Opening scheduled for Monday at Druids Glen Golf Resort
St. Augustine, FL (October 24, 2005) – Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., executive director of The First Tee, will join Philip Lynch, chairman of the Educate Through Sport Foundation, John Warren, chief executive of The First Tee of Ireland, and Denis Kane, chief executive officer of Druids Glen Golf Resort, on Monday, October 24 to celebrate the Grand Opening of The First Tee of Ireland at Druids Glen Golf Resort near Dublin.
The First Tee of Ireland becomes the fifth international Chapter of The First Tee, joining Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Singapore. Recognized as one of the premier youth character education programs, The First Tee has opened 217 golf-learning facilities in 40 states in addition to the international sites.
"We are pleased to launch The First Tee of Ireland," said Barrow. "With the help of the Educate Through Sports Foundation, we will be able to enhance the lives of young people in Ireland by sharing and teaching the values associated with the game of golf such as honesty, integrity and sportsmanship."
The Educate Through Sport Foundation is a nonprofit foundation developed to implement The First Tee Life Skills Experience in Ireland. The First Tee of Ireland is also supported by the International Federation of PGA Tours through a portion of the charitable proceeds from the World Golf Championships events held in Ireland.
"We look forward to supporting the young people of Ireland in their efforts to succeed in life," said Lynch. "Under the direction of John Warren, we will teach our participants life-enhancing values and character education through The First Tee Life Skills Experience."
The First Tee Life Skills Experienceâ?¢ is the unique feature that separates The First Tee from many other youth initiatives and junior golf programs. Through this experience, participants learn valuable lessons such as: the importance of maintaining a positive attitude; how to make decisions by thinking about the possible consequences; how to define and set goals; and how to transfer the positive values of golf to everyday life.
Druids Glen Golf Resort has agreed to become the first Affiliate Venue of The First Tee of Ireland by conducting onsite programming.
"We at Druids Glen Golf Resort are delighted to be the first golf resort to introduce The First Tee to Europe and more importantly to Ireland," said Kane. "In partnership with the Educate Through Sport Foundation, we have pursued this concept for some time. We realize the full potential of this educational program and the positive values generated through golf."
About The First Tee
The First Tee is a division of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit World Golf Foundation that gives young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop life-enhancing values such as honesty, integrity and sportsmanship through golf and character education. Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has opened 217 golf-learning facilities and introduced the game of golf to over 600,000 participants.
Contact:
John Warren
Chief Executive
The First Tee of Ireland
Tel: 051.845465
Mobile: 086.8261610
Steve Gerrish
Communications and Marketing Manager
The First Tee
Tel: 904-940-4314
sgerrish@thefirsttee.org
