Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2011 - 30

The First Tee program at Hiawatha GC
uses golf to promote character development
and life-enhancing values.
before. The program's mission
is " to impact the lives of
young people by providing
learning facilities and edurecognizes
how hard golf has worked to include
players of all abilities.
" When I was in Michigan, we did a pretty
good job of trying to get people to play the
correct tee, " Skoglund says. " Working with
Gary Player as a course designer, we saw
how he really understood the concept of
building a course for all players. If golfers
play the correct set of tees, the game's not as
much of a problem for them. "
Such a design element is an idea that was
expanded upon when the USGA/PGA of
America created the Tee it Forward program,
which encourages players to play
from the appropriate tees for their ability
(see page 48). By allowing players to " shorten
the courses " they play, the program
works to lower scores, increase enjoyment
and bring golfers back to the course.
Tee it Forward is just one of the many programs
that the USGA and PGA of America
have developed to get more people into and
enjoying the game. Another is the very successful
First Tee program, which is designed
to introduce the game to young people who
haven't had the opportunity to experience it
28
MINNESOTAGOLFER Fall 2011
cational programs that promote character
development and life-enhancing values
through the game of golf. " Since 1997, the
program has introduced golf to 4.7 million
participants; plans were announced in July
to raise $100 million to reach an additional
10 million youth by 2017.
" They have done a great job at getting juniors
to play, and getting golf professionals
to understand from our side of things that
they are the players and members of tomorrow, "
Skoglund says.
One Game, Many Players
Back in 1979, the game started tapping a
new source of golfers locally. Susan Hagel
from the Sister Kenny Institute was asked
to start a golf league for persons with disabilities.
She began by looking through the
Yellow Pages to find a course willing to take
on the league. She has said that she's glad
that Braemar of Edina starts with a " B " or
she might have been at it awhile.
Braemar's former manager, John Valliere,
invited her to the course, and a league for
six people from the Institute was formed.
Thirty-three years later, the league at Braemar
averages nearly 100 players weekly; another
20 play at the Island Lake Golf Training
Center in Shoreview. The players learn
the game, get time and access to practice,
play rounds at the course and hold tournaments.
Braemar has recently acquired a
number of single-rider golf cars that allow
some players to make shots without leaving
the car and even drive up on the greens and
tees without causing damage.
Paige Safranski is now the director of the
Sister Kenny Golf Program. She says that
players in the league are playing within the
general population of golfers at Braemar
and elsewhere-and the golf cars, which are
available to rent, have helped with that.
" One of our main goals is to give people
golf knowledge and skills to where they can
go play other places, " says Safranski. " And
we are also trying to make courses aware
that individuals with disabilities can be seen
as a revenue source-changing the mindset
of the people at golf courses. "
Safranski said it has taken time to educate
both the players and the golf course personnel
that golf can work for individuals with
disabilities. But they are making progress,
and it has certainly been rewarding.
" The players know that Braemar is more
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