The Tennessee Valley Youth Golf Development (TVYGD),
a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, is the partnering agency for
what will soon become The First Tee of Huntsville. The mission of
The First Tee of Huntsville is to provide life-skills training to
youngsters ages 7-18. The program will instill in these young people
life-enhancing values such as honesty, integrity, sportsmanship
and respect using the game of golf as the vehicle to do so. The
idea is to offer opportunities for improvement in the quality of
life and create a platform where children can increase their potential
for success.
The World Golf Foundation recognized the need for
this type of education youth organization when The First Tee was
unveiled in November of 1997. Since its inception, The First Tee
has enjoyed the active support of five of the worlds's leading golf
organization -- the PGA of America, Ladies Professional Golf Association,
Augusta National Golf Club, PGA Tour and United States Golf Association.
Radically, The First Tee has succeeded in garnering the unprecedented
support of the golf industry and others, including counties and
cities that have donated land for the purpose of creating The First
Tee golf-learning facilities.
The First Tee of Huntsville feels this comprehensive
youth program is a perfect opportunity to help raise awareness on
health and other issues such a s teen pregnancy, drug/alcohol abuse,
social obedience, culture and art appreciation and more. Presently,
these programs directly reach over 300 youth grades 2nd through
5th in the Huntsville city School after-school program "Camp
Success" for the 2004-05 school year. To reinforce after-school
golf programs Summer Youth (Family) Golf Programs, along with several
other golf demonstrations and clinics are accessible.
TVYGD has established program partnerships and provided
services with Youth Services of the City of Huntsville's Recreations
Department, the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail Hampton Cove, the
Huntsville/Madison County Boys & Girls Clubs, local school systems
and other community-based youth organizations. TVYGD expects to
continue these relationships as we soon expand to become The First
Tee of Huntsville and the Tennessee Valley. Plans are to create
The First Tee affiliate location in South Huntsville and Madison.
The First Tee has a bright and exciting future.
The impact of The First Tee is assured because of the extraordinary
commitment of the Chapter volunteers and staff combined with the
local business and political leaders in each community who have
embraced The First Tee.
We are in need of support in a variety of areas
including funding, coaching, transportation and others. If you have
an interest in helping to give you a gift for life, youth golf development,
please contact us today.
Yours truly,
Howard Bankhead
Managing Director
The First Tee of Huntsville and Tennessee Valley
