On Nov. 13, 1997 in New York City, former President George Bush joined executives from Augusta National Golf Club, the Ladies Professional Golf Association, the PGA of America, PGA TOUR, and United States Golf Association to launch The First Tee, an initiative of the World Golf Foundation. Now, nearly 10 years later, The First Tee has made a positive impact on over 1.4 million young people around the world.
“Through the invaluable support of Honorary Chairman George Bush and our Founding Partners; the outstanding leadership of Executive Director Joe Barrow and Todd Leiweke before him and their respective staffs; and, of course, the dedication of the Chapter leaders and volunteers, The First Tee has experienced tremendous growth over the past decade,” said PGA TOUR commissioner Tim Finchem, who serves as chairman of the World Golf Foundation. “Everyone involved with The First Tee can be extremely proud of the success it has had in reaching our youth, and we look forward to continuing its global growth and impact on generations to come.”
The First Tee eclipsed a significant milestone in 2005 with the opening of its 200th facility in Louisville, Ky. Currently, The First Tee has more than 250 golf-learning facilities in 46 states and five international locations, and has introduced the game of golf and its values to over 939,000 participants through its Chapter-based network. The First Tee National School Program has reached more than 490,000 students in over 1,100 U.S. elementary schools. In addition, The First Tee has developed over 800 affiliate relationships with golf courses that offer access to Chapter participants.
“Many people were skeptical of The First Tee in 1997,” said Joe Louis Barrow Jr., executive director of The First Tee and senior vice president of the World Golf Foundation. “In 10 years, The First Tee has proven itself as an integral component to the growth of the game of golf and as an influential factor in the character development of young people. We are grateful to our Founding Partners and vast network of supporters for embracing our mission.”
“The USGA congratulates The First Tee on 10 years of growth and success,” said Judy Bell, consulting director of USGA Grants and Fellowship. “The USGA’s appreciation for The First Tee’s positive impact on the lives of young people is most clearly evidenced by our significant financial support over the years, having provided more than $19 million to The First Tee and its many Chapters.”
Through outreach in urban, rural and disadvantaged areas, The First Tee has contributed to the diversification of the game. Fifty percent of participants are of diverse backgrounds - 33 percent more diverse than all of golf - according to the National Golf Foundation.
The First Tee was conceived by Commissioner Finchem. It began with the objective of providing young people of all backgrounds affordable access to the game of golf and has evolved into a premier youth development program. Participants learn to transfer the positive values associated with the game of golf to everyday life.
Longitudinal research conducted in 2005 by the University of Virginia provides scientific data-based evidence of the effectiveness of The First Tee’s Life Skills Education programs. “Collectively, our research has found that The First Tee is having a strong positive impact on young people’s development of life skills and core values,” said Maureen R. Weiss, Ph. D, professor of education at the University of Virginia
In 2001, The First Tee Scholars Program was born. Since then, 122 young people have been designated as Scholars for exemplifying leadership, academic excellence, and giving back to their communities and Chapters. Additional opportunities are available to participants through national life skills and leadership academies, corporate partnership programs such as the Wal-Mart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, RBS Achievers Awards, PricewaterhouseCoopers Executive Forum, and the Future Leaders Forum, a partnership with The Toro Company, Walt Disney World Resort, and The First Tee to provide up to 50 high school participants with a three-day immersion in the sport, business and science of golf.
The First Tee will celebrate “Ten Years of Positive Impact” during its 10th anniversary meeting in Jacksonville, scheduled for Nov. 2-6, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront.
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The First Tee eclipsed a significant milestone in 2005 with the opening of its 200th facility in Louisville, Ky. Currently, The First Tee has more than 250 golf-learning facilities in 46 states and five international locations, and has introduced the game of golf and its values to over 939,000 participants through its Chapter-based network. The First Tee National School Program has reached more than 490,000 students in over 1,100 U.S. elementary schools. In addition, The First Tee has developed over 800 affiliate relationships with golf courses that offer access to Chapter participants.
“Many people were skeptical of The First Tee in 1997,” said Joe Louis Barrow Jr., executive director of The First Tee and senior vice president of the World Golf Foundation. “In 10 years, The First Tee has proven itself as an integral component to the growth of the game of golf and as an influential factor in the character development of young people. We are grateful to our Founding Partners and vast network of supporters for embracing our mission.”
“The USGA congratulates The First Tee on 10 years of growth and success,” said Judy Bell, consulting director of USGA Grants and Fellowship. “The USGA’s appreciation for The First Tee’s positive impact on the lives of young people is most clearly evidenced by our significant financial support over the years, having provided more than $19 million to The First Tee and its many Chapters.”
Through outreach in urban, rural and disadvantaged areas, The First Tee has contributed to the diversification of the game. Fifty percent of participants are of diverse backgrounds - 33 percent more diverse than all of golf - according to the National Golf Foundation.
The First Tee was conceived by Commissioner Finchem. It began with the objective of providing young people of all backgrounds affordable access to the game of golf and has evolved into a premier youth development program. Participants learn to transfer the positive values associated with the game of golf to everyday life.
Longitudinal research conducted in 2005 by the University of Virginia provides scientific data-based evidence of the effectiveness of The First Tee’s Life Skills Education programs. “Collectively, our research has found that The First Tee is having a strong positive impact on young people’s development of life skills and core values,” said Maureen R. Weiss, Ph. D, professor of education at the University of Virginia
In 2001, The First Tee Scholars Program was born. Since then, 122 young people have been designated as Scholars for exemplifying leadership, academic excellence, and giving back to their communities and Chapters. Additional opportunities are available to participants through national life skills and leadership academies, corporate partnership programs such as the Wal-Mart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, RBS Achievers Awards, PricewaterhouseCoopers Executive Forum, and the Future Leaders Forum, a partnership with The Toro Company, Walt Disney World Resort, and The First Tee to provide up to 50 high school participants with a three-day immersion in the sport, business and science of golf.
The First Tee will celebrate “Ten Years of Positive Impact” during its 10th anniversary meeting in Jacksonville, scheduled for Nov. 2-6, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront.