To coin a phrase of the Minnesota Twins: "Touch 'em all" for Minot Junior Golf.
MJGA has funded to the tune of $42,000, equipment for all of Minot Public Schools as well as Bishop Ryan, Our Redeemer's and South Prairie for The First Tee National School Program. The NSP of The First Tee is a wonderful program that uses the game of golf to teach nine core values: Honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy, and judgment.
The in-school component encompasses an overview of the game of golf and how it is played, basic skills instruction and an introduction to the life-enhancing values inherent to the game via the nine core values of The First Tee. The National School Prgram provides a tremendous value to the overall school-wide curriculum because of its emphasis on character education, fitness and because of golf is a lifelong activity.
The financial committment of MJGA provide enough SNAG (Starging New At Golf) equipment for up to 48 students in one class room (gym). It also paid for the for Diane Lamb, a First Tee National School Program Trainer to travel to Minot to work with our local PE teachers. She commented how attentive and enthusiastic all of the our local educators were through the entire training process. She was very complementary about all of the PE teachers that attended the training so give them a high five when you see them around your school.
The First Tee Regional Director from San Antonio was also on hand the day of the trainiing. Tai Moran was very helpful in getting the NSP in Minot and we are very lucky to have someone like Tai assisting us to reach our goals. A special thanks to Dr. Steve Joyal from the Minot Public Schools for all of the hard work he did to make this all happen. We could not have done it without his help. Also a big thanks to Kathy Lennertz for taking the time to explore the program to make sure it would work and to South Prairie School and Pete Fiske for letting us use their beautiful new gym for the training! And lastly to Mr. Pat McNally for his
willingness to look at the program and not being afraid to try someting new. These people mentioned are the best and the kids of Minot will benefit for years to become because of your hard work. Thank you very much!
The goal for the NSP is to impact 2,000,000 school children by the end of 2010 and they are well on there way! Joe Louis Barrow, son of the great boxer Joe Louis and Executive Director of the First Tee comments, "At the end of the day we have to look and realize that the children are 100 percent of our future."
So if the MJGA and the NSP in cooperation with our local schools can help the children learn to have a happy productive and active life then we have done our job. So hopefully this will be the home run that will help our kids so we can "Touch them all" with a positive impact!
Good golfing and keep it in the fairway.
Tip of the Week: Practice chipping and putting as much as long shots. Even more if you have the time. Scoring is around the green and on the green. "It is not how you drive but how you arrive."
The Jack Hoeven Wee Links is open on weekends with staff present and during the week it is open for play and there is a lock box to pay.
Normal hours will begin in May sometime.
(Steve Kottsick is the head golf professional at Souris Valley Golf Course. He writes a regular column during golf season. He can be reached via email at sports@minotdailynews.com)