Classes start next week!
 Summer Season begins June 5th.  Sign Up Today!
  Gabriel Goode
"My name is Gabe Goode.  I am 10 years old and next school year will be in the 6th grade.  My interest in golf started when I was 4 years old and got my first set of golf clubs.  I would spend a lot of time in my backyard hitting wiffle balls.

My dad took me on my first golf experience at a course when I was 5. From then on, my love for golf grew and grew.

I enjoy golf and The First Tee program because it teaches you not only how to play golf, but also important values like respect, honesty, courtesy and kindness. These are values I try to use everyday.

In school, I always try to be the best student that I can be by learning, working hard, and being responsible.  
I like to practice and play golf as much as I can.  When weather is good, I am always outside hitting golf balls in my yard.  My dad tries to take me to the golf course weekly to play.
 
I have completed two levels of The First Tee program and this summer will be in the Birdie level.  My goal this summer is to pass the Birdie tests and start Eagle in the fall, and hopefully make my school's golf team too.  My dream is to one day win a Green Jacket!"
Drive Chip & Putt is BACK!

June 18th, 2016 we head to
Blackthorn CC for DCP.  Winners could find themselves competing on national television at Augusta in 2017!

2016 Graysburg Invitational
This scramble event is FREE and open to all ages and abilities.  

Date:          Thursday June 9th
10:12pm     Scramble
12-1pm       Break/Lunch
1-2pm         Junior Clinic
2-5pm         Watch Long Drive Contest

Register Here
2016 SNEDS Tour
Begins June 2nd

Eagle Yardage Book:
Lesson 26 - Be a Go-To Person
In lesson 23 we learned how to build a Go-To Team.  This time we will discover how to be a Go-To person.  

Helping others not only benefits them, it helps you to grow as a person and makes you feel that you have made a difference in someone else's life.  

There are many different ways to help others.  Whether you choose to help family, friends, or strangers, utilizing your skills and abilities is the key to finding out what you can add to your community.

A Go-To person Respects others, listens well, empathizes with needs, and assists with solutions. 

Many of the life skills that you will learn during your time with The First Tee will enable you to become a better Go-To person.
Some of these skills include communication, controlling emotions (4Rs), making good decisions (STAR), finding your Personal Par, building Goal Ladders, engaging in behaviors that promote health and wellness, and conflict resolution (CARE).

Each person is born with different abilities that can be used to improve the circumstances of others. Using your skills to help those around you is essential to building a stronger community