The First Tee of Chattanooga has opened the door to DRIVE Training to be held at Boys and Girls Clubs of Gordon, Murray and Whitfield County on May 6 at 1013 Underwood St. in Dalton from 9 a.m.-noon.
"DRIVE is a fun, engaging program for young people designed to Develop Rewarding, Inspiring Values for Everyone who participates," officials said.
Developed by The First Tee headquarters in St. Augustine, Fl., DRIVE includes 18 golf activity plans that expose young people to behaviors associated with the Nine Core Values of Honesty, Integrity, Sportsmanship, Respect, Confidence, Responsibility, Perseverance, Courtesy and Judgement.
This is done through games they are familiar with, such as baseball, football, bowling and tennis. Games are modified and include practice sessions to incorporate four basic golf shots – putt, chip, pitch and full swing.
Coach Kathleen McCarthy, the executive director and The First Tee Master Coach for The First Tee of Chattanooga initiated the training through a grant provided by The First Tee. Coach McCarthy said, “The goal of this training experience is to improve the skill set for coaches and instructors who have embraced the program already or are considering adding DRIVE in the Chattanooga and North Georgia youth centers.”
Participants in this three-hour training include Boys and Girls Clubs of North Georgia and Chattanooga, Chattanooga Youth and Family Development Center directors and a parent of a First Tee of Chattanooga participant. Michael Blackwell, executive director at The First Tee of Raritan Valley is the trainer and has 35 years of coaching and working with children. Russ Barker, director of operations, Boys and Girls Clubs of Gordon, Murray, and Whitfield County is the site contact and Coach McCarthy will also be attending.