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Program In Full Swing

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Physical education teacher Sabrina Lucas gives advice to student Haley Hernandez, 8. Students can learn and apply it outside the classroom, Lucas says of the lessons. Its a lifelong sport.

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By COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR

cpastor@tampatrib.com

Published: December 17, 2008

LUTZ - Third-grader Paige Harrar has gone to the driving range to hit golf balls, but that was before she knew about "tick tock."

Her physical education teacher at McKitrick Elementary showed her how to swing her club down and forward in a "tick-tock" motion like a clock's pendulum. Now golfing seems easier, the 9-year-old said.

"It helps me know how to go," she said.

Paige is one of the students learning golf through a new program 24 Hillsborough County public schools implemented this year. First Tee teaches golf basics to students with an emphasis on honesty, respect and other values.

Teachers got certified last spring for First Tee in Hillsborough, funded through the Florida Sports Foundation junior golf grant program. The grants are meant to introduce young people to golf and teach the sport's values. Proceeds from the "Golf Capital of the World" license plates support the grants, according to the foundation.

It would usually cost about $2,800 per school to start the program, according to First Tee, which includes the equipment, curriculum and teacher training.

McKitrick teacher Sabrina Lucas said First Tee was a good match for her students, many of whom live near golf courses in Lutz.

"They can learn and apply it outside the classroom," Lucas said. "It's a lifelong sport."

First Tee includes equipment sized for children, such as short, plastic putters with oversized heads that give students a better chance to make contact with the balls. Some balls have strips of Velcro to adhere to targets during golfing drills. Students move between stations when they first learn the game, practicing for distance and accuracy as they try to strike targets or land their balls in hula hoops on the ground.

"Getting ready to swing," 8-year-old Anna Carter called one afternoon at McKitrick, as she prepared to putt. The ball bounced halfway to a hoop and stalled.

"That was bad," said Anna, a third-grader. She wound up for another try. "Getting ready to swing."

Teachers train students to announce when they are going to putt, so classmates know to stay alert and out of the way. Partners high-five or fist-bump each other to show sportsmanship. Nine core values are included along with the golf lessons.

"You've made a lot of good choices today," teacher Luanne Lockwood told a third-grade class.

She asked the children to review the ways they showed good judgment, one of the values, during physical education. Students said they told classmates when they were going to swing and listened to Lucas and Lockwood when they blew the whistle to stop playing.

Lockwood said she liked how First Tee incorporated character education into sports. Golf is an individual game that requires players to police themselves, she said.

"Are you going to be honest or not?" she said.

For third-grader Liam Burkehiser, the highlight was watching his Velcroed golf ball stick when he hit the target.

"This is actually really amazing," Liam said.

GOLF'S NINE VALUES

The First Tee program singles out nine core values. They are:

•Honesty: Players regularly call penalties on themselves.

•Integrity: Golf requires honor, etiquette and composure.

•Sportsmanship: Players must conduct themselves in a respectful manner and abide by the rules.

•Respect: Show respect for yourself, opponents, partners and the course.

•Confidence: Confidence affects how well you play.

•Responsibility: It is up to players to keep score, fix divots, repair ball marks and keep up with the pace of the game.

•Perseverance: Success depends on learning from mistakes and making the best of bad breaks.

•Courtesy: A round of golf should start and finish with handshakes, and players should remain quiet during others' turns to swing.

•Judgment: Strategy, club selection, types of shots and etiquette all are based on using good judgment.

Source: The First Tee National School Program Curriculum

Reporter Courtney Cairns Pastor can be reached at (813) 865-1503.

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