MAYOR GIULIANI, PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH AND WORLD GOLF FOUNDATION ANNOUNCE PROGRAM THAT WILL ENABLE NYC KIDS TO "TEE OFF"
YOUNG PEOPLE WILL LEARN GAME AT BRONX'S MOSHOLU GOLF COURSE
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today attended a plaque dedication joined President George Bush and other World Golf Foundation officials to announce that New York City has been selected as a site for the "The First Tee" program, a national effort that will provide facilities and training to young people who traditionally have not had access to the game. The Mosholu Golf Course in the Bronx has been selected as the First Tee site in the City and will undergo extensive renovations. Also joining the Mayor were golf champions Pat Bradley and Tom Watson, Tiger Woods Foundation Chairman Earl Woods, PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem, and City Parks Commissioner Henry J. Stern.
"I am proud that New York City will be the site of one of the first World Golf Foundation First Tee facilities," Mayor Giuliani said. "Together, we'll transform the Mosholu Golf Course in the Bronx into a first rate, accessible teaching facility. This is a wonderful opportunity to add to the City's "Learn to Play Golf" program, which just last summer provided 540 children with golf instruction."
The Mayor continued, "When we take concrete steps to provide affordable access to the game for children from all walks of life, we're not just opening the door to a new sport. We're not just giving children the opportunity to dream about professional careers in the LPGA or PGA. We are opening the door to new challenges; we are teaching these children fundamentals of the game, which are also valuable lessons in life. To quote golf legend Bobby Jones, 'The main idea in golf as in life is to learn to accept what cannot be altered and to do one's reasoned and resolute best whether the prospects be rosy or bleak.' I would like to thank President Bush and the World Golf Foundation for their very exciting initiative."
The World Golf Foundation First Tee program creates facilities across the United States that provide affordable access to learn and play the game of golf. To accomplish this, the First Tee program seeks to develop public/private partnerships between municipalities, civic groups, the corporate sector and service organizations with an interest in making such facilities available in their communities.
Mosholu Golf Course in the Bronx was chosen for its potential as a teaching facility and for its accessibility by public transportation. Dedicated blocks of available and affordable tee times and driving range slots will be set aside for youth golf participants. Youth program instruction clinics and golf balls will also be made available to participants.
Under the proposed plan, the Parks Department will make the golf course available for the program. FairWay Golf, which operates the Mosholu Course, will provide a block of available tee times, driving range slots and range balls for First Tee participants. The World Golf Foundation will provide design services and fundraising efforts though private and corporate sponsorship to pay for equipment and major renovations that will be required.
Parks Commissioner Henry J. Stern said, "Since the entrance of Tiger Woods, we have seen increased interest in the sport of golf throughout the City. The City's Parks Department's free instructional program "Learn to Golf" introduced children to the sport this past summer and having a World Golf Foundation's First Tee site will be enormously helpful to our efforts in bringing golf to our City's youngsters."
"While there are many worthwhile programs addressing the issue of increased access for youth and minorities to golf, the World Golf Foundation holds the promise of making a lasting impact on the game by not only introducing people to golf, but by providing lifetime playing opportunities to those previously excluded from participating," said Tim Finchem, PGA TOUR Commissioner and Chairman of the World Golf Foundation Board. The average age of a beginning golfer is 29 years old and less than two percent of children ages 12-17 are introduced to golf each year.
Also taking part in today's First Tee announcement were representatives from the PGA TOUR, United States Golf Association (USGA), the PGA of America, the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), Augusta National Golf Club, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the National Association of County Officials, and the League of Cities, the National Association of Parks and Recreation.
The World Golf Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that has received the support of all major golf organizations throughout the world. The responsibilities of the World Golf Foundation include managing the World Golf Hall of Fame and IMAX Theater, World Golf Library, and various charitable initiatives.
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