As the new school year gets underway, tens of thousands of kids will swing a golf club for the very first time, thanks to
The First Tee of Tampa Bay. The Tampa Y program will run the National Golf-In-Schools Program in every Hillsborough County public elementary school thanks to a $190,000 donation to complete a multi-year project.
“If your child goes to public elementary school in Hillsborough County, he or she will be doing golf through The First Tee at some point,” says Executive Director Ian Baxter. “We want to grow the game and reach kids that might not have access to it.” In a total of 150 schools, up to 75,000 students will receive golf and life skill instruction for 4-6 sessions throughout the school year.
19-year-old Evan Jenkins knows first-hand what it’s like to be exposed to golf for the first time at school. The First Tee of Tampa Bay reached him through its training center at Franklin Middle Magnet School. “We would come out to the golf course two to three times a week and that’s how I got started with The First Tee,” recalls Evan.
Evan fell in love with the game but also made lifelong relationships. “There were a lot of golf-centered activities but it was more like a family,” says Evan. “The kids I met in the program - we’re friends outside of golf. It’s very well-rounded.”
Evan is now a coach and camp counselor with The First Tee, giving back to today’s youth. “We go into different schools and introduce the game to other kids. During summer camp, we show the kids life skills every day,” explains Evan. “Over the years, it’s rewarding to see the kid that you remember from day one and now they’ve grown six inches and they hit the ball pretty well.”
This expansion wouldn’t be possible without the generosity and partnership of Hillsborough County Public Schools, Tampa Sports Authority, the Florida Junior Golf Council, The First Tee of Tampa Bay Board of Directors and donors. To learn more about The First Tee of Tampa Bay,
click here.
Pictured above: The First Tee of Tampa Bay, a Tampa Y program, donated more than $190,000 to Hillsborough County Public Schools to complete a multi-year process of equipping each public elementary school with golf equipment and training.
