One family creating opportunity for golfers
HENRY, Ill. (BVM) — There was limited opportunity for Central Illinois golfers prior to the Kennedy family dreaming together The Prep Tour on an evening coffee walk in small Henry, Illinois.
Sean and Tina Kennedy were tired of driving to Chicago for their son, Jake, to play in golf tournaments. Fall 2011, they decided they were going to create a golf organization to help other families in the same predicament.
This ended up helping their daughter, Kelli, get some golf experience, too.
“We sensed there was a strong interest and a real need for affordable Central Illinois and downstate competitive junior tournaments,” Tournament Director Sean Kennedy said.
The Prep Tour has grown more than they could have ever expected with over 40 tournaments a year now and also expanding into Texas and Arizona during the winter months.
“The goal has always been to prepare high school, junior high, and collegiate players for their upcoming scholastic seasons,” Kennedy said.
The Prep Tour has produced numerous Illinois High School Association (IHSA) State Champions and many collegiate golfers as well.
Since the beginning of The Prep Tour, over 300 Alumni have continued their golf careers into college. However, all of this did not happen overnight.
“It takes time to develop a reputation… The Prep Tour only averaged 25-30 players per event during the first season in 2011,” Kennedy said.
Now, these tournaments go onto a waitlist for the most popular events.
The winter tournaments are a bit harder to get players currently as the Kennedy’s are still working on building a reputation.
Reputation is important but not why the Kennedys started the Prep Tour; it was about creating an affordable option for golfers and meeting all the talented golfers they have.
“I have met many enjoyable, talented, interesting young adults that I never would have had the opportunity to meet,” Kennedy said.
The Prep Tour has always been about family and creating a family. This will continue as Jake Kennedy will assume the role of Tournament Director once he finishes up his time at Purdue Fort Wayne and begins his teaching career.
With this, The Prep Tour is looking forward to adding more events in the upcoming season.
“Jake will begin running simultaneous tournaments slowly in 2021,” Kennedy said.
This will allow for even more options and opportunity for junior golfers statewide.
The Kennedy family has been pleased with the overall success The Prep Tour has brought to Central Illinois.
The young golfers that come through The Prep Tour are talented on and off the course.
The first group of Prep Tour Alumni are set to begin their adult lives and the Kennedy’s are excited to see what they will do in their lives outside of golf.
“Will I be voting for a Prep Tour alumni for State Senator? For President? Will I be watching a Prep Tour Alumni put on a Green Jacket someday?” Kennedy jokingly said. “Will 75 year old Mr. Kennedy be lying on an operating table with a Prep Tour Alumni doctor trying to explain that pace of play is not really germane on an operating table?”
No matter what the future holds for any of The Prep Tour players, the Kennedy’s will surely be proud of their Alumni and the family they created during one evening coffee walk.
