Using golf to get kids on par with life

First Tee teaches more than just the game

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Just before lunch was served at the Inwood Country Club, First Tee of Metropolitan NYProgram Director Justin Koff gathered all the children that took part in the Bronx-based organization’s free clinic on Aug. 14 and asked a question.
“What is respect,” Koff asked the kids who range in age from 7 to 18. Out of the group of approximately 100 came a young voice. “When you treat people how you want to be treated,” responded 7-year-old Shada Danzy.
Koff said “correct” and that answer is the crux of the First Tee program that not only seeks to expose children to golf, but provide them with the needed skills to succeed at life.
“I learned life skills on and off course,” said, Isaiah Walker, 15, a five-year First Tee member from East Orange who displayed a Tiger Woods-like power swing at the practice range. “I learned to play golf, be respectful of myself and others, to have confidence, good sportsmanship and always be courteous.
Established in 1997, First Tee’s mission is to educate, enrich and empower kids and teach them confidence, perseverance, courtesy and sportsmanship through golf. “The benefit is kids interact with other kids,” said Koff, a golfer for 15 years who has been with First Tee for the past four, three in his current position.

First Tee senior members 16 to 18-year-olds served as instructors and helped the kids from Operation Get Ahead in Hempstead and the Congregational Church of South Hempstead chip, putt and drive for distance and accuracy during the one hour and 15-minute clinic.
“I love it because most of the kids who take part don’t have the opportunity to learn the game,” said Kyle Higgins, the assistant golf pro at Inwood. “They learn more about life than the game; they learn to handle adversity.”
Anyone who has picked up a golf club knows exactly what Higgins means. All the kids tried hard at both clinic stations. “It’s kinda hard, but some shots are easy,” said Danzy, who held a golf club for the first time that Thursday. She said she would play again.
Following lunch, where First Tee board member Ken Whitney was honored for his donation that went toward purchasing First Tee’s 15-passenger vans. The annual Tournament of Champions winners were Kali Barisano and Ryan Shurina and Ryan Wallstedt in the 13 and up age group for girls and boys, respectively, and Zara Jacob and Edmund Trang in the 12 and under group. Nikki Dilluvio and Taylor Kong, boys, were the top Life Skills test takers. The Nassau County team, out of five, was the tournament’s overall winner.
To learn more about First Tee visit www.thefirstteemetny.org.