Golf may have taken a knock in the Irish Sports Council Monitor published yesterday by the Irish Sports Council but it was looking to the future at an event hosted by Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan at Leinster House.
The First Tee of Ireland is the Irish chapter of a US based organisation which was established here in 2005. Its remit is to provide coaching and life skills for children who would not normally have access to golf.
The strategic plan published to run from 2015 to 2020 has a target of putting 50,000 children a year through its programme, through partnerships with local schools and clubs, and working with a number of local sports partnerships.
The charity was founded in 1997 by the PGA Tour of America, the US Masters Tournament and a number of other golfing groups in the US. Ireland is one of four international locations where it is established and it receives part funding here from the JP McManus Pro Am tournament.
“In our ten year history in Ireland, the charity has come a long way,” said Chairman Matt O’Dwyer.
“It is now firmly established as a successful charity with strong links across the communities within which we serve. We have a wide network of parents, volunteers and coaches all of whom work closely as a team to bring engaging experiences to our participants in many national schools throughout Ireland”.
The programme teaches nine key life skills from honesty and judgement through to courtesy, and seeks to develop nine positive habits around nutrition and physical fitness.
It is an interesting approach from a sport whose demographic profile remains older but the ability to play it as a game for life is a message that can have success. Anything which addresses the threat of childhood obesity and mental fitness among the young is to be applauded and the First Tee of Ireland has some well established partners in Druids Glen and Mount Juliet among others.
Sport for Business is hosting a Members Round Table meeting this morning on the ways in which youth sport can be raised up the sporting and business agenda.
