PGA Awards First Tee Grants


The PGA of America, in conjunction with Jack Nicklaus, has awarded teaching grants totaling $50,000 to 10 First Tee chapters in six states.

To date, 178 of the 201 active Chapters of the First Tee worldwide have been recipients of either a PGA of America or Nicklaus/PGA teaching grant. The combined PGA and Nicklaus/PGA grants total $2.025 million.

Since 2001, the PGA of America and Nicklaus have partnered to create a $2 million endowment to provide teaching grants to certified Chapters of the First Tee that utilize PGA golf professionals and apprentices for instruction.

"The PGA of America and Jack Nicklaus are proud that the Nicklaus/PGA Teaching Grants continue to impact new groups of young people throughout this country," said PGA President Jim Remy. "The program was intended to be a catalyst for growing the game of golf, and it has resulted in nationwide success stories. The First Tee momentum continues and we are proud to team in this endeavor to bring many young people into the game."

The program continues to highlight the PGA of America's commitment to partner with its PGA professionals to grow participation in golf. The current Nicklaus/PGA teaching grants totaling $5,000 each have been awarded to First Tee Chapters in California, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and Washington State.

Since its inception in 1997, there are 201 First Tee chapters in operation and 709 golf-learning facilities that have introduced the game of golf to more than 3.5 million participants and students (which include the students of the National School Program). The focus is to give young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop, through golf and character education, life-enhancing values such as honesty, integrity and sportsmanship.

The grant recipients include:

First Tee of Coachella Valley Palm Desert, Calif.
First Tee of Greater Seattle - Riverbend Seattle, Wash.
First Tee of Los Angeles Los Angeles, Calif.
First Tee of Maury River Basin Buena Vista, Va.
First Tee of Metropolitan New York - Brooklyn Brooklyn, N.Y.
First Tee of Metropolitan New York - Gull Haven Central Islip, N.Y.
First Tee of Metropolitan New York - Harlem Golf Academy New York, N.Y.
First Tee of Metropolitan New York - Mohansic Yorktown Heights, N.Y.
First Tee of Metropolitan New York - Plainfield Edison, N.J.
First Tee of the Pine Belt Hattiesburg, Miss.

For more information about the Teaching Grants, call 561/624-7612.