Newcastle, WA – The 4th Annual "Ladies on the Links" Tournament will take place on Monday, June 5, 2006 at The Golf Club at Newcastle. Registration starts at 8 am with the Scramble Tournament to start at 9 am followed by a noon luncheon and auction. All proceeds from the tournament will benefit girls in The First Tee of Greater Seattle program.
Honorary Co-Chairs of the event are Libby Gates-Armintrout, Mona Lee Locke and the Event Chair is Deborah Juarez. All can be available for interviews.
The First Tee of Greater Seattle (www.theFirstTeeSeattle.org) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating affordable and accessible access to golf for youths aged from 6 to 18, particularly those who otherwise would not be exposed to the game. It was formed in 2001 from a collaborative effort involving the Broadmoor Golf Club Foundation, the national First Tee organization (www.thefirsttee.org) and the board of Municipal Golf of Seattle.
In the first year of programming, 224 kids were served at Jefferson Park Golf Course in South Seattle. In 2004, programming expanded to Jackson Park Golf Course serving 505 children. In 2005, Crossroads Par 3 Golf Course in Bellevue was added and a total of 676 kids were served. In 2006, more than 850 kids will participate at these 3 facilities. Summer programming includes 3 hour lessons, once a week, during the nine week course. Cost to participate is $35, and no child will be turned away based on inability to pay.
The First Tee is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation. Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has opened 200 golf learning facilities and introduced the game of golf to more than 450,000 participants. 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.
Studies show that when girls are involved in extra-curricular activities such as The First Tee’s program they are less likely to get involved with drugs or have an early pregnancy, and they have a higher self-esteem, higher grades in school and are more likely to go college.
A recent study conducted by the University of Florida and University of Nevada, Las Vegas has revealed that children who participate in The First Tee® nationwide increase their knowledge of essential life skills by nearly 50 percent, a groundbreaking research study. The First Tee participants also are more likely than non-participants to apply life skills, such as positive decision making, communication skills and goal setting, to their daily lives.
To register/to donate or for information please call The First Tee of Greater Seattle, (206) 265-3040 or online at www.theFirstTeeSeattle.org. The cost is $900 per foursome or $225 per player, and non golfers are welcome to attend the luncheon only for $100.
Contact:
Heidi Wills
Exec. Dir.
(206) 265-3040
