Why do we care what a golf course looks like? How can we ensure this land is not simply regarded as unapproachable and reserved for the fiscally overindulged? How can we get more families and individuals from varied backgrounds and socioeconomic status to participate in an activity that provides such real and relevant life lessons while also providing a fun game environment that gets one outside and moving for a few hours at a time?

Much of the general public fails to concern themselves with these questions nor their seemingly simple solutions. Looking to the most glaring example, the Old Course at St. Andrews, the mere history and aura of the grounds are enough to elicit the most ethereal thoughts and feels in the most staunch golf adversary. For six days of the week, the Old Course serves her intended purpose of providing the most hallowed golf grounds on Earth. However, every Sunday, this storied golf Valhalla doubles as a public park without a golfer in sight. The course is closed to golfers and functions as a public park for the locals (picnics, long walks, and even dogs are welcome). This is just one example of the duality golf courses can serve in their environment with the correct and appropriate stewardship by the community.

How golf courses/clubs function within their society and interact with both social and environmental factors is a concern that most of the general public does not consider when discussing the pros and cons of having a facility in their community. Simply by providing a welcoming and accepting environment aimed at bringing in those that normally wouldn’t be drawn to a golf course, we are able to introduce them to a world they otherwise would have inherently avoided. A high quality facility paired with the proper vision and implementation is the best tool for young individuals to prepare themselves for the life they have yet to live while honing the skills that directly correlate from golf to a healthy and happy life as an adult. The First Tee highlights this exact ideal, “by seamlessly integrating the game of golf with life skills curriculum, we create learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience that kids can carry to everything they do.” Our goal is to create this type of environment for those who love it.