Two Bridgewater Youths Awarded Scholarships to Attend Golf School

Two Bridgewater youths are among the recipients of the 2013 Dr. Michael S. Kline Youth Golf Scholarships to attend the Summer Junior Golf School at the Learning Center at Neshanic Valley Golf Course in Branchburg.

The Dr. Michael S. Kline Youth Golf Scholarships are funded by the Kline Family Foundation and are awarded to boys and girls ages 10 to 16. The 2013 recipients are Mary Kate Fiumefreddo and Nicole Kaplan of Bridgewater, Mathew Pkiszak and Jason Pliszak of Branchburg; and Joe Lustumbo of  Flemington.

The scholarships, which entitle the recipients to participate in the weeklong 30-hour golf school, were awarded based on ability, sportsmanship, and dedication to the game of golf.

Donations to the Somerset County Park Foundation will fund four additional scholarships to a weeklong 10-hour golf school. These scholarships will be awarded young golfers who are not financially able to participate in the program. The recipients will be selected by Somerset County Park Commission staff based upon recommendations from Middle Earth, a local nonprofit agency.

“We are grateful once again to the Kline Family Foundation for their support of golf in Somerset County,” stated Bob Ransone, deputy director of the park commission’s, Golf Division. 

“The Kline Scholarships and the Park Foundation scholarships will help to get kids involved in a sport that they can play for their entire lives.” 

The Park Foundation continues to seek donations to allow additional children to participate in the program. Each $130 donation will fund one child. Donations may be sent to the Somerset County Park Foundation, 355 Milltown Road, Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807. A note indicating that the donation should be dedicated to golf scholarships should be included with the check.

The golf school is held at the Learning Center at Neshanic Valley that includes a double-ended driving range with grass and mat hitting areas, a 12,000-square-foot putting green, a practice facility including bunkers and three chipping greens, and two practice holes.

Dr. Michael S. Kline founded the “Somerville Recreation Commission Men’s Amateur Championship,” in 1953. This event was the predecessor to the county tournament that continues today and bears his name. He is further credited with organizing the first Somerset County Junior Golf Tournament in 1965, the Somerset County Tournament of Champions in 1965, and the Somerset County Seniors Golf Tournament in 1970. He served as tournament director for all of these events.

For more information, contact Bob Ransone at rransone@scparks.org or call 908-369-1458.