(Making a difference) Educational golf program helps shape, benefit youths

The National School Golf Program (NSGP), which is piloted under Golf 20/20, became an initiative of The First Tee. The NSGP was created to introduce the basic skills, etiquette and play of golf to elementary school children. The focus is to bring the lifetime benefits and values of the game to youths throughout America.

Coinciding with the NSGP, Snag Golf, a provider of introductory golf equipment, is a new member of The First Tee’s Premier Partners. As part of the relationship, The First Tee is a distributor of Snag First Touch equipment.

“The arrangement with Snag will provide The First Tee with the flexibility of managing product inventory and expediting the distribution of equipment to schools associated with the National School Golf Program as well as The First Tee Chapters,” says Joe Louis Barrow Jr., executive director of The First Tee.

The NSGP trains physical educators to introduce basic golf skills to children as part of their yearly program. The curriculum is based on national physical education standards and emphasizes character education through an introduction to The First Tee’s core values.

“The NSGP is structured to present a quality, school golf curriculum that develops competency, understanding and progression through movement and physical skills,” says Benna Cawthorn, director of the NSGP. “Through this program, children as young as five will be exposed to the motor patterns associated with golf, along with the inherent values of the game.”

During the 2003-2004 school year, the NSGP was piloted in 130 elementary schools in eight communities and reached more than 50,000 children. The initial feedback from physical educators, principals, parents and the students has been positive. During 2004 and 2005, the program will be implemented in more than 300 schools throughout the country. A plan is in place to expand the program beyond that.

Snag golf equipment was used throughout the pilot season and has been a preferred supplier to The First Tee for several years. The equipment is designed to be developmentally appropriate for students and to accommodate constricted areas.

The First Tee, an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, has opened 154 golf-learning facilities since its inception in 1997. It also has introduced golf to more than 300,000 participants since 2000. The focus is to give young people an opportunity to develop life-enhancing values such as honesty, integrity and sportsmanship through golf and character education.
Above are pictures of kids participating in the NSGP. GCN