Benefiting The First Tee of Greater Atlantic City
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 • Featuring Dr. Oz

The mission of The First Tee is to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character-development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf.

Our goal is to introduce at-risk and disadvantaged youth to the game of golf, as well as to lend academic support to these same participants. We accomplish this by providing access to golf learning facilities and the experience that will enable kids from every walk of life to partake in a game that teaches values for life and which can be played for a lifetime.

Our chapter, The First Tee of Greater Atlantic City, was established in 1998 as the LPGA Urban Youth Golf Program of Greater Atlantic City under the umbrella of the non-profit Atlantic City LPG Benefit Association. Since becoming New Jersey’s first official chapter, The First Tee of Greater Atlantic City has introduced more than 1,000 children to the game of golf. The children range in age from 7-17 and come from all different socio-economic backgrounds. Many of those children are disadvantaged or at-risk. In the process, we have imparted valuable life skills, focusing in particular on character development and academic achievement.

We reach out to these participants through our seasonal clinics, LPGA*USGA Girls Golf Program and our TARGET Outreach programs. Our After-School Enrichment Program is another important component of The First Tee. That program is currently in seven schools, including: Martin Luther King and Texas Avenue Schools in Atlantic City; Washington Avenue, South Main Street and the Middle Schools in Pleasantville; and Reeds Road and Roland Rogers Schools in Galloway Township.

On a worldwide level, The First Tee and its 202 Chapters, 1,730 elementary schools and more than 800 affiliated golf courses have positively impacted more than 1.5 million young lives. None of this would be possible without the efforts of The First Tee’s founding partners: Augusta National Golf Club, the LPGA, the PGA of America, the PGA TOUR and the USGA. We are also supported by more than 3,700 volunteers, 1,400 board members, and 850 PGA and LPGA touring and teaching professionals.