First Tee, Montgomery is an
organization formed to create and operate facilities and programs
that make  the game of golf more affordable and accessible to
young
people of all races and economic backgrounds, with a special
emphasis on kids who otherwise may not have an opportunity to
experience the game. Traditionally, the targeted youth are from
lower income families who reside in urban environments
The true
value of the program is based on golf's unique ability to instill and
nurture essential values, such as honesty, integrity, sportsmanship
and a solid work ethic, in young people who are introduced to the game.
The program will help participants develop greater self-esteem, civic responsibility
and confidence, and teach children that dedication, sound values and education are
keys to success.
This initiative has the support and participation of a variety of
key sectors:
- The leading U.S. golf organizations, including the PGA
Tour, United States Golf Association, PGA of
America, Ladies Professional Golf Association and Augusta National
Golf Club.
    
- A wide range of public sector constituencies, including the U.S.
Department of Housing and Urban Development, National Recreation
and Park Association, National League of Cities, U.S. Conference
of Mayors and the National Association of County Officials.
- A variety of groups, including the Golf Course Superintendents
Association of America, National Golf Foundation, American Junior
Golf Association, American Society of Golf Course Architects,
Tiger Woods Foundation and National Minority Golf Foundation, are dedicated to extending the reach of golf to new segments of the
population.
 First
Tee, Montgomery is the official county chapter of the national
The First Tee program, with both public and private partners.
Public Partners include the Montgomery Parks Foundation, the
Montgomery County Recreation Department, the County Parks Department,
and the County Revenue Authority. Private partners include the
corporations represented by our first Board of Directors, including
Giant Food, Comcast Cable Communications, Linowes & Blocher, LLP,
and others. The Montgomery County Park and Recreation
departments will be providing facility and program support, including
the use of the 9-hole White Oak golf course in Silver Spring, as the primary
chapter facility.
First Tee, Montgomery
will serve approximately 150 youth between the ages of 9 and 13 during
its first year of operation, beginning in April 2001. Many of
these children will be bused from the Good Hope, Long Branch and
Coffield Community Centers in the Down County region. A
mentoring program, which will link adult volunteer golfers with
interested youth, will also be initiated at the Upper County Community
Center in Gaithersburg.
First Tee,
Montgomery
Board of Directors
Mark Atz
Pete Carney Pete Cleaves James Gordon
Henry Halistock William Kyle Robert
Lindstrom Robert Metz Adrian
Nelson Don Praisner Charles
Steinbraker
For additional information
regarding First Tee, Montgomery, please
call 240-447-4646 or email: thefirstteemcmd@aol.com
For additional information
about The First Tee, visit their website at
http://www.thefirsttee.org
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