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THE NINE CORE VALUES OF THE FIRST TEE PROGRAM
HONESTY
COURTESY
RESPECT
SPORTSMANSHIP
JUDGMENT
RESPONSIBILITY
INTEGRITY
PERSEVERANCE
CONFIDENCE
The Tattersall Youth Development Center at The First Tee Chesterfield is a 21-hole ( 18-hole course , 3-hole practice loop ) complex . The Elson Redmond Memorial Driving Range on School Street in the city of Richmond features a recently renovated six-hole par-3 course that boasts Champion bermudagrass greens and vertical wall bunkers . The city facility was The First Tee ’ s 100th site .
The First Tee has been led nationally by Joe Louis Barrow the past 17 years . Presidents Bush ( No . 41 ) and George W . ( No . 43 ) have served as honorary chairmen . And the program has grown well beyond the goals of access and affordability .
The advent of life skills and the nine core values , ideas spearheaded by Wrenn and VCU professor Dr . Steve Danish , “ turned us from a very nice junior golf program about affordability and access to a dynamic youth development organization ,” says Brent Schneider , executive director of The First Tee Greater Richmond . “ We are helping children and all kids in this area and around the country where our programs are because of the work these guys did on that end with the life skills . It ’ s in the curriculum all over the country and in different countries where First Tee has a presence . It started here .”
The First Tee offers three different levels of programming : traditional life skills programs , including leadership academies ; partnerships with other non-profits such as Boys and Girls clubs and the Police Athletic League ; and the National School Program that incorporates the life skills curriculum into elementary school physical education programs . Participation numbers have taken off at the chapters that are involved in the schools program .
The First Tees of Greater Richmond , Hampton Roads and Roanoke Valley are among the nation ’ s strongest chapters .
Hampton Roads got its start under the guidance of Jane Batten , the region ’ s version of Fred Tattersall , in 1999 . The YMCA of South Hampton Roads and The First Tee formed a unique alliance in 2001 .
“ Our mission / values complement each other so well in that we are here to serve not just youth , but families , as well ,” says Nancy Moore , director of operations and development . “ All our curriculum is based on Nine Core Values of The First Tee ( just like other chapters ), and the Y ’ s core values are similar . We technically work for the YMCA here and operate under the Y , but we adhere to all guidelines from The First Tee . It ’ s like we operate under two corporate entities that work together to deliver the best experience for a child in our community .”
Each hole on Hampton Roads ’ nine-hole golf course , designed by Pete and Alice Dye , is named for one of The First Tee ’ s core values .
The Scott Robertson Memorial Junior Golf Academy is home of The First Tee of Roanoke Valley , which began in 2005 with five participants enrolled .
“ We have grown to serve over 7,000 children through a variety of programs ,” says executive director Jennifer Blackwood .
The Roanoke Valley chapter is the primary beneficiary of the Delta Dental State Open of Virginia , which is jointly conducted by the VSGA and MAPGA .
First Tee programs focus on life skills and core values , but they also produce some terrific golfers .
Roanoke Valley ’ s fall newsletter , The Scorecard , highlighted a number of achievements by high school players . Among them were John Hatcher Ferguson , a junior at Franklin County High who was the conference , region and state champion , and Ross Funderburke , a sophomore at Hidden Valley High , who was one of 81 First Tee representatives to participate in the PGA Tour Champions ’ Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach in September .
Funderburke and Champions Tour partner Billy Andrade tied for first in the pro-junior division after Funderburke shot a career-low 66 in the final round . Unfortunately , they ended up out of the winner ’ s circle after a scorecard playoff . Funderburke hopped on an airplane the next day in order to get home for his conference tournament . He shot 69 and won .
In 2012 , Tyler Broach , a Matoaca High graduate representing Greater Richmond , teamed with Mark McNulty to win the pro-junior division at The First Tee Open at Pebble Beach . Broach birdied three of the final four holes at Pebble , including rolling in a 20-footer for birdie on No . 18 .
In a Richmond Times-Dispatch article by Vic Dorr Jr ., Broach was quoted as saying to his brother and caddie Peyton before the putt on 18 , “ We ’ ve done this before .
12 V IRGINIA G OLFER | J ANUARY / F EBRUARY 2017 vsga . org