AAGT Partners With Grand Canyon University in Support of Golf Management Program and Maryvale Golf C

Scottsdale, AZ – The All-American Gateway Tour (AAGT) announced today a partnership with Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Ariz. to help promote the university’s new Golf Management Program via social media avenues, while working simultaneously toward the goal of elevating the University-managed Maryvale Municipal Golf Course during a $10 million renovation which will return the hidden gem to the tour’s 2015-16 schedule.

Established in 1949, Grand Canyon University is one of the premier private universities in the Southwest, with an emphasis on inter-denominational Christian values and an academic curriculum aimed at providing students with the skills and knowledge needed in the contemporary job market.

Grand Canyon University recently announced the launch of a new Golf Management Program in conjunction with a 30-year agreement with the City of Phoenix to manage and operate Maryvale Municipal Golf Course in Phoenix. The program will provide a new arena for students to develop management skills in one of the most prominent golf markets in the country.

“This is such a unique piece of property with great history,” said Brian Mueller, president and CEO of Grand Canyon University. “With the changes we’ve got planned, we believe this will be one of the premier public golf courses in the state at very affordable rates.

As part of the activation plan, eGolf Gateway Tour officials will speak to classes in the Golf Management Program, with a plan in place to have students serve internships at select events throughout the year.

“This is a great opportunity for our tour to help grow the game of golf in the Arizona market, while providing an avenue for these students to get event management experience,” said AAGT Tour Consultant and Sponsor Relations, Ryan Pray. “There are a plethora of career paths in golf, and Grand Canyon University will be at the forefront of development within the sport.”

With the acquisition of Maryvale, which will be renamed once the renovations are complete, Grand Canyon University has a platform from which to provide legitimate event management experiences for students, while investing $10 million into the course and clubhouse to provide an ideal facility for golfers, as well as GCU’s men’s and women’s golf teams.

Architect John Fought, who also renovated Phoenix Country Club a decade ago, will oversee the changes to the course. Longtime eGolf Gateway Tour star Jesse Mueller was named as the head golf professional at Maryvale, and plans are in place to contest one of the tour’s top events on the west Phoenix course later this year.

“At Phoenix Country Club, John put a premium on preserving its old-school styling,” Jesse Mueller said. “John is very well known for his classic style, and we’re all very excited to work with him to create a golf experience that everyone can enjoy, while also making it challenging for collegiate golfers.”

Social media initiatives focused around Twitter, Instagram and Facebook will deliver more updates on the partnership between the AAGT and Grand Canyon University, which will continue to expand throughout the 2015-2016 season.

For more information on Grand Canyon University, please visit www.gcu.edu.

For more information on the All-American Gateway Tour, please visit www.aagtgolf.com.