The addition of a retail facility, a museum and a golf training facility are just a few of the changes that are taking place at the Four Seasons Sports Complex in Joplin.

There is a new group of owners, joining Rick Prigg, who started Four Seasons as one of the members. Scott Brown, one of the new owners, said that there will be some positive differences there in the near future.

“We are trying to make some changes out here that will help to improve Joplin,” Brown said.

Among the new additions will be an after school program that targets at-risk children. It will emphasize math, science and history, among other topics, taught from a sports standpoint.

“We are going to start an after school program here,” said Bill Hayes, managing member of the new team of owners. “We are going to apply the same proven lesson plans that are written around golf.”

When it comes to the education of the students, the new ownership wants to form a partnership with school districts in the area.

“We are going to work with the school system, not against them,” Prigg said.

Hayes has previous experience working with at risk children. In 1978 he founded the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation, an organization he remains with as its president.

He has received awards for education throughout his career, and has addressed the U. S. Secretary of Education on education reform and funding.

The complex will also be the site for the production of a reality television show based on golf.

The new show, “Teaching Freddie,” will be a half-hour weekly show based around Hayes and other professional golfers teaching Freddie Cornell the finer aspects of golf to prepare him for the PGA tour.

“I was going to teach Freddie anyway,” Hayes said. “So I decided to just do it here in Joplin.”

The money raised from the show will go back into the school to help with the education of children.

“The reality television show will generate more money for the kids,” Prigg said. “And I believe that eventually it will be nationally syndicated.”

“If the people get involved with the main characters and take a vested interest in them, then the show will be successful,” said John Hoffman, general manager of KSN TV.

“But that is the whole key, how involved can you get the viewing public with the main characters in the show.”

KSN will be airing the show, which begins taping in late October, and is slated to go on air sometime in April.

The changes are expected to be in place by late April.