First Tee of St. Louis is helping hundreds of African-American youths build confidence and help them avoid the traps of life.
“Playing the game of golf is like playing the game of life,” says A. Michael Shaw, vice president of the First Tee board of directors and volunteer instructor.
“What happens when you hit a bad shot? You have to focus on making the next one better.”
Starting with a philosophy that young people aren’t born knowing integrity, confidence and respect, First Tee focuses on nine “core values” that work in life and golf. They are honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, judgment, courtesy, responsibility and perseverance.
“We work with the kids to teach life skills through the game of golf,” Shaw said.
“We want to help young people make decisions that lead to success, not failure.”
In 2007, more than 600 students took part in the First Tee Life Skills Program at nine program affiliate courses.
In addition, more than 700 young people took part in the Target/School programs, which is held during the school year at Mathews-Dickey and Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Clubs, City Academy, 21st Century After School Program, YMCA, Y-Tech Academy and De La Salle Middle School.
The life skills curriculum includes “par” (communication skills and self-management), “birdie” (goal setting) and “eagle” (resistance skills).
The “eagle” life skills focus includes education on wellness, team building, appreciating diversity, dealing with conflicts and planning for the future. The golf skills focus includes proper grip, stance and posture and understanding club selection and course strategy.
While First Tee is open to all youths, more than 90 percent of its participants are African-American and most of those young people are from the city of St. Louis. About 40 percent of youths involved are girls.
Founded by the World Golf Association in St. Augustine, Fla. in 1997, First Tee was created “to promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. It is designed to be non-sectarian and non-political.
Participants can be from 7 to 18, with most being between 8 and 12 years old with little or no golf experience.
The First Tee St. Louis chapter was established in 2006. 2007 was its first full year of operation, and it served more than 1,300 youths in the region.
Michele Miller, First Tee of St. Louis executive director, says, “Area youth love The First Tee.”
She said instructors indoctrinate golf into life with examples such as “how the grip on the putter is like a firm handshake. How eyeing the putt is like looking a person in the eye.”
Along with developing life and skills, First Tee is also helping create some outstanding future leaders.
Nathan Holliday was selected to attend TFT Leadership Academy in Nashville and the Future Leaders Forum in Disney World. He has also been named a TFT Scholar for the Class of 2008.
Holliday says he thought First Tee was only about improving his golf game before he joined.
But he says now the program “has given me the insight to what kind of person I want to be.”
“It has made me more determined to not follow the path of least resistance.”
The fee is $40 per year, but the actual cost for each participant is $250. No child who wants to participate will be turned away, and a number of participants receive scholarships.
A non-profit organization, First Tee receives support from national foundations and local grants.
But the support from individuals and businesses in the St. Louis community is needed to sustain the programs, which First Tee hopes will reach more than 1,700 youths in 2008.
Levels of support include Tournament, $10,000 or more; Championship, $9,999 to $5,000; Masters, $4,999 to $2,500; Eagle, $2,4999 to $1,000; Birdie, $999 to $500 and Par, $499 to $100.
“We definitely want to take on more youths and get a lot more young people involved in golf,” Shaw said.
For more information of the First Tee St. Louis program, visit www.thefirstteestlouis.org
