Research has shown the primary reason young people do not play golf is due to a lack of affordable junior golf programs and places that welcome them. In 1997, the LGPA, Masters Tournament, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and USGA formed a partnership to lead an initiative called The First Tee. This initiative began as a way to bring golf to kids and teens that otherwise would not be exposed to the game and its positive values. Since that time, The First Tee has steadily grown into a youth service organization impacting, influencing and inspiring more than 9 million young people. What started as a concept to make golf more accessible turned into an opportunity to help young people develop core values and learn life skills that are inherent in the game of golf.
In 2004, The First Tee expanded and introduced The First Tee Nine Core Values™ in physical education classes at elementary schools through the National School Program. Its purpose is to not only promote healthy choices but to give young people an opportunity to develop, through golf and character education, life-enhancing values such as responsibility, courtesy, honesty, integrity and sportsmanship.
In 2014, First Tee Dallas teamed up with CFB and granted six sets of golf equipment to be rotated among the twenty-six elementary school. Each set can serve upwards of 50 students at one time. This school golf program creates an environment where young people are introduced to a lifelong sport while learning basic golf motor skills.
The objectives of the First Tee program are to:
- Provide a complete golf program appropriate for today’s elementary school physical education students and teachers
- Enable physical educators to introduce golf consistent with national standards developed by NASPE
- Develop student appreciation for the positive personal and social values associated with the game with each lesson
- Engage students in daily lesson activities that lead to motor skill development
- Present golf to students as a lifelong recreation and physical fitness activity