GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Wyndham Championship is making a $50,000 donation to The First Tee of the Triad, it was announced today. The donation makes the PGA TOUR event the presenting sponsor for this youth golf organization.
The First Tee of the Triad currently operates at Tanglewood Park and Winston Lake Golf Course in Winston-Salem. It is also expanding into Guilford County adding programming at Gillespie Golf Course in Greensboro.
The First Tee, an initiative of the World Golf Foundation, has as its mission, “To impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character-development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf.” The goal of The First Tee is to provide the golf-learning facilities and the experience that will enable kids from every walk of life to partake of a game that teaches values for life and which can be played for a lifetime.
“From the very start of our program in 2008, the Wyndham Championship and its staff have been instrumental in developing The First Tee of the Triad,” chairman of the board for The First Tee of the Triad Jeff Howard said. “This tremendous donation further cements that close relationship, and it will enable The First Tee of the Triad to expand its programs of life skills and character development to kids throughout the Piedmont Triad. We could not be more grateful for the support of this great PGA TOUR event.”
“I’ve watched The First Tee program grow nationally since its inception in 1996, and I have been thoroughly impressed with the impact it has had on millions of children around the world,” Wyndham Championship tournament director and The First Tee of the Triad board member Mark Brazil said. “To have a successful and vibrant chapter here in the Piedmont Triad is both a goal and a responsibility of the Wyndham Championship. As The First Tee of the Triad grows on a regional basis, more kids will be introduced to golf and learn important life skills along the way. That’s vital for our sport, but more importantly, our Piedmont Triad community.”
The program’s vision is to teach The First Tee Nine Core Values™ in hopes of touching the lives of young people in the community: integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy, judgment and honesty. The First Tee uses golf as the vehicle through which kids can accomplish their dreams, thrive socially, and excel academically and athletically. Young people from all backgrounds can become productive members of society with integrity, strong family values and commitment to community.
The First Tee of the Triad is one of 204 chapters operating at some 692 facilities in all 50 states and five foreign countries with more than 3 million participants. More than 3,300 schools also participate in the program. Founded by the World Golf Foundation in 1997, The First Tee is a way to bring golf to children that otherwise would not be exposed to the game or its positive values. The program is overseen and has the active support of committee members representing Augusta National Golf Club, the Ladies Professional Golf Association, PGA of America, PGA TOUR and the United States Golf Association. Former President George Bush serves as Honorary Chairman.
The 2010 Wyndham Championship is set for Aug. 16-22 at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C. Tickets will be available online in late spring at wyndhamchampionship.com or through the tournament office. The tournament thanks title sponsor Wyndham Worldwide and Premier Partners, BB&T, Flow Automotive, Harris Teeter, and VF Corporation for their continued support. Additional tournament information, including ticket packages and sponsorship information, is available at wyndhamchampionship.com or through the tournament office at (336) 379-1570. For more information about Wyndham Worldwide, please visit www.wyndhamworldwide.com.
