First Tee program teaches lessons

Published 4:28 pm Thursday, July 17, 2008

There are many challenges to overcome in the game of golf.

There are trees, small ponds (and ponds that are way too big), and sand traps all designed to make you fail. This can be especially troubling for the inexperienced golfer to handle.

However, for the First Tee program, a golf school designed to teach kids fundamental life lessons, failure isn’t such a bad thing.

“Failure doesn’t seem to depress, it seems to enhance encouragement,” said Dale Wallin, one of the coaches of the First Tee program at Lynnwood Municipal Golf Course.

In fact, fellow coach Dan Smith, the PGA professional at Lynnwood who runs the First Tee program, appreciates how golf can bring out the best in anybody.

“Golf is an awesome tool, or catalyst if you will, to teach and develop life skills that will help them in any part of their life,” Smith said. “A lot of people don’t realize it. They just go out and play golf ‘cause it’s fun.”

The World Golf Foundation created the First Tee program in November of 1997 to get more kids actively involved in the game of golf. Since then, First Tee has incorporated life lessons into the curriculum, which is now labeled as the First Tee Life Skills Experience. In 2004, they launched a national school program in over 2,000 elementary schools across the country.

The course is focused towards kids between ages eight and 18. Jeff Cornish, Executive Director of the First Tee program in Snohomish County, said they are currently serving over 400 students throughout the county. They are divided by skill level into classes called Target, Par, Birdie, Eagle, and for the elite few, Ace.

In the lessons, the instructors teach four life skills: intercommunication, self-management, goal setting and resistance. Through these skills, Smith said the kids learn nine core values: integrity, patience, respect, honesty, sportsmanship, confidence, responsibility, courtesy and judgment.

Yet, the golf coaches never use any of these words when they teach. Cornish said the learning just happens without the kids even realizing it.

“I’m helping them learn how to hit a 5-iron with a few simple cues,” said Cornish. “Our policy is to keep them active, help them self discover and make it fun.”

At Lynnwood, the instructors teach life skills through a variety of golf related games and drills. In one drill, to emphasize the importance of goal setting, coaches tell the kids to try and putt with their eyes closed.

“How do you visualize your dream?” said Smith. “You visualize the putt… be patient.”

Unlike other sports, Cornish said golf is unique for teaching life skills because each individual must learn self-discipline.

“Students must have the integrity to call penalties on themselves,” he said.

As far as teaching goes, Smith and Wallin don’t mind the challenge of training young kids.

“Teaching is a very challenging yet rewarding profession. I don’t think anyone would tell you it’s easy,” said Smith. “People teach because they love to see people improve and get excited about improving.”

“I guess when you see a youngster, all of a sudden the light comes on inside,” said Wallin.

This is the third year that Lynnwood Golf Course has acted as a chapter facility for the First Tee program. Other First Tee sites in Snohomish County include Kenwanda, Snohomish, Legion, Battle Creek, Blue Boy, and Ballinger Lake golf courses.