It°®¶¹app™s one thing to teach kids how to play golf, but it°®¶¹app™s another °®¶¹app“ more valuable °®¶¹app“ lesson for those kids to learn how golf can build character.
That°®¶¹app™s the feeling of the First Tee-Indiana organization, which partners with 59 golf courses and over 340 schools around the state, teaching kids how to play, defraying the cost of an expensive sport and emphasizing how golf skills can be applied away from the course.
°®¶¹appœIn what other sport are you taught to call penalties on yourself?°®¶¹app said Mike David, executive director of the Indiana Golf Foundation, which oversees First Tee-Indiana.
First Tee-Indiana works with school systems and community organizations in 19 regions. But it would like to improve its presence here and an informational meeting was held for more than 75 people Nov. 12 at Sycamore Hills Golf Club to explain First Tee-Indiana°®¶¹app™s importance and the need for donations to support the Fort Wayne region.
°®¶¹appœGolf lends itself to teaching sportsmanship, honesty and perseverance, and that°®¶¹app™s really what First Tee is all about,°®¶¹app David said. °®¶¹appœObviously, it°®¶¹app™s trying to turn out lifelong golfers, but it°®¶¹app™s trying to turn out better quality people, too.°®¶¹app
Information on First Tee-Indiana, including how to get involved as a coach or volunteer and how to donate, can be found at .
First Tee-Indiana works with elementary and middle schools, David said, and will reach about 115,000 kids statewide this year. Programming includes giving physical education teachers instructional equipment such as plastic clubs and Velcro targets for younger kids, training in golf instruction and curriculum.
°®¶¹appœThe response that we°®¶¹app™ve gotten from the P.E. teachers is that they love it because they°®¶¹app™ve got everything they need to run the program,°®¶¹app David said. °®¶¹appœThey can offer it whenever they want. They can do it once a month. They can do it twice a month. They can do it once a quarter. They can really do it however they want.°®¶¹app
There are opportunities for schools to join in skills challenges with other schools for chipping, driving and putting competitions, and First Tee-Indiana pays for substitute teachers to remain at the schools while P.E. teachers chaperone.
One such competition was held in Fort Wayne this year and First Tee-Indiana is already raising for the 2025 event, after feedback was positive because kids enjoyed targeting specific goals, representing their schools and getting to see real courses. Six schools competed at McMillen Park and five at Brookwood Golf Club, both already affiliated with First Tee-Indiana.
Other courses in the Fort Wayne region include Auburn°®¶¹app™s Bridgewater Golf Club, Churubusco°®¶¹app™s Eel River Golf Course, New Haven°®¶¹app™s Whispering Creek Golf Club, and Andrews°®¶¹app™ Etna Acres Golf Course.
First Tee-Indiana works with the Lifetime Sports Academy °®¶¹app“ a free annual program at McMillen Park that teaches kids golf, swimming and tennis °®¶¹app“ as well as Fort Wayne Community Schools, the East Noble School Corp. and Fremont Community Schools.
According to data provided by First Tee-Indiana, 12,275 students participated in programs at northeast Indiana schools in 2023, and participation at area golf courses this year has been an additional 440. While not all programs are free, First Tee-Indiana works to provide equipment and scholarships to kids who may not otherwise have the financial means to learn the sport.
°®¶¹appœWe think there°®¶¹app™s tremendous potential for growth there (in northeast Indiana),°®¶¹app said David, adding that more than $35,000 was recently raised over a two-week period to expand area programming.
First Tee-Indiana would like the Fort Wayne region grow to a point it can hire a full-time site director to liaise with schools and golf courses and oversee fundraising, David said, emphasizing the lessons learned are valuable in all walks of life.
°®¶¹appœEvery First Tee clinic starts with the implementation of a life skill and ends with the same thing,°®¶¹app David said. °®¶¹appœOne clinic might talk about honesty and you°®¶¹app™ll address it. °®¶¹app˜This is how we implement honesty on the golf course: You°®¶¹app™re responsible for keeping track of how many times you hit the shot. And if you miss on a swing, it still counts. It°®¶¹app™s your responsibility to be honest about how many strokes you took.°®¶¹app™
°®¶¹appœAnd then the kids will be asked, °®¶¹app˜OK, how can you implement honesty in your everyday life?°®¶¹app™ It really ties in the game of golf with how they might interact at home or with classmates, teachers, etc. You°®¶¹app™re trying to just carry those lessons throughout all aspects of their lives, not just what they°®¶¹app™re potentially running into on the golf course.°®¶¹app
