[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 96 (Tuesday, July 16, 2002)]
[House]
[Pages H4695-H4698]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       RECOGNIZING THE FIRST TEE

  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 448), recognizing The First Tee for its support 
of programs that provide young people of all backgrounds an opportunity 
to develop, through golf and character education, life-enhancing values 
such as honor, integrity, and sportsmanship.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 448

       Resolved, That the House of Representatives recognizes The 
     First Tee for its support of programs that provide young 
     people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop, through 
     golf and character education, life-enhancing values such as 
     honor, integrity, and sportsmanship.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shimkus). Pursuant to the rule, the 
gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner) and the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. 
Kind) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner).


                             General Leave

  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on House Resolution 448.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Ohio?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of this resolution that 
recognizes the efforts of The First Tee, a youth character-building 
organization with programs located throughout the country. This program 
provides young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop, 
through both the game of golf and character education, values and 
character traits that will positively impact their lives and 
experiences in school.
  The First Tee programs are community-based and implemented through a 
partnership of parents, civic and corporate leaders, State and local 
governments, youth-serving agencies, schools, and the golfing 
community.
  Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago, President and Mrs. Bush hosted a 
conference at the White House on the importance of character education 
to our Nation's youth. President Bush cited the importance of character 
education in instilling common values in our youth. He said, 
``Americans believe in character education because we want more for our 
children than apathy or cynicism,'' the President said. He went on by 
saying, ``We've got higher aspirations for every child in America. We 
want them to understand the difference between right and wrong.''
  No activity better parallels life and teaches character better than 
the game of golf. On the golf course one learns responsibility, 
honesty, patience, self-control, integrity, respect, confidence, and 
most importantly, sportsmanship.
  As in life, to be successful at golf we must realize we are going to 
make mistakes. Overcoming both our errors and bad bounces is just as 
much a part of the game as trying to hit a perfect shot. We learn that 
a 3-foot putt is just as important as a 300-yard drive, and that we 
must learn to put the last shot behind us in order to execute the next.
  We also learn about ourselves and where our shortcomings lie, the 
things we need to work on on life's practice range.
  The First Tee is working to make the game of golf more affordable and 
accessible to young people throughout the Nation by opening up golf 
courses and providing instruction for free and at reduced rates to 
children of all socioeconomic backgrounds. By the year 2005, The First 
Tee expects to serve more than 500,000 children in 250 programs 
throughout the United States. In my State of Ohio currently there are 
four The First Tee programs serving more than 1,500 children today.
  Just as importantly, the golf-related exercises are paired with The 
First Tee life skills program, which teaches young people values such 
as responsibility, honesty, integrity, respect, confidence, and 
sportsmanship. Jack Nicklaus, a man synonymous with the game of golf 
and a supporter of The First Tee program, said, ``For The First Tee, 
golf is the vehicle, but it is not the destination. We are teaching the 
young boys and girls a game that can last a lifetime, but through our 
life skills program we are teaching them lessons for life.''
  One student in particular, Amber Davis, from Atlanta, Georgia, has 
been

[[Page H4696]]

involved with the Atlanta The First Tee program since April of 2000. 
She came before our committee and testified about her experiences. She 
has participated both of The First Tee Life Skills, and currently 
spends her time volunteering as a mentor for 13 of the young female 
participants in the The First Tee program.
  An accomplished golfer, she has competed in several local, regional, 
State, and national competitions, and was the only freshman to make her 
high school golf team at the Woodward Academy in Atlanta. She credits 
The First Tee program with helping her to develop her strong leadership 
skills.
  I am pleased to bring attention to this program, and I am grateful 
for the work that The First Tee is doing in our Nation's communities.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution today, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution as well, as 
a member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from California (Mr. Baca), my good friend and colleague, and also one 
of the finest golfers in this institution.
  (Mr. BACA asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 
448. I believe that The First Tee program is an excellent kind of a 
program that will allow many individuals to participate in golf, 
especially when we look at the number of minorities that we have 
throughout the United States. Over 27.6 percent are minorities, and 
only 6 percent participate in golf.
  I can relate with my own personal story. I come from a large family 
of 15, being the 15th child. I did not have the opportunity to 
participate in such sports as these. The First Tee was not available. I 
wish it was available at the time that I was growing up. So I was 
involved in basketball and baseball and football and track and other 
sports. I did not get into golf until later in my years, until after 
the age of 32.
  I wish I was able to have played golf at the earlier stages, because 
what it does is not only teaches one character in education, which is 
very important. Character is important in terms of learning, and it 
also teaches us the importance of self-esteem and confidence.
  Not only do we learn responsibility, not only do we learn about our 
colleagues, but it also has parental involvement, which is very 
important when we look at The First Tee program. It is important when 
we have our children that are participating and we have parental 
involvement.
  It takes a child, and that child begins to learn the skills of the 
game, or being competitive in another area. It presents opportunities 
for many kids to get into a program they would never have had an 
opportunity to have gotten into. The First Tee provides that 
opportunity for many minorities to get their hands in and play the game 
of golf.
  Golf is important to many individuals, not only in terms of 
leadership skills, but integrity and honesty on the golf course, as 
well. Many individuals who play the game of golf sometimes forget how 
to count. It is excellent in math. It teaches good math skills because 
we learn how to count, as well.

