Program teaches golf — and life lessons

Heather Rawlyk

Friday, April 30, 2004 | 3:21 a.m.

WEEKEND EDITION: May 1, 2004

Las Vegas-area students are learning important life skills on the green, through The First Tee of Southern Nevada character development golf programs.

The programs currently involve more than 2,000 Las Vegas youths between ages 6 and 17. It brings golf to children who otherwise would not have had the opportunity to play the game.

Proponents of the program say it teaches life skills because there are nine "core values" -- responsibility, sportsmanship, perseverance, confidence, good judgment, honesty, respect, courtesy and integrity -- that can be learned through the game of golf.

"We've seen kids make changes with their lives -- their grades go up at least one letter since they've been here," The First Tee spokeswoman Jane Schlosser said.

"One of the important things is to teach the kids skills they can take with them and instill confidence they can use in the future," Schlosser said.

"A lot of times we have them go through replays and teach them not to get frustrated but to keep trying and give it their best," she said. "They keep trying to get it. They learn sportsmanship and how to get along with everyone on the course."

Mark Fritz, The First Tee's director of operations, said: "It's a lot more than just hitting around golf balls out here. The whole idea is to teach these life skills, and really reach out to kids who may not be able to learn them otherwise.

"That's why the program is free," he said. "We want to reach every kid possible."

The First Tee currently offers four programs.

"Golf Fore All Seasons" is an eight-week program in the spring and fall that is designed to offer middle school students an alternative after-school recreational activity.

"A bus picks the kids up from middle school and takes them to one of the courses," Schlosser said. "It's a great thing for after school. We've seen a lot of kids that normally would choose to hang out in the streets that now want to go to the golf course instead."

"Fore All Year" provides twice-weekly open sessions that are free and available for children on Thursdays and Saturdays, Fritz said.

The "Danny Gans Golf Academy," funded by the Strip entertainer, is free and open to all members of The First Tee. The six-week program places members in five different levels, depending on their skill, and provides golf clubs for the children to use.

Finally, the adaptive learning program provides beginning-level golf instruction for children with mental and physical disabilities, Fritz said.

For more information or to get a youth involved in one of The First Tee of Southern Nevada programs, contact The First Tee at (702) 433-0626, ext. 211 or visit www.thefirsttee.org or www.snjga.org.