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Goal: 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.
Contact Info:
To visit the First Tee National Web Site visit: www.thefirsttee.org
For the Pensacola-Area First Tee Web Site visit: www.thefirstteenwflorida.org
For information, contact First Tee at Tanglewood Golf and Country Club: 850-623-6176
Nine Core Values:
The First Tee has established Nine Core Values that represent some of the many inherently positive values connected with the game of golf.
Honesty - Golf is unique from other sports in that players regularly call penalties on themselves.
Integrity - Golf is a game of honesty, etiquette and composure. You are responsible for your actions and personal conduct on the golf course.
Sportsmanship - You must know and abide by the rules of golf and be able to conduct yourself in a respectful manner.
Respect - In golf it is important to show respect for yourself, your partners, your opponents and the golf course as well as for the honor and traditions of the game.
Confidence - Confidence plays a key role in the level of play that you achieve. You must have confidence in your abilities every time you play.
Responsibility - In golf, you are responsible for yourself and your actions on the golf course. It is up to you to keep score, repair divots, rake bunkers, repair ball marks on the green and keep up with the pace of play.
Perseverance - To succeed in golf, you must learn to persevere through bad breaks and your own mistakes.
Courtesy - A round of golf should begin and end with a handshake between fellow competitors. Show courtesy toward others by remaining still and quiet while they prepare and execute a shot.
Judgment - Using good judgment is critical in golf. It comes into play when deciding on strategy, club selection, when to play safe and when to take a chance, the type of shot you consider executing, as well as understanding and abiding by etiquette.
Golf Classes
The First Tee golf classes consist of three programs. The Par level or beginner level, the Birdie level or intermediate, and the Eagle level or advanced. All three of these programs will give your child a better “grip” on the game of golf and help them to learn life skills for the future. During the program, your child will learn the basics of the proper stance and posture in Par and mastering course management in Eagle with Birdie being everything in between.
The classes are in five-week increments and take place from 4:30 to 6:30 pm on Tuesday at Stonebrook and Thursday at Tanglewood (same times).
This program is not a competitive event playing program. The First Tee is a learning center for children that may not have the opportunity because of different circumstances to take up the game of golf and we are here as instructors to help them in all aspects of the game and even in their lives. The cost of these programs is an introductory fee of $25. This fee will cover the programs for one six week session. Scholarships will be available on a limited basis. Below are brief descriptions of what each level has to offer.
Par Level
Stage one of The First Tee Program is Par Level. In this stage, your child will learn how to set their personal par as well as beginning golf skills. These skills include how to hold a club, how to stand when preparing to swing, how to swing the golf club, how to putt, what club to use for what shot, how to play quickly and safely, basic rules, and etiquette. Not only will they learn basic golf skills, but they will learn basic life skills that can help them on the golf course and in the classroom like how to introduce yourself, why rules and respect are important in golf and in life, how to get more fun out of learning something new, what to do when you get angry or frustrated, how to find your personal par. They will also have the opportunity to use the SNAG golf equipment. This is a fun and safe way of teaching your child the basics of golf by allowing them to play with larger clubs and hitting tennis balls.
Birdie Level
Stage two of the program is the intermediate level. Here your child will learn the advanced putting and short game skills, how to improve your full swing, whether to putt, chip, or pitch from around the green, what clubs to use to chip or pitch the ball, the difference between “carry” and total distance, how to read “breaks” in the green, how to mark your ball when you lift it on the green, advanced rules and etiquette, and how to get around the course quickly. In the life skills we want to help your child express their dreams and goals as it concerns the golf course and life. We want them to understand the difference between dreams and reachable goals. Show them how a “goal ladder” can help them reach their goals. And finally, what to do when they have trouble reaching their goals.
Eagle Level
The Eagle level is the last and most advanced stage in the First Tee program. At this point, you child will have a good “grip” on golf. This level incorporates practicing and how to get the most out of a practice session, how to warm up before the practice session or their round. Learning how to self-check themselves when it concerns their swing fundamentals. They will learn how to be more accurate with their irons and woods. And finally, how to use strategy on the golf course. In Eagle level, your children will learn that it is very important at this stage that body, mind, and heart need to stay healthy in order to play better golf. They will understand how to build and get help from a go-to team. They will understand what diversity means and why its important. They will learn how to settle conflicts in a positive way.
