JGAA to present the 22nd Itty Bitty Open on January 22

Popular golf event for 3, 4 and 5 year olds to be held at 14 Valley locations

The Junior Golf Association of Arizona with the sponsorship of The Thunderbirds in conjunction with the Parks and Recreation Department’s of the City of Phoenix, Glendale, Mesa, Peoria, Scottsdale, Tempe, Surprise, and Goodyear at one of their locations will stage the Itty Bitty Open on Saturday, January 22. Starting times are 9am, 10am and 11am.

Sue Shindler-Montello and the Phoenix Parks and Recreation Department founded the Itty Bitty Open in 1988. 

Held at 14 different locations throughout the Valley of the Sun, the Itty Bitty Open is open to youngsters ages 3, 4 and 5. Each participant will receive an Itty Bitty Open set of plastic golf clubs and balls in a plastic golf bag along with an Itty Bitty Open visor, at no charge. Basic golf instruction will be given by PGA and LPGA Golf Professionals. Then, along with their adult caddie (parent/relative), will try out their new skills in a non-competitive “tournament” on a specially- designed nine-hole course.

A special “Best Dressed” player/caddie contest will be held at each site and each session. The winners will receive a congratulatory letter, trophy and two tickets to the R.S. Hoyt, Jr. Dream Day Activities on Saturday, January 22nd at the 2011 Waste Management Phoenix Open where a contest will be held to determine the “Best Dressed” from all the sites.

The 2011 Itty Bitty Open will be played at the following locations: Cashman Park, Deer Valley Park, Eastlake Park Community Center, Paseo Highlands Park, Pecos Park, Maryvale Community Center, Washington Activity Center, Foothills Sports Complex, Palm Valley Golf Course, Field # 2 at Hohokam Park, Rio Vista Community Park, Scottsdale Ranch Park, Surprise Stadium and Benedict Field #1. Over 500 kids are expected to tee it up in this year’s Itty Bitty Open.

The event is free and applications will be available at the various parks and recreation centers or online at www.jgaa.org. For more information, contact the JGAA office at 602.944.6168 or visit their web site.