Kremer: Put an Ace on The First Tee Scorecard

First things first.

The first thing you need to know about The First Tee of Joliet golf program is that golf is used only as platform to teach children life skills.

The program is founded on nine core values—courtesy, confidence, honesty, integrity, responsibility, respect, perseverance, sportsmanship and good judgment. I’m sure all of us could use a refresher course in at least one of these areas.

Why not enroll in the clubhouse?

“Well, if you look at golf, it’s the best sport to introduce those core values because in golf you’ve got to be honest,” said 70-year-old Fred Hawkins, executive director of the Joliet chapter of The First Tee. “You’ve got to be honest with your score, right?

“You call a penalty and check on yourself. And you get immediate feedback. If you and I are playing and I hit the ball several times and I have a 7 but I say I have a 6, the first thing you’re going to say is, ‘Hey, coach, I think you need to recount that.’ You get immediate feedback.

“So, that’s where you begin to look at the nine core values and how they come into focus and begin to play out in life.”

The program—introduced in physical education classes around the area—reaches 13,000 students in Joliet and surrounding communities. One hundred and forty have registered for course certification this year and many of them meet twice a week at Inwood Golf Course, one the Joliet Park District’s three golf facilities, for instruction during the summer months.

The park district works in a partnership with The First Tee of Joliet to provide access to the golf course and a place for the kids to train and play at reduced rates. And the children—ranging in ages from 7 to 17—do more than swing from the heels during an eight-week program led by Hawkins and his army of volunteers.

“Oh, it’s a combination of things, a basic level of learning golf skills, which is fantastic, but also life skills, which everybody could use,” said Shorewood’s Noreen Barry of what her daughter, Layne, 10, is learning this summer. “So, it’s the combination of both that I think is something very unique about the program and something you can carry on the rest of your life—even if you don’t stay with golf.”

Hawkins has stuck with golf because he loves the game and has stuck with children because they help him stay young. He is retired from his first life—running the distribution center for General Mills in St. Charles. Now, he is a substitute teacher in District 86 and coaches basketball at Gompers.

“It is important for me to be around these young people,” Hawkins said. “It keeps me busy. And, also, I’m always learning. The young people bring something new every day. You know the old saying, ‘You’re never too old to learn new tricks?’ Well, you’re never too old to learn new things. And the young people keep you young.”

He said each the Joliet chapter in the First Tee program is responsible for raising its own funds. Anyone interested in finding out more about the program or donating to help the next generation of youngsters can visit thefirstteejoliet.org.

Plainfield’s Mandy Trax has two children enrolled in the program right now—Savannah, 10, and Carson, 7.

“We heard about it through the school,” she said. “And I think it’s a fantastic program. Savannah never golfed before. Now, she absolutely loves it. They look forward to it every day—to coming out here, well, not so much today because it’s so hot.

“But for sure, they’re learning—listening skills and interacting with other kids, just getting to know who everybody is and socialization is always good thing, not to be shy. Be a little bit more aggressive in life, I guess.”

The First Tee of Joliet is in its ninth year of existence. When the program started, 56 children were put on a path to a new beginning, some of them outfitted with their first set of clubs, no charge, of course. And that’s an ideal C.C. Azuakoemu can get behind.

He is a member of the First Tee’s board of directors.

“For me, what’s special is that the First Tee is teaching our youth in our community really excellent skills—life skills—using the game of golf as a platform. I find that to be a very good thing. I do play golf. It’s something I have a passion for, and I’ve always looked for a way to give back to the community.

“And what better way to give back to the community than to do something you enjoy but also helps to teach our kids valuable life skills.”

Remember, first things first.