Links to learning

LINKS TO LEARNING WITH THE PGA TOUR

In addition to Back to School month, August is also recognized as National Golf Month, which shines a spotlight on the sport’s impact. Here in Northeast Florida, golf has deep roots. This area has 68 golf courses and 272 miles of fairways and greens – equivalent to 4,787 football fields. Additionally, the PGA TOUR is headquartered in Ponte Vedra Beach, the World Golf Hall of Fame is located in St. Augustine, and THE PLAYERS, the TOUR’s flagship event, has been played in Northeast Florida since 1977.

Many may associate the week of THE PLAYERS, March 10-15, as the period when things came to a halt on the First Coast. The tournament was canceled following the first round, and the resulting stay-at-home orders had an immediate impact on one thing in particular – education. Parents and kids were forced to adjust to virtual learning practices. But at this point you’re probably wondering, “What does golf have to do with virtual learning?” A lot more than you may think.

The PGA TOUR saw the onset of virtual learning as an opportunity to use golf to keep parents and kids engaged and their educational progress on track. The result: Links to Learning, a free, interactive website that provides golf-themed activities. Folio 2.0 sat down with Ben Everill, Senior Writer at the PGA TOUR, who spearheaded Links to Learning, to see how golf can be used as a lesson plan. No golf knowledge required.

Q: How did Links to Learning come to be?

Everill: Necessity! I am a father to two sons and when their schools shut down, my wife and I had to adapt quickly. Given our love for golf we used the sport to teach a variety of subjects – like using golf scores to help with basic math or learning geography based on where PGA TOUR players are from. I shared my ‘lesson plans’ on PGATOUR.com hoping it might help other parents, and the response was overwhelming. So we went to the next level by partnering with youth development organization First Tee and built a dedicated platform to house all of these lessons.

Q: What types of activities and lessons does this platform offer?

Everill: Everything. Links to Learning has activities across Art, English, Health, History and STEM, from designing your own golf hole to reading comprehension exercises, to getting tips on healthy habits from TOUR pros. We even have a Spanish version!

Q: How do you see Links to Learning evolving and growing in the coming months?

Everill: Immensely. Education is critical in society and using passions to educate can only help. I envisage Links to Learning as part of curriculums at schools and youth organizations across the world, now and post pandemic. Ultimately, I hope it inspires kids to find a passion for learning and perhaps find a love of this great game along the way - even if it just starts with building a putt-putt course at your house! FOLIO STAFF STORIES@FOLIOWEELKY.COM

THE CHECK IN The digital issue by Folio Weekly, available now.