Golf Simulator Serves as Life Instructor at First Tee
(firmenpresse) - SAN DIEGO, CA -- (Marketwire) -- 01/05/12 -- For lessons on life and golf, there's no better partnership than The First Tee and a Full Swing . The First Tee program in Pittsburgh, Pa., uses Full Swing extensively, especially to keep their program going year-round. First Tee of Pittsburgh, whose honorary chairman is Arnold Palmer, has three Full Swing Golf simulators that offer approximately 32 courses. "Golf for us is a platform to teach kids valuable life skills," said Marc Field, Executive Director of First Tee of Pittsburgh.
"We have many kids from the inner city who have never traveled, so through the variety of courses the simulators offer, we can teach geography lessons," Field said. "For example, if they play The Old Course at St. Andrews on the Full Swing Golf simulator, we can talk about where Scotland is on the globe and a bit about Scottish culture and history."
Brian Arnold, Senior Vice-President of Full Swing Golf, said First Tee programs across the United States are using Full Swing Golf simulators. "We are proud to partner with First Tee to help a new generation of kids -- many of whom are underprivileged -- learn the game of golf," he said. "Our simulators complement The First Tee's programming."
For the past 10 years, California's Pro Kids Golf Academy -- one of the inaugural First Tee programs in the United States -- has also made an integral part of their teaching program. The not-for-profit in San Diego, California uses a unique points system to motivate their members. "Our members earn points based on their GPA in school, attending vocational field trips, attending workshops, and participating in community service," explains Todd Smith, Director of Golf, Pro Kids/The First Tee of San Diego.
"Members can then use these points to participate in fun activities such as attending a San Diego Chargers training camp or taking a golf outing to Monterey or Palm Desert, California," Smith said. "Participants can also use their points to purchase golf clothing, as Adidas has given us more than $2.5 million in apparel to use," he adds. "All these 'carrots' help further motivate the kids."
Pro Kids/First Tee of San Diego operates at an 18-hole, par 3 course; the longest hole is approximately 110 yards, so kids don't get the opportunity to hit longer shots. This is one of the many advantages the Full Swing Golf simulator offers. "Because we have only par 3's, the kids use the simulator to play longer courses and they use the driving range mode to hit longer clubs. It costs them five points per half hour to use the simulator," Smith said.
"Since we don't have a full-fledged driving range, the is one of our biggest carrots," he adds. "The kids love to use the sim to see how far they can hit their long irons and driver." He said that similar to earning martial arts belts, First Tee of San Diego participants earn various levels as they become better golfers. To use the simulators, they must be a level four or higher. "Earning this privilege is a big motivator," Smith said.
Just like San Diego's chapter, the Pennsylvanian First Tee program operates at an executive course: the Bob O'Connor Golf Course in Schenley Park, a city-run, par 67, 18-hole track. "We have clinics on the course, but since the program runs year-round, indoor golf lets us continue to teach in the winter and in inclement weather," Field said. He further states that the Full Swing Golf simulators also allow participants to work their way through every club in their bag and get a better idea of how far they can hit each club since the Bob O'Connor Golf Course does not have a driving range.
At the end of the day, the biggest draw for the kids is the fun factor. Field said, "They love video games, so the golf simulators are the perfect teaching tool. They are like a giant Wii, but much cooler."
Over the past 25 years, Full Swing Golf has pioneered the indoor golf experience by creating a network of premium golf simulators that connects businesses and consumers worldwide. The company allows golfers at all levels to play, practice, and compete on internet-connected simulators -- with a library of over 70 championship golf courses and an online Indoor Golf Club. Full Swing golfers benefit from lower costs, faster rounds, immediate feedback, advanced analytics and other elements that result in rapid game improvement and enjoyment in a comfortable setting. The company is headquartered in San Diego, California with a network of distributors representing over 70 countries.
Contact:
Chad Coleman
Full Swing Golf
(801) 230-7134
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Datum: 05.01.2012 - 12:58 Uhr
Sprache: Deutsch
News-ID 101338
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