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Teenage participants from The First Tee chapters in three markets will learn about golf course management and the science of agronomy through the continuation of the Careers on Course program sponsored by John Deere. The First Tee is a nonprofit youth development organization that provides life skills and character education program using golf as a platform.
In partnership with John Deere, the PGA TOUR and its TPC Network, The First Tee’s Careers on Course program includes 24 teenage participants in three markets attending day-long, activity-based programs that provide exposure to careers in golf course management. After each day-long event, two participants will have the opportunity to shadow a golf course superintendent during a PGA TOUR tournament.
The First Tee teenage participants will learn about the work required to present a professionally-managed, environmentally safe and playable course. In addition, participants will receive an introduction to club operations. The program curriculum was developed jointly by The First Tee, John Deere and the PGA TOUR.
Careers on Course includes the following activities in 2014:
- Participants from The First Tee of the Quad Cities will spend the day at TPC Deere Run on May 3 and select participants will shadow the superintendent during the John Deere Classic in July.
- Participants from The First Tee of North Florida spent the day at TPC Sawgrass on Feb. 22 and two participants will shadow the superintendent during THE PLAYERS Championship practice round on May 7.
- Participants from The First Tee of Connecticut will spend the day at TPC River Highlands on May 17 and select participants will shadow the superintendent during the Travelers Championship in June.
Careers on Course is being offered as a part of Deere’s $1 million commitment to The First Tee, which was announced last year. In 2013, Careers on Course took place in Boston, Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix.
“We are thankful to John Deere, the TPC properties and PGA TOUR tournaments for sharing with participants the opportunity to explore another learning opportunity through golf,” said Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., chief executive officer, The First Tee. “Careers on Course is a great example of an educational program that provides a life experience through golf.”
“We are proud to partner with John Deere and The First Tee to host Careers on Course at our TPC properties,” said PGA TOUR Director of TPC Agronomy Collier Miller, CSCS. “Having an opportunity to expose high school-aged participants of The First Tee to careers in golf course management and agronomy has been very rewarding for everyone involved.”
Deere is a major manufacturer of equipment for golf course maintenance and turf care and a title sponsor of a PGA TOUR event. The company has stated that The First Tee contribution emphasizes John Deere’s commitment to the game of golf and the career development of professionals in the golf course maintenance industry.
For more about The First Tee or Careers on Course, visit www.thefirsttee.org.
