The First Tee, which has chapters in both Myrtle Beach and Brunswick County, has been about as valuable and successful for young people across the U.S. as could have been expected when it was launched in 1997. The organization’s headquarters announced Wednesday it has completed Phase III of its development.
Since ’97, The First Tee has been teaching young people valuable life skills that build character using golf as a platform. At the conclusion of its third phase of activity, from 2006-2010, more than 4.7 million young people in total have been reached through its programs.
The organization reached several milestones in its third phase of activity, including:
- Certification of more than 530,000 young people at various levels of The First Tee Life Skills Experience™, the educational platform delivered at chapters.
- Expansion of The First Tee National School Program to more than 4,000 elementary schools representing 500 school districts.
- Operation of chapters in 88 of the top 100 Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) in the U.S.
- Roll out of the PLAYer curriculum that introduces young participants to the golf course early and addresses retention and progression in the program.
- Establishment of benchmarks that measure quality and consistent operational standards at chapters. At the end of 2010, 96% of The First Tee chapters are effectively meeting standards.
- Concluded of a four-year, independent research study that evaluated and ultimately substantiated The First Tee’s Life Skills Experience as an educational platform that leads to positive character behaviors in participants.
- Provided more than 1,000 participants of The First Tee opportunities to further their life skills, leadership and golf abilities through national academies, camps, golf tournaments and other events, and designated 250 The First Tee Scholars, resulting in 90 college scholarships.
- Helped grow the game of golf by building confidence in young people’s ability to play. (Half of all The First Tee participants reported “high confidence” in their golfing ability, which is proven to have an effect on one’s decision to stay involved in the sport.)
- Developed chapters in six international locations: Canada (Montreal and Greater Vancouver), England (Manchester), Ireland, New Zealand (Auckland) and Singapore.
The First Tee’s next five year strategic plan will be launched at The First Tee Network Meeting Feb. 17-19 in San Antonio, where more than 500 chapter executive directors, program directors and volunteer board members will gather. Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., has been the First Tee’s chief executive since 2000.
In Phase III, The First Tee focused on expansion with the intention to deliver the program in places where young people were most apt to be. The First Tee National School Program rolled out in 2004, bringing basic golf skill lessons along with The First Tee Nine Core Values into physical education classes at elementary schools. A third delivery channel emerged as The First Tee extended programming to the dependents of U.S. military personnel.
The First Tee’s programs are currently offered at golf facilities, in elementary schools and on U.S. military installations around the world.
