By Kathryn Heaberg
Buena Vista is preparing for the arrival of The First Tee, a program
designed to teach children character development and life-enhancing
values through golf.
The First Tee was founded in 1997 by the World Golf Foundation. In
starting the program, the WGF wanted to make golf affordable and
accessible to children, targeting children in urban and rural areas.
Now, The First Tee has 274 facilities that are either open or being
developed. There are 11 facilities in Virginia including nearby chapters
in Charlottesvillle, Harrisonburg and Roanoke.
Steve Douty, a member of the local Kiwanis Club, has been central in
bringing the program to Buena Vista. Douty explained that the program is
geared toward both boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 18, of all
races and economic backgrounds.
Douty said that 52 percent of the children across the country who have
been involved in The First Tee have had an improvement in their grades.
A resolution was proposed to Buena Vista City Council to begin the
process of implementing The First Tee program locally. City Council
unanimously voted to adopt the resolution.
Vista Links will host the program, under the leadership of General
Manager Edward Armentrout. Armentrout said he has been considering
bringing in a program like The First Tee since Vista Links opened less
than two years ago, but his first priority was to get the golf course
running smoothly.
Vista Links already holds a skills-based summer golf camp for about 50
Rockbridge County children, so the interest in golf among children is
already established.
In the next month, a national representative from The First Tee is
scheduled to come speak to interested citizens in Buena Vista. From
there, construction of a “school house” meeting building and a few mini
golf holes will begin at Vista Links.
Courtney Kendrick, director of programming and instruction for the
Roanoke Valley chapter of the First Tee, said that since the beginning
of their chapter one year ago they have seen 1,000 children complete the
program.
The Roanoke Valley chapter uses three different golf courses in the
Roanoke area and is also associated with Westside Elementary, a school
in which many of the students come from low income families.
Many local children learn of The First Tee through the YMCA or other
local community centers. They then have the option to sign up for a six-week summer camp or six weeks of after-school lessons in the spring or
fall.
When winter comes around and golfing season is over, the First Tee goes
into the local schools and exposes children to the game in their
physical education classes.
It costs $125 to sign up for the six-week program but according to
Kendrick, 85 percent of the children who have participated through the
Roanoke Valley chapter have done so for free.
Scholarship money is available through funding from individual and
business donors. The Roanoke Valley chapter has formed a partnership
with SunTrust bank and is also associated with Scott Robertson
junior golf.
As far as teaching character development, Kendrick’s strategy is to
“slide it in so they don’t know they are getting it.”
Each child receives a “yardage book” upon starting the program, with
lessons on each of the important character enhancing values. Kendrick
finds it successful to teach from the book, but also spends a lot of
time listening to the students and playing off what they are saying.
Kendrick makes sure to point out and reward children who encourage each
other. She finds that "when kids are on the golf course, they don’t
seem to pick on each other as much.”
Kendrick has seen the positive impact the program has had on the local
children who have participated. One young boy grew out of his set of
golf clubs, and decided to give back to the program by donating his
clubs. Until he can afford to buy new golf clubs, The First Tee program
has loaned a set to the child.
Produced by Washington and Lee journalism students.
Lead supervisor: Prof. Claudette Artwick
Reporting supervisor: Prof. Doug Cumming
Editing supervisor: Prof. Pamela Luecke
Technical supervisor: Michael Todd