2019 Scholarship: Applications are due by December 31st 2019 and winner selected by March 31, 2019
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2nd Annual Grow the Game Scholarship Winner: Lois Sheaffer, Aeronautical Science major at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University
Lois Sheaffer was selected as the winner of the 2nd Annual Grow the Game Scholarship. Lois came late to golf as a freshman in high school, but through her efforts, she was able to quickly break 80 and is now on her way to playing college golf at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University where she plans to hone another challenging skill — flying planes. Her goal is to eventually become a private pilot for PGA Tour players while making sure to card plenty of rounds. Find out more about Lois’ story here
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It’s no secret that golf is going through some challenges. Courses, club manufacturers and stores are closing. Rounds per year are down from recent peaks. For whatever the reason, whether it’s shortened attention spans, a long Great Recession hangover or the air deflating from a Tiger Woods bubble – it’s clear that the sport we love needs help.
Both Kyle and I graduated from the University of Illinois and like many other students across the country, did so with significant student loans. The cost of college has gone from being the cost of a car to the cost of a house. Paying back the student loans needed for a quality education means less that can be saved for retirement. It’s a problem without a solution in sight.
It may seem that we can’t do much, as a couple of small-time weekend golfers and bloggers, to help grow golf or solve the tuition crisis. That’s probably true on a large scale, but that won’t stop us from making our small dent in both problems.
We want to give back to students and the golf community by helping lower the cost to attend college, so we’re creating the TwoGolfGuys.com Grow the Game of Golf Scholarship, which will start with $500 per year and be increased in the future. The scholarship will be awarded to those attending college who have plans to, or are actively growing the game of golf.
Additionally, all applicants will be entered into the soon to be announced RAFFLE for a free golf GPS watch!
Why a Scholarship? Isn’t this a blog?
If we didn’t set up this scholarship, we’d probably be donating to the general scholarship fund at school. Our own scholarship let’s us target students we think deserve some help and helps grow the future of golf.
Who can apply
This scholarship is open to all students with preference given to those either pursuing golf-related careers, play competitively and/or are active in the golf community via education, charity or employment at a golf facility or in product development. We’re really looking for a compelling story where the money will do the most good for the student and the game.
To apply, please submit a short essay of 500-1000 words on one of the following topics to scholarship@twogolfguys.com:
Essay Topics
1) How will you help grow the game of golf?
2) What are the biggest challenges in encouraging youth to play golf and how can we solve them?
3) How has golf made you a better person?
Application Details
Applications are due before December 31st of each year. The winner will notified via email and profiled on our website. Must be able to provide proof of enrollment in a 4-year college or university in the United States. Subject to all local laws and regulations.
Who are we?
TwoGolfGuys is one of the most trusted websites on the internet for golf product reviews. We do the research and testing to give our readers an objective view of purchase decisions. Golf is hard and the best product for you is probably not the same for someone else. We cut through the marketing jargon and help you fit the gear to your game.
Check out our golf product reviews
Golf Rangefinder Reviews
Golf GPS Watch Reviews
Golf Club Reviews
Golf Driver Reviews
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Other Past Winners
1st Annual Grow the Game Scholarship Winner: Skyler Hong, Biochemistry major at Arizona State University
In November 2017, we announced Skyler Hong as our first winner of the Grow the Game Scholarship. Skyler has a great story and has shown his commitment to growing the game through volunteering as a golf instructor at multiple schools while not in the chemistry lab in his pursuit of becoming a dentist. His perseverance and ability to adapt following challenges in his career as a PGA Tour pro are a testament to the lessons the game of golf can bring. Read more about Skyler’s story here.
Ashley Hew says
I am trying to e-mail you my essay, but it says unable to send to recipient because you are not a mailbox…
Kyle says
Hi Ashley,
We sent you a private email to provide you with an avenue for the submission of your scholarship. Thank you for your interest and good luck!
John says
Can u send me a mail
Shelby Wahlers says
Hello! Is there an email address I may send my essay to? I’m not sure if my essay was able to send to the one that was provided.
Kyle says
Hi Shelby!
Please let us know if you’re still having trouble with the scholarship email address.
Shay Bauman says
Hello, is there an Email I can submit my essay to?
Kyle says
Hi Shay!
Feel free to email your scholarship application to scholarship@twogolfguys.com. Please let us know if you have any questions. Good luck!
John says
Hey i am not from USA can i apply ?
Skyler Hong says
Dear Two Golf Guys,
As the inaugural winner of the Two Golf Guys scholarship, I can’t thank Chris and Kyle enough for the support last semester! As I continue my path to hopefully becoming a dentist, I have learned it is always important to give back to the golfing community while enjoying my Biology major with a focus on Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior. Last spring, with the help of the scholarship, I was able to focus intensely with my studies and finished with a 4.07 GPA while also getting inducted into the PGA Class A membership. Even though career path is currently nowhere near a golf course, I have found solace and peace helping junior golfers on my free time.
As a former professional golfer, I have learned the importance of the correct fundamentals and how a random advice from a random weekend golfer and lead a potentially great player down the wrong path. Due to this commonality we see on the golf course, day in and day out, I wanted to broaden my knowledge of the game by achieving the PGA Class A status. This way, I feel as though I can provide the best information of my knowledge through the years of playing, with the skill I have learned of relaying that information to the student. Even though my instruction is voluntary, I truly would like to see the future generation of the game learn through the correct guidance.
One of the things I have noticed time and time again from observing junior golfers in respect to encouraging them to play the game of golf, is from the lack of golf courses providing a shorter holes for them to play on. In relation to full length golf courses, there are only a handful of executive golf course in the United States. I believe we can solve this problem with the help of the greens keeper and the superintendents. We can provide a more joyful environment for the youth, if they can play from a tee box specially designed for them. For example, a 430 yard par four can also have a tee box made at 200 yards for the beginners and the junior golfers who are not able to the reach the green in two from the normal tee boxes. This way, junior golfers and beginners can both enjoy the competiveness with the players who play from the farther tees.
Even though I did not succeed playing on the PGA Tour, I am very proud to call myself a golfer. Behind the sharp clothes, golf has taught me to keep working hard, stay in the present, not to give up, and most importantly help others. During my late night study sessions and countless all-nighters I pulled for my Organic Chemistry II and Physics exams last semester, I have learned to do my best helping other students prepare as I was studying myself. Even though it has been close to two years since my last completive round of golf, I felt like my classmates were my playing partners and it was important for me to help them when they are in need. Through golf, I learned no matter how poorly I was playing or how bad the conditions, it is always the right thing to help my playing partners when they struggling to find their golf ball after a poor shot, or help flag down a rules official, or even offer to play a shot early if they still need time to prepare. Golf has taught me not only to look after myself, but to help those around me so we can all succeed.
Thank you,
Skyler Hong
Junior at Arizona State University
Major: Biology (Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior)