The First Tee academy comes to TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas
Written by John Starkey
Each summer, selected participants of The First Tee attend The First Tee Life Skills and Leadership Academy, where they play championship golf, participate in life skills activities and career exploration, experience dorm living and meet a wide variety of young people from around the world. The overall purpose of the Academy is to provide participants with valuable character education and leadership instruction.
This week, July 11-17, The First Tee of Greater Dallas, TPC Four Seasons Las Colinas, and the University of Dallas bring The First Tee PLAYer Advanced Academy to Irving. This Academy is intended for advanced players within The First Tee network pursuing collegiate golf. Twenty four elite participants from The First Tee chapters around the world have been selected to attend.
The purpose of the Academy is to create an experience rich in both golf and life skills learning that will improve the participants’ chances to compete at a higher level both athletically and academically while stressing the overarching concept that continuous learning is the foundation to becoming an elite PLAYer of the games of golf and life.
Hannah Jiao, 16, from The First Tee of Greater Dallas, and recently returned from last week’s Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, has been selected as one of the 24 participants, ages 15-18, to attend the academy.
The First Tee PLAYer Academy provides a unique opportunity for participants within The First Tee network that are interested in pursuing collegiate golf, and is designed around the concept that continuous learning is the foundation to becoming an elite PLAYer in golf and in life. Throughout the week, participants will receive life skills and golf instruction from The First Tee Coaches and special guest speakers from across the country.
“We are delighted and honored to be selected as the host for this year’s academy,” said Chuck Walker, Managing Director of The First Tee of Greater Dallas. “Through collaborations with partners like TPC Four Seasons, University of Dallas, and the Irving YMCA, we will be providing these 24 young people with an experience that will truly make an impact on their lives and futures.”
Activities will include interactive sessions in the areas of golf technique, education and career exploration, physical fitness and nutrition, behind-the-scenes tours at Nike Golf, a trip to Top Golf, sessions with Hotstix and Titleist Performance Institute, and sessions with industry leaders including David Balbi, Dr. Al Petitpas, and Sam Randolph. In addition, participants will experience on course play and compete for The Cohen-Tattersall Cup at the Honors Club Golf Dallas.
The First Tee PLAYer Advanced Academy creates an experience rich in both golf and life skills that help to improve the participants’ chances of competing at a higher level both athletically and academically.
Source: The First Tee
