PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- PGA Professionals nationwide are offering family golf clinics and play days promoting golf as the perfect recreation for families to participate in during the third annual Family Golf Month. Family Golf Month, held throughout July, offers a structured, yet casual opportunity for families to learn the game of golf together.

Grammy award winners and golfing enthusiasts Vince Gill and Amy Grant, along with their seven-year-old daughter Corrina, are the spokesfamily for the second consecutive year.

"Golf is a great activity for families to get outdoors and enjoy themselves," Gill said. "Families should participate in Family Golf Month because it spreads the message of the game and hopefully the love of the game will take hold in our kids."

Last year (2007), more than 1,100 facilities hosted Family Golf Month events such as Family Golf Clinics, Family Play Days, Kids Play Free Programs and Family Golf Leagues, an 823 percent increase from 2006. A total of 120 golf facilities across the country offered family programs in the pilot promotion throughout the summer of 2006. Last August, the PGA Family Course Program was launched at facilities nationwide in partnership with U.S. Kids Golf and their Personal Tee Program. By year's end, more than 300 golf courses participated in the program.

"Golf is just a great way for families to spend unhurried time together," Grant said. "How many sporting events can a 50- or 60-year old adult do with a 10-year old? Not many."

Family Golf Month clinics and play days are offered for a nominal fee. PGA Professionals may also customize additional programs that best fit their facilities, resources and styles such as 3-, 6- or 9-hole scrambles, family golf tees and scorecards or a family cookout to celebrate the day. "Take Your Daughter to the Course Week" and "Bring Your Kids to the Range" are two additional programs promoted during the month.

The PGA of America teams with the National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) to promote "Take Your Daughter to the Course Week," July 7-13, at participating facilities. The NGCOA developed "Take Your Daughter to the Course Week" in 2000 to support its members and encourage overall participation in golf, especially among girls and their families. The program is now promoted under the Play Golf America umbrella.

Participating golf courses across the country offer a free clinic for young ladies during the week and also offer complimentary green fees to a young lady accompanied by a paying adult. A total of 1,396 facilities participated in 2007, an 11 percent increase from 2006, with 84,500 consumers participating, a 12 percent increase from last year. Of the 84,500 who attended the promotion, 38 percent were new customers and 29 percent were new or beginner golfers.

"This is the perfect opportunity for parents to introduce golf to their daughters and to bring the family together for a fun afternoon on the course," said Mike Hughes, CEO of the NGCOA. "With a strong introduction like this, golf can become an important part of the family's time together."

"Take Your Daughter to the Course Week" had a positive economic impact for both the host facilities and golf industry in 2007. Host facilities reported a median of $2,100 in revenues generated from golfers following their participation in the promotion, while the golf industry realized a financial impact of $1.4 million.

"Bring Your Kids to the Golf Range" is a Golf Digest Publications and Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) initiative, promoted under Family Golf Month. Throughout July, participating facilities will provide special offers on range ball purchases for families and may also host family clinics, contest and other events. In its first year (2007), 177 facilities participated in the promotion.

"For our second year of this grass-roots family golf initiative, we are excited that more than 500 facilities are participating," said Steve di Costanzo, president of the GRAA. "For many young golfers, a golf range, practice or learning center is great and economical place to be introduced to the game of golf, to take lessons and even to buy their first set of clubs."

Consumers can find a complete list of facilities participating in Family Golf Month along with details on specific events and online registration, by zip code on the Play Golf America Web site at PlayGolfAmerica.com.

Play Golf America, designed to increase participation among new and occasional adult golfers, was developed by The PGA of America, with the support of Allied Associations including: the LPGA, National Golf Course Owners Association, PGA Tour, USGA and others involved in the annual Golf 20/20 Conference. The program utilizes the PlayGolfAmerica.com Web site to serve as a link for consumers to access fun, affordable and informative programs in their area.

Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf. By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the $76 billion golf industry. By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf. For more information, visit PGA.com.

The National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA) is the leading authority on the business of golf course ownership and management. The Association represents the key decision makers with ultimate responsibility for golf courses throughout the world. Through advocacy, information resources, purchasing programs and networking opportunities, the NGCOA (ngcoa.org) helps golf course owners and operators run more successful businesses.

Founded in 1992, the Golf Range Association of America (GRAA) is a trade association for owner/operators involved with golf ranges and public-access golf courses and short courses in the U.S. and Canada with a teaching/practice facility. The GRAA publishes GOLF RANGE MAGAZINE, its national trade publication for 12,000 industry members. The GRAA is based in Connecticut. For more information visit GolfRange.org.

Golf Digest Publications is part of Condé Nast Publications. Condé Nast Publications, a unit of Advance Publications, includes twenty-eight consumer magazines and their Web sites, eight uniquely branded Web sites, the Fairchild Fashion Group, Parade, the Condé Nast Media Group, and the Shared Services Centers.