Honesty is a virtue and it can be taught to children. Teaching the value of honesty to children is part of the development of moral and emotional strength. The quality of
honesty helps to develop character and solid self-esteem.
Honesty is an important trait to have in your academic and professional life but also core to the game of golf. Golf is unique from other sports in that players regularly call penalties on themselves and report their own score. The
honesty of players is captured when they follow the rules and etiquette of the game of golf.
What would you do in these situations?
Your ball is in the rough. You take a full swing intending to hit the ball but miss it completely. You did not touch any part of the ball, nor did you change the ball’s position. Would you pretend the stroke was a practice swing and not count it?
You’re preparing to hit out of a bunker but accidentally ground your club in the sand. No one noticed. Do you play the shot without taking a penalty?
As one of The First Tee Nine Core Values,
honesty has to do with being truthful. Not only when playing golf but in everything a young person engages in throughout life. Our goal is to teach participants honesty through hands-on activities. Games that require them to implement
honesty by tallying their own score, determining if their ball stayed within the boundaries of the course and learning what it means to be accessed a penalty stroke.
In the words of Tiger Woods, “Achievements on the golf course are not what matters, decency and
honesty are what matter.”
Consider registering your child in a class, becoming a
volunteer or
supporting our non-profit youth development organization.
