ARIZONA NEWS
JUNIOR GOLF, AWGA
First Tee of Phoenix promotes values, healthy lifestyle
Many of the successful skills people acquire throughout their lives share a common thread with athletics, specifically the game of golf. Self-respect, responsibility for one’s actions, perseverance in the face of adversity, and confidence in personal ability can all be obtained through the simple joy of a well-struck golf shot. And the First Tee of Phoenix uses these values and others to build the leaders of tomorrow through the game of golf and the life lessons it teaches. From promoting healthy lifestyles to hosting monthly tournaments to offering college scholarships, the First Tee of Phoenix provides its members the tools they need to succeed, not only on the golf course, but in life. The organization now reaches more than 100,000 kids in Maricopa
Making a difference for women golfers
n BY ROBYN NOLL I
f you have a wife, sister, mother or daughter who plays or is interested in learning more about golf, the Arizona Women’s Golf
Association has programs that can help. We strive to create opportunities for women of all ages and backgrounds to grow and thrive through golf, whether they are first- timers who want to see for themselves what the game is really about, or veteran golfers striving to improve their game and lower their scores. We see the fact that more women are
picking up a club for the first time as a great opportunity, and have made it our primary goal over the next three years
30 | AZ GOLF Insider | ANNUAL 2016
County through regular programming at 15 locations around the Valley, as well as eight, Phoenix-area school districts through their National School Board Program. This year was a busy one for the First Tee of Phoenix, as 2016 saw the opening of two new programming locations — one at the prestigious TPC Scottsdale, home of the Waste Management Phoenix Open, and one at San Marcos Golf Course which expanded their reach into Chandler. In addition to the programming expansion, two members of the First Tee of Phoenix excelled on the golf course. Kaitlynn Criswell from Mesa was one of only 16 young women invited to the First Tee National Par-3 Championship at the Kanawha Club in Richmond, Virginia, and Patrick Fernandez of
to get more women introduced to the game and to keep them in the game. Golf 101, for example, pairs new golfers with supportive women’s leagues so they have other women to play with once lessons are over. And our Build-a-TEAM program ensures high school girls get critical basic instruction so they don’t walk away from a sport that benefits both their career options and lifespan. That’s right, studies show that women who play sports have dramatically higher chances of taking on leadership roles in their careers, and that golfers live as much as five years longer than non-golfers! There are more ways
than ever for YOU to help
the women in your life reap golf’s many health and social benefits, too: • Tell them about our Golf 101 classes! We also have Golf 201 classes if they know the basics and just need a refresher (
AWGA.org/Golf101).
• Let them know they can play in a no-
Surprise took home top honors at the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach along with his professional playing partner, Michael Allen. Interested in joining the First Tee of
Phoenix? The program has an annual fee of $100, which covers all instruction and access to the facility where you plan on attending classes. The year is divided into four sessions which will implement the First Tee Life Skills Experience which is part of a nationally recognized character
development curriculum. Membership scholarships are available, and are awarded by a case-by-case method based on individual need. The First Tee of Phoenix also accepts membership and equipment donations. For more information, visit
firistteephoenix.org. n
pressure “Just for Fun” environment as your guests (
AWGA.org/Fun).
• Grab someone you know and invite her to come with you to one of our Rules and Handicap seminars, which are open to both men and women (
AWGA.org/Seminars).
• Get them to sign up for one of our tournaments in 2017! The tournament schedule is packed with terrific events that are often flighted, so that championship golfers and those with higher handicaps can all participate, have fun and succeed (
AWGA.org/Tournaments).
• Send a donation to help us fulfill our strategic initiatives. Since we’re a 501(c)(3) charity your donation is tax deductible (
AWGA.org/Donate)! We know that you share our passion
for golf and our desire to see women succeed. Please join us in making a real difference in the lives of women. You can call our office at (602) 253-5655 for more information about any of our programs. n
www.azgolf.org
COURTESY FIRST TEE OF PHOENIX
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