A Legacy of Love for Kids and Love For Golf
The Pops & Jr. Youth Golf Program is open to kids from every walk of life and every income bracket. The goal of the program is simple according to co-founders, Joe Dahlstrom and Hub Goyen III: open the same doors to opportunity for these kids that opened for us through the game of golf. It is a tribute to our parents legacy along with the many other parents and people that made the commitment and sacrifice to introduce kids to the game of golf.
The creators of the Pops & Jr. Youth Golf Program, Joe Dahlstrom and Hub Goyen III, have an amazing story to tell and a legacy to share. Pops, Joe’s father, and Hub’s dad, Jr., introduced thousands of kids to the game of golf, including their sons. Joe and Hub were fortunate to have fathers who loved the game and poured out their love on their children, teaching them invaluable life lessons through the game of golf and through their mentorship.
Joe and Hub realize that many of the kids in Mesa and surrounding areas may not have the resources to participate, or even be exposed to the game of golf and the opportunities that Pops and Jr. gave them. Though Joe and Hub followed different paths playing competitive golf, they both found successful careers in the golf business, careers that had their beginnings in youth golf. Joe is co-founder of the Paradigm Golf Group and Hub owns Action Golf Cars. Now, Joe and Hub want to provide that same opportunity to the kids of Mesa by partnering with Dobson Ranch Golf Course to provide this innovative, youth golf program.
Over the years, Pops collected over 20,000 golf clubs and they’re just waiting to be fitted to the kids in Mesa and surrounding areas. Programs and lesson plans are in place to teach the basics of golf, but the goal of the Pops & Jr. Youth Golf Program is not only to develop great golfers but also to provide kids a safe place to learn the same life-lessons Pops and Jr. taught Hub and Joe, so they can enjoy great lives. In fact, kids don’t have to continue playing golf if they find that the game isn’t for them in order to participate. The goal of the program is to provide a safe, fun place for kids in the Mesa area to learn, play and grow. So, in addition to the golf clinics, the Dobson Ranch clubhouse and driving range are available for kids to play games, get some help with school work and get something good to eat.
They’ve tapped Janai Porman to lead the program. Janai’s story is a lot like Joe and Hub’s...her mother introduced her and her sisters to the game, The golf course is where she and her sisters got unconditional love and support and where they learned golf’s valuable lessons. Unfortunately, Janai’s mother died in 2013, but Janai still connects with her every time she steps on the course. She wants to share the same opportunities and lessons with the kids of Mesa.