First Tee, Houndslake pair up for youth golf

Elizabeth Smith readily admits that her connection with golf has been fairly limited. Until now.

When she heard about an opening for executive director of the new First Tee of Aiken County program, Smith applied for the position and began work in early October.

"I was so inspired about the mission and about the impact you can have on youth throughout the world," she told Sunrise Rotary Club members Thursday.

Founded by the World Golf Foundation, the international First Tee program offers golf instruction and life lessons for kids ages 8 to 18, including many who otherwise would be unlikely to have such opportunities.

Augusta has a chapter and now Aiken does, too. The Aiken chapter is unique nationally in its partnership with Houndslake Country Club - the first such collaboration in the country. A complimentary clinic is scheduled in early December, while the first formal session for about 100 kids and teenagers will be held Jan. 19.

The arrangement with Houndslake has enormous advantages, said Smith, who will be based at the club. Typically, First Tee organizations construct their own satellite courses.

"Stand-alone facilities put too much pressure on nonprofits," said Smith. "Now we won't be in the golf course business. The professional staff can maintain the course, and I can concentrate on other efforts, including the nine core values that First Tee teaches kids."

The young golfers will get access to Houndslake's three nine-hole golf courses on a rotating basis. They will be allowed to use the tennis courts and the dining room on a limited basis, said General Manger Jeff Howell.

"We think it's a wonderful opportunity for both the club and First Tee," he said. "We want to give the kids the experience of a real country club. Our members have been very excited about it, and we're getting volunteers from within the membership. We're hoping they will become mentors to some of these kids."

The cost in fees per year for kids will be $65, which includes a membership activation, one eight-week session and a shirt and hat. No child will be turned away, and scholarships will be available for families who cannot afford the fee, Smith said. For each session, there will be a $1 greens fee and 50 cents for a bucket of balls, intended to tie in a value to the opportunity provided the children.

Howell and Smith said that Aiken County Superintendent Dr. Beth Everitt has been supportive of the project and serves on the Board of Directors. Smith also is collaborating with the "Hook a Kid on Golf" program and United Way and has contacted the Police Athletic League (PAL) and the Boys and Girls Club about some of the kids participating in the program.

An Aiken High School and USC Aiken graduate, Smith said the values promoted by First Tee are close to her heart. These values - honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment - are built into the First Tee experience.

Volunteers and mentors are needed and donations are welcome.

For more information about the program, contact Smith at 226-0053 or at essmith1212@bellsouth.net. The national website is www.thefirsttee.org.

Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.