                              {time}  1345

  Some people happen to overexaggerate their handicap. This way the 
child knows exactly what the handicap is, and they do not have to 
exaggerate like most adults do to try to keep their handicaps low. 
Adults will learn the emphasis of the importance of establishing a 
handicap, which is very important.
  As I said, the fundamental skills, the social skills are very 
important, the self-esteem, the confidence an individual will have. 
Most of all, it keeps kids off the streets, which is very important. It 
gets them involved, and we have got to find activities for many of our 
students to be involved. This presents an opportunity for many of our 
kids to be involved in another activity that maybe they would not have. 
They now will have an opportunity that they know that they can afford 
to play. Like most of us, it becomes so expensive to get out and play 
the game of golf. We say we cannot afford the game of golf. We do not 
have the equipment, cannot afford to buy the clubs. First Tee provides 
the individuals with golf clubs. First Tee provides the instructions 
that are necessary. These are the obstacles that many of us, minorities 
that do not have the money, would love to play the game, but say is 
there a vehicle for us to get that kind of service?
  The vehicle is here through First Tee. It gives them an opportunity 
to go out there and participate without having to worry about the cost 
on themselves or their parents; and especially as we look at now, it is 
becoming so costly for anyone to play any kind of recreational 
activity. Parents who want to be involved in little league, now they 
have to pay X amount of dollars for the kids to play or participate. It 
has become a lot more difficult.
  We have got to provide avenues for our children to play. This is an 
excellent avenue for them to develop their skills, to build their self-
confidence, stay in school, which is more important, and educate our 
kids. I believe in the program. We should all support it, and I ask all 
of my colleagues to support H. Res. 448.
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the 
gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Isakson).
  Mr. ISAKSON. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for the introduction 
of this resolution, and I rise to pay tribute to the Professional Golf 
Association of America for what they are doing with the First Tee 
program.
  The previous speaker did an outstanding job talking about the 
accessibility it gives to those that otherwise would not have it. He 
talked about the disciplines that the game of golf teaches to those who 
so desperately need disciplines.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to tell another story for a minute about 
how meaningful a program like this can be as the seed to not only 
change a life but change a community.
  In Atlanta, Georgia, there is an area known as East Lake. In Atlanta, 
Georgia, the East Lake community was the home golf course of Bobby 
Jones. It is where Bobby Jones grew up. Over the years, East Lake 
became an abandoned country club. The East Lake community of Atlanta 
became the worst of Atlanta's inner-city poverty, crime-ridden 
neighborhoods.
  This fall the PGA championship will be played at East Lake. What 
happened? What happened is a man named Tom Cousins in Atlanta bought 
the property and decided to change the lives and change that community. 
He redid the golf club. He bought abandoned houses and homes. He leased 
for $1 a year the public school and built a $28 million YMCA day care 
center and public school, and he established fundraisers for First Tee.
  The first professional to come to Atlanta for that fundraiser was 
Tiger Woods. Since that time, other professional golfers have come to 
raise money to make golf accessible to those who previously thought it 
was not accessible.
  In the meantime, he transformed a neighborhood. It is now a multi-
income, multiracial, multiethnic pristine golf community that just 
years ago was devastation to our city.
  There are a lot of lives in America that are just like East Lake was. 
They are impoverished. They have no hope. They have no mentor. They 
have no discipline, and they think there is no future.
  Through the PGA and through the First Tee program, those in America 
most in need of all those things they do not have have it accessible to 
them. The First Tee's growth throughout the country is going to ensure 
that many Americans who might not have had a chance will have it.
  I commend the professional sport and its athletes for giving of their 
time and their money to make a difference in lives; and I would comment 
that not all professional sports of this day and time can take credits 
to that mantle, but the PGA can. The First Tee changes lives, and we 
are right to commend the PGA tour, its commissioner, and all of its 
players for making a difference in the lives of young Americans.
  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, as I indicated earlier, I do rise in support of the 
resolution today. I commend the chairman, the

