USGA uses the Archimedes scale to measure the volume of a club head.

“I think it’s wonderful that the MGA and USGA get together with MetLife and the First Tee in order to provide participants of the First Tee with such a great opportunity. All of the children had a great time and they enjoyed all of the events included in the day,” stated Bill Castner, First Tee coach and PGA Head Professional at Plainfield West.

The event was the second in a series of youth clinics conducted annually by the MGA Foundation and MetLife.

MetLife has been a partner of the MGA for more than 30 years and is the Official Supporter of the MGA Foundation. As the Founding Partner of GOLFWORKS (the MGA Foundation’s Student Intern Program), MetLife has a long history of community service and supporting all of the MGA Foundation’s junior golf initiatives, including Caddie Academies, Youth Clinics and Junior Competitions. For more information on MGA/MetLife Youth Clinics, please contact Olivia Melton of the MGA Foundation at omelton@mgagolf.org or 914-909-4852.

For more information on the USGA and the Dennis Walters Golf Show, please visit www.usga.org and www.DennisWalters.com.