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Contact:
Amy Caruso, The First Tee
904-940-4314 - acaruso@thefirsttee.org
- www.thefirsttee.org |
BRITISH OPEN CHAMPION BEN CURTIS JOINS
MAYOR PLUSQUELLIC FOR GRAND OPENING OF THE FIRST TEE OF AKRON
Facility will serve nearly 500 young people already participating in program |
| 2003 British Open Champion Ben
Curtis today joined Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic, PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem and The
First Tee Executive Director Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., for the grand opening of The First Tee
of Akron at Mud Run Park. |
"On behalf of The City of Akron, we are delighted to have Ben Curtis, Commissioner
Finchem and Joe Barrow here to help us celebrate the grand opening of this facility,"
said Plusquellic. "In addition to learning the game of golf, The First Tee provides
children with opportunities to learn new life skills, experience competition and enhance
self-esteem, all qualities |
The marker installed on the first hole at
Akron's Mud Run Golf Course during dedication ceremonies for The First Tee program. |
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| that will help them throughout
their life." |
The new facility at Mud Run Park, designed by Craig
Schreiner of Akron, includes a nine-hole par 34 golf course, driving range and practice
putting green. The clubhouse, with a classroom for teaching Life Skills, opened June 17th.
The facility was built on an 85-acre site that includes 59 acres of wetlands.
(L-R) Lee DiCola, The First Tee Akron
President; Tom Knoll, The First Tee Akron Inaugural President; British Open winner Ben
Curtis and Mayor Don Plusquellic at dedication of The First Tee program at Akron's new Mud
Run Golf Course. |
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"It’s very gratifying to see the
response and enthusiasm from communities and leaders throughout the country, as evidenced
here in Akron," said Finchem, who also serves as Chairman of the World Golf
Foundation. "Regardless of how far these kids progress with golf, be it competitive
or recreational, we can be assured that they already are getting an excellent foundation
in etiquette and sportsmanship through The First Tee." |
The First Tee of Akron grew from a youth golf program that
was created in 1996 and managed by the Akron Jaycees since 1997. Originally announced in
1999, The First Tee of Akron has been conducting The First Tee Life Skills & Golf
Experience at the Edwin Shaw Challenge Course since 2000.
The NEC Invitational has contributed significantly to the project through Northern Ohio
Golf Charities, Inc., which has distributed millions of dollars to area charities
throughout the years as the beneficiary of Akron’s PGA TOUR event.
"Thanks to the tremendous efforts of Mayor Plusquellic and the City of Akron along
with the Northern Ohio Golf Charities, Akron Jaycees and a dedicated board of directors,
participants at The First Tee of Akron now have a great facility to call home," said
Barrow, who is also a Senior Vice President of the World Golf Foundation. "Our hope
is that the impact of The First Tee on these young individuals will be to provide them
with a multitude of opportunities for years to come."
The First Tee is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation. Since its inception in
1997, The First Tee has opened 124 facilities and has introduced the game of golf to over
170,000 young people since 2000. The program's focus is to give young people of all
backgrounds an opportunity to develop, through golf and character education,
life-enhancing values such as honesty, integrity and sportsmanship.
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As sole founding partner of World Golf Village, Shell Oil Company provides financial
support to the World Golf Foundation and supports its charitable initiatives aimed at
introducing golf to young people, thereby promoting scholastic achievement, community
service and those values intrinsic to the game of golf. |
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