[[Page H4697]]

gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner), of the Committee on Education and 
the Workforce for holding a hearing on this important program, for 
offering this resolution which recognizes the wonderful accomplishments 
of the First Tee program, as well as character education generally, 
which is part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act recently 
passed earlier this year, signed by the President, No Child Left 
Behind.
  The First Tee program provides young people of all backgrounds an 
opportunity to develop life-enhancing values such as honor, integrity, 
sportsmanship through golf, and character education generally. Teaching 
character education through golf plays a significant role in many 
adolescents' lives. Specifically, the First Tee helps keep our children 
out of the rough and on the fairway towards a successful future.
  I like to play a little golf myself, although not very well. I have 
two little boys, Johnny and Matthew, who are just six and four right 
now and I am introducing the sport to them. It is not only a lot of fun 
but it is a great sport. We are able to spend a lot of quality time 
together. A father and two little boys, chipping a little bit in the 
back yard. I set up a driving net where they hit the ball into. It is a 
lot of fun watching them develop not only their physical skills, but 
also the certain values that I hope they will carry through with them 
in life, the values of discipline and hard work, playing by the rules, 
getting along, sharing clubs, things of this nature that golf 
introduces to our youth and that the First Tee program is really all 
about.
  I am pleased that through the First Tee program many children will 
have the same opportunity to participate in golf and reap the benefits 
that, unfortunately, just a few children receive today. The National 
Golf Foundation, for instance, revealed that only 2 percent of children 
age 12 to 17 ever tried golf and that only 5 percent of this Nation's 
golfers are minorities. Studies show that the major barrier to 
attracting more children, and especially economically disadvantaged 
children, to the sport was the lack of places that welcomed them, 
places they could physically get to and places that they could afford.
  The First Tee program was created to address these access and 
affordability issues. The First Tee is implemented through a 
partnership of parents, civic and corporate leaders, State and local 
governments, youth-serving agencies, schools and the golfing community 
itself. As my friend, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Isakson), just 
pointed out, the Professional Golfers Association has been very 
involved, playing a leadership role in expanding the First Tee program 
across the country.
  The program provides young people of all backgrounds an opportunity 
to develop through golf and character education life-enhancing values 
beyond building just physical skills. Students learn life skills and 
the importance of maintaining a positive attitude, considering the 
consequences of their decisions, setting and achieving objectives, 
holding themselves to high standards, and applying to their everyday 
lives the values such as responsibility, honesty, integrity, respect, 
confidence, and sportsmanship.
  The strong values the First Tee teaches the youths will positively 
impact their lives, their education and their experiences in school.
  The Committee on Education and the Workforce did hold a hearing on 
this on June 25 to highlight the success of this program, and the 
greatest golfer of the 20th century, Jack Nicklaus, came and testified. 
He testified about what the PGA and he personally have done involving 
the First Tee program, but also about what golf has meant in his life, 
but especially in those early formative stages of his life and the 
impact it had on him, the time he spent with his father, the time he 
spent developing the skills and the discipline and the value system 
that has made him one of the truly exemplary members of the golf 
profession today.
  We also had another witness, Mr. Speaker, Amber Davis, a 15-year-old 
junior golfer who was a charter member of the First Tee program in 
Atlanta who testified before the committee. In her testimony she stated 
very clearly what a difference the First Tee program has made in her 
life. In fact, she stated during the testimony, ``Golf has played a big 
role in my development. It has taught me to be the very best I can be, 
not just at golf, but to excel at everything I attempt. I think that if 
you are able to successfully master the game of golf, and I do not mean 
that you have to be a Renee Powell, a Lee Elder or a Tiger Woods, but 
if you apply all the qualities that it takes to be good at golf, 
dedication, discipline, honesty, integrity, a high regard for others 
and yourself, you will be successful at life.
  Beyond the game of golf, however, incorporating character education 
into the school day is important for many children who may not learn 
basic life skills elsewhere. Strong character development is essential 
to our children's growth, and I strongly support programs that work 
towards this goal. That is why so many of us were pleased to include 
character education under title V of ESEA reauthorization last year. I 
would hope that appropriators view title V and that bill favorably as 
we work forward with the appropriation process during the remainder of 
the year.
  The school district in my home town of La Crosse, Wisconsin, 
exemplifies a model that could be replicated across the Nation. It is 
unique in that the school board and community members developed core 
values of character education and included them as part of its school 
district's vision statement. Now, these values of character education 
are worked through an entire school system of three high schools, three 
middle schools, 11 elementary schools and four charter schools.
  One exceptional school within the school district is Lacrossroads 
High School, a charter school for at-risk adolescents. My good friend, 
Karen Schoenfeld, teaches character education at this high school and 
has been working with at-risk adolescents since 1989 as a school 
counselor and charter school teacher. In June, she was also called to 
testify before the Committee on Education and the Workforce. I commend 
the work she does in the field of education and the important emphasis 
she places on including character education in the school's curriculum. 
She has truly made a difference in her students' lives. All of our 
Nation's youths need teachers like Ms. Schoenfeld in their lives to 
help guide them down the road to success and opportunity.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased the House today is considering this 
important resolution. The strong values the First Tee teaches to youths 
will positively impact their lives, their education, and their 
experiences in school. These lessons will remain with participants for 
a lifetime, regardless of whether they play golf professionally or as a 
hobby. I commend the chairman for his leadership and the hearing and 
bringing this resolution forward. I would encourage all of our 
colleagues to support the resolution today.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, again I am pleased to bring attention to the First Tee 
program. I appreciate the bipartisan support that this resolution has 
received.
  The First Tee program was a collaboration between the World Golf 
Foundation, the PGA tour, the PGA of America, the Tiger Woods 
Foundation, and many others who have helped to put this program 
together and to allow it to grow to the extent that it has. They have 
very ambitious plans to grow this operation to serve some 500,000 
children by the year 2005.
  The program has integrated both sports and life skill lessons that 
teach character and instill common values in our youth. Because the 
First Tee's mission is broader than simply teaching kids how to play 
golf, their life skills curriculum includes community service and 
mentoring opportunities. These skills and activities also positively 
impact school experiences and the academic achievement of those who 
have been enrolled in the program.
  Last year we passed the No Child Left Behind Act to help improve all 
of our schools and to give every child in America a better shot at a 
good education. But we know that between birth and age 18 children are 
only in school about nine percent of that time;

