First Tee Going Away?

I have been following the plight of the First Tee program lately. This is a program that was designed to assist young people's lives by providing educational programs to help build character through the game of golf. Who wouldn't want this program to succeed? When it started up in 1999 in Quincy, local businesses and organizations supported it to the tune of raising nearly $100-thousand. It was an opportunity for many youngsters to learn the game of golf and all the etiquette that goes with the game. Again, who wouldn't want that to happen? Well, the program is still strong in other locations around the country but over time it has lost its strength locally. Perhaps it's the economy but most likely it's financial support locally has waned because it is hard to see the tangible evidence that it is working. When it first debuted in 1999, I questioned one thing about it's potential success and I still question it today. That one thing involved the cost of the game of golf itself. It's great to teach young people, and in most cases underprivileged kids, the game of golf. But now after they learn how to play, reality sets in. The same reason they didn't grow up playing golf is also the same reason they can't play it today. Money!!!!! The cost of the game will prevent most of these First Tee kids from utilizing their new found skills and love and that is unfortunate. If you think about it, it's like teaching a kid how to drive at the age of 10 and making him or her wait 6 years to do it. I really hope the First Tee program finds a way to succeed locally but I am afraid we will still be handing a ten year old the keys to the car.