The goal isn't to create the next Tiger Woods, rather it's to expose kids who might not otherwise have an opportunity, the chance learn the game of golf and all the life skills that go along with it.
That's the purpose of The First Tee program, which was introduced to Utah Monday at the Jordan River State Park Golf Course.
Joe Louis Barrow Jr., the son of the legendary boxer Joe Louis, is the national director of The First Tee and he was in Salt Lake Monday along with Leon Gilmore, the director of development for the West region to introduce the program to local politicians, golf administrators and officials of youth organizations.
"Golf is a wonderful sport," said Barrow. "First Tee is about providing affordable access to kids. The outcome for the kids is to not only know the game, but to expose them to the values golf teaches, to learn to be honest with themselves, to set goals, to manage their emotions and to gain confidence. We want to provide kids with life skills."
The First Tee program began in 1997 and already has 129 First Tee facilities in operation or development. The Jordan River course will serve as the initial First Tee facility in Utah with others expected in the coming years.
Barrow said The First Tee has a goal to impact the lives of 500,000 youth by the year 2005 with 250 First Tee facilities and 500 affiliate relationships. Rather than trying to target individual golfers in the community, First Tee tries to align itself with established programs such as the Boys and Girls Clubs, the Police Athletic League and the YMCA.
Although the program may seem to be targeted toward minorities and disadvantaged kids, Gilmore and Barrow stressed that it's open to "any child."
"We want to expose kids to the game — boys and girls, black, white and Hispanic - and get them playing golf for the first time," said Barrow.
Barrow said his most intimate times with his father were spent on the golf course, beginning when he was six years old. Even though his father was one of the most famous boxers of all time (his real was Joe Louis Barrow), he didn't want his son to follow in his footsteps and wanted him to get an education. He also knew, unlike boxing, that golf is a lifetime sport.
"The knock on golf is that it's too expensive and it's boring," said Gilmore. "We want to show that it is fun and affordable."
The First Tee program helps disadvantaged kids pay for golf, but also expects kids to pay part of the cost to learn responsibility.
"What I like about this program is that it's not just about golf, but it teaches kids to set goals that they can apply to school," said Salt Lake County Mayor Nancy Workman, who was on hand for Monday's announcement. "I think we need to get involved in this."
While Jordan River State Park Golf Course doesn't come under the jurisdiction of Workman, she hopes one of the county's golf courses, perhaps Mick Riley, which has a par-3 course, can get involved with the First Tee program.
Other local courses that might get involved in The First Tee program are Nibley Park, Rose Park and Glendale.
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