[[Page H4698]]

91 percent of that time they are at home and out in their communities. 
We know that for many of these children, the infrastructure, the 
support system that is needed to instill the kinds of values that we 
have talked about on the floor today have to come from home and in 
those communities. That is where I believe, and I think many Members 
believe, that if we are truly going to attack the problems we see in 
inner-city America, it is programs like these that find a way to teach 
children, one, how to play golf, but more importantly the kind of 
values that are necessary in order to be successful in life.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues who have spoken on this 
bill today, this resolution, and urge all of my colleagues to support 
the resolution.
  Mr. CRENSHAW. Mr. Speaker, sports have been traditional vehicles for 
teaching important life lessons, but today, sport, at its highest 
levels, is played in an atmosphere where we have a preponderance of 
athletes who deny they have responsibility to be role models, let alone 
idols of the young.
  There is, however, a sport that not only continues to teach positive 
live lessons, but also depends on an adherence to them for its very 
existence. That sport, of course, is golf.
  For that reason, I rise today in support of the efforts of the First 
Tee initiative. This 2-year old program has as its mission to impact 
the lives of young people around the world by creating affordable and 
accessible golf facilities to primarily serve those who have not 
previously had exposure to the game and its positive values. The core 
values this program strives to instill are confidence, courtesy, 
honesty, integrity, judgment, perseverance, respect, responsibility, 
and sportsmanship. Further, while these kids are learning these 
important life management skills and enjoying the outdoors, they are 
not engaged in mischievous, delinquent activities.
  On August 27, 2000, with 129 facilities in development in 38 states 
and 1 in Canada, First Tee surpassed their initial goal of having 100 
golf-learning facilities in development. Since that time, the First Tee 
has redefined its goals for the long term by pledging to impact the 
lives of 500,000 youth by 2005. The program is overseen and has the 
active support of a committee comprised of members representing the 
Ladies Professional Golf Association, PGA of America, PGA TOUR, United 
States Golf Association and the Augusta National Golf Club. In 
addition, former President George Bush serves as Honorary Chairman.
  Mr. Speaker, First Tee will not only have a positive impact on our 
society today, but will for years to come.
  Mr. BOEHNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1400

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Shimkus). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Boehner) that the House suspend 
the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 448.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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