THE FIRST TEE TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS
ON 120 U.S. MILITARY INSTALLATIONS

Outreach includes children of Guardsmen and Reservists

St. Augustine, Fla. (Sept. 15, 2009) - The First Tee is beginning to offer character education and life skills training to children of military personnel stationed both at home and overseas, with the goal of reaching 87,000 participants by April 30, 2011.

The program is being made possible as part of a two-year agreement with the Department of Defense.

“We are honored to have the opportunity to introduce our positive youth development programs to children of those serving in our Armed Forces around the world,” said Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., chief executive officer of The First Tee. “The First Tee Life Skills Experience teaches young people core values like honesty and respect as well as important life skills such as managing emotions, goal setting, interpersonal communication and effective conflict resolution.  The program goes far beyond teaching fundamental golf skills.”

Trained coaches and staff from The First Tee Chapters located within close proximity to military installations are delivering the program to eligible youth ages 5-18. They are creating fun and safe learning environments that foster curiosity about the game of golf as well as provide links between golf skills and how the positive values of the game can be used at home, in school and in other areas of everyday life.

Fifty U.S.-based military installations began offering the program last week, with 50 more to begin in Spring 2010. Click here to see the list of military installations currently offering the program..

The overseas plan, which will launch in 2010, will affect 20 U.S. bases located in Cuba, Germany, Guam, Italy, Japan, Puerto Rico, South Korea and Spain. The First Tee will train Morale, Welfare and Recreation personnel to implement the program at flexible times and locations on bases.

The Reserve Component program will positively impact children of Guardsmen and Reservists that do not reside near bases or otherwise have convenient access to military posts.  The program will be offered free of charge by Chapters operating in communities where reservists live or those that are located nearby.

“Parents, teachers and communities have embraced our mission after seeing first hand how the core values associated with the program help young people succeed,” said Barrow.  “We expect to have a similar level of meaningful impact on the children of service members.  When you think about the sacrifices being made by the men and women serving in the defense of our country, supporting this group of young people and military families with these types of programs is tremendously important.”

Over 7,800 volunteers, board members and coaches are engaged in teaching and mentoring participants of The First Tee.  Independent research findings since 2003 outline longitudinal evidence of the effectiveness of The First Tee life skills programs, and indicate that participants demonstrate desirable qualities such as confidence, character, judgment and perseverance over time.

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About The First Tee
The First Tee (www.thefirsttee.org) is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in St. Augustine, FL at World Golf Village, home of the World Golf Hall of Fame.  Its mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf.  Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has introduced the game of golf and its values to more than 2.9 million participants in 49 states, over 2,800 elementary schools and five international locations - Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand and Singapore.   Former President George H. W. Bush serves as honorary chairman.  The First Tee Founding Partners are The Masters Tournament, LPGA, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and the USGA.

Media Contact:  Jane Fader, The First Tee, (904) 940-4009 or jfader@thefirsttee.org