Golf Friends Have a Deeper Link

Playing the game of golf can improve your quality of life as there are many physical, emotional and social benefits. The First Tee Nine Healthy Habits were created through a collaboration among The First Tee, ANNIKA Foundation and Florida Hospital for Children to promote healthy, active lifestyles for youth. The First Tee of Silicon Valley participants learn Nine Healthy Habits as part of our education curriculum and one of the social healthy habits is Friends. The First Tee of Silicon Valley teaches our participants to maintaining healthy relationships and encourages them to surround themselves with friends and supportive people. We have relevant discussions about how to effectively handle challenging situations, including bullying and navigating the digital age with social media. We have also observed the special friendships our participants have formed through being involved in our program from 2nd to 12th Grade through 5 levels of certification. There is something different about the friendships they make through golf, an extra dimension, a deeper link. It’s amazing, you smack a little white ball across a few miles of mowed turf and it shows you–and your mates—what kind of person you are: flawed, full of hope, willing to push hard against the limits of your ability, ready to laugh, weep, try and keep trying. All the ingredients of true friendship. Consider registering your child in a class, becoming a volunteer or supporting our non-profit youth development organization.