Welcome to the January issue of my E Newsletter.
Betty, my wife is the inspiration for the interview I did below with Leanette Pokuwaah. Betty read the story in the Chicago Tribune, and told me about it. Since we are
former residents of Wheaton, and have played Cantigny many times, we had a natural interest. What I found during the interview process was nothing but good will. Believe me,
there is nothing wrong with the world when people are helping people. Please read the entire story and let me hear your reactions. My email is
mike@golfexclusives.com
Now is the time to plan your winter golf trip. We are having a severe winter in Chicago, so that means that destinations like Amelia Island,
San Diego, Orlando and
Tampa are seeing a nice influx of snow birds. Will you be with them? Start planning now.
We are continuing to promote a new program for you called Golf Exclusives Trip Reviews. Please help your fellow golfers learn more about the places you play golf. Please
submit a trip review to me and receive a discount on your next trip.
Contact me with any ideas you have to make my E- Newsletter better for you.
Thanks
Mike Fitzgerald
Golf Exclusives
mike@golfexclusives.com
Top 40 Best Selling Golf Vacation Packages
Golf Exclusives is pleased to offer a new feature to our readers. Working with one of our Preferred Suppliers, we have compiled a list of the 40 most requested golf
destinations. We have sample packages to these destinations on our website for you to review. See Top 40
This list will change every quarter, so keep checking back to see what are customers like best.
A Good News Story About Golf
Most golfers are down in the dumps about the Tiger Woods scandal. As this E Newsletter goes to press, we know very little about the facts, but we do feel that Tiger has let
us all down. We also know that he has taken an indefinite leave from the Tour.
That's OK, because there are others out there that are doing the right thing for golf. One of those people is Leanette Pokuwaah, a Ghanian American girl that caddied this
past year at Cantigny Golf Course in Wheaton IL. Her story is remarkable, and was printed in the Chicago Tribune this past September. Here is a link to the
Tribune Story. Please read the story to get a perspective on my update.
My wife Betty and I were so amazed by the story that we decided to follow up. We spoke with Leanette, her Golf Instructor Anderson Smith, the Tribune reporter Dan Simmons,
and to her Caddy Master Mike Greene. Here is what we learned:
All of her contacts are amazed at the growth and development of Leanette. At 16, she joined the Golf for Christ program that Anderson Smith runs at DuPage AME Church.
This program serves as a financial mentor and coaching resource for aspiring young golfers who because of social status, family status or lack of financial resources are unable to
obtain equipment, training or fees required to successfully participate in the game of golf. She was a good student for his program, and he helped her get a caddy position last
summer at Cantigny, where she met Mike Greene.
As the article explains, Leanette was shy, and was intimidated by some of the other caddies in the program that knew more about golf. She persisted, none the less,
and under the eye of Mike Greene grew gradually better. Caddy Master Greene and Pastor Smith, who played and held clinics at the course, helped her with distance
and golf terminology. The rest was up to Leanette. Her personality and courtesy won over everyone. It turned out that she was one of the top caddies at Cantigny in
2009.
Meet Leanette Pokuwaah. Her upbeat squeaky voice wins you over instantly. She exudes a will to succeed. I wanted to learn what had happened since the Tribune
article. Here is what I found:
What did you learn from your caddying job?
"I learned responsibility for getting up early, money management, and how to be a good communicator. I was on the Bolingbrook High School girls golf team this past year, and had a best round of 50".
How is your Family doing?
"My Mom is now in Amsterdam. I haven't seen her in 5 years, but she is getting closer to coming to the US. My Dad and brother are good".
What was your best caddy experience?
"There were many, but two that stick out are: I caddied for a pro. He helped me more than I helped him because he taught me golf skills like putting stance, as he golfed. Another round was with a golfer that got a hole-in-one. He wa very nice, and I got a good tip!"
What are your 2010 plans for golf?
"Right now, I am applying for the Hank Haney Scholarship. I am writing my essay, and hope to be a winner from over 200 candidates. I am also continuing with Anderson Smith in the Golf for Christ program, and I will be back to Cantigny this summer to caddy again. Hopefully, I will have transportation then.
I plan to apply for the Chick Evans Scholarship next year. I want to go to college and become a Doctor in the Doctors without Borders program"
Leanette wants to thank Anderson Smith and Mike Greene for their mentoring. They have had a significant impact on her development.
There! Don't you feel better already? I know I do. If you want to reach any of the people in this article, please contact me at mike@golfexclusives.com
PS: Leanette and I discussed the Tiger Woods story. Her take was that anyone can make a mistake, and that each one of us deserves a second chance.What a mature view.
Golf Exclusives 
