Youth golf program adds course
EL RENO — A youth development program that uses golf to teach young people characterbuilding and life skills just completed its first session at Crimson Creek Golf Course.
“We were hoping for 25 kids, but we had 52. About 40 had no exposure to golf,” said Jay Mauldin, volunteer site coordinator and coach.
“I just had a wonderful time this first session. I saw some growth in kids,” Mauldin said.
The First Tee of Metropolitan Oklahoma City started in 2003 with 75 kids in one location. Now it reaches 800 golfers ages 7 to 18 each year, working with public golf courses in Oklahoma City, Norman, Edmond, Midwest City — and now El Reno.
“It’s been exciting over the years to see all the kids that have come through this program,” said Debi Martin, volunteer executive director.
“This is a gamechanger, and it’s one child, one family at a time.”
Martin said one overweight, insecure girl from a lower-middle-income family who joined the program in fifth grade starred in her senior play and received a golf scholarship to attend college.
“Now she’s coaching in the program,” she said.
The program offers physical, emotional, academic and social opportunities to children that can strengthen the entire family, Martin said.
“Parents often become the best coaches after seeing the value,” she said.
That’s what happened with Mauldin, a federal probation officer, who was driving his 7-yearold son to Oklahoma City on Saturdays to The First Tee Learning Center at 600 Martin Luther King Ave.
He thought instead of driving one hour roundtrip so one child could have the opportunity, why not offer the program to dozens of kids in El Reno?
Everyone can play
Mauldin grew up playing golf in El Reno and played in college. His family had the means to provide what he needed to play.
First Tee sees to it that all kids can play. If a family can’t afford the $25 fee per seven-week session, the child gets a scholarship. Golf equipment is provided for lessons, and youth who show serious potential are given their own clubs if they can’t afford them, Mauldin said.
“The thing that I love most about it is the life skills,” he said.
“We’re teaching kids about honesty, integrity, responsibility.”
First Tee emphasizes those core values, as well as sportsmanship, respect, confidence, perseverance, courtesy and judgment. Each is tied to a golf skill to help the child remember.
Children and teens learn life skills like how to make proper introductions, manage emotions and resolve conflicts.
“It’s helping them understand life can deal you difficulties, but it’s how you deal with them. It helps strengthen their resolve,” said board member Lou Kerr. She has seen students who are homeless get involved in the program and graduate valedictorian.
The national First Tee program also identifies opportunities for older students, Martin said.
Five students from the local program were selected to play in The PURE Insurance Championship golf event in September at Pebble Beach Golf Links and Poppy Hills Golf Course. Each student was paired with a tour player and two amateurs.
The local program also reaches about 10,000 children in metro elementary schools by training the physical education teachers and providing plastic golf equipment that can be used in the gym, Martin said.
She credits the many volunteers and community partners who support the program with its success and growth. The only paid staff are golf director Dustin Semsch and a halftime administrator. Golf courses donate the use of their facilities, and the program pays a fee to the golf pro at each site.
But Willa Johnson, who founded the local First Tee program while serving on the Oklahoma City Council, gives the credit to Martin, who is chief of staff for the council.
“She picked up the ball and ran with it,” Johnson said. “We’ve had some tremendous success with our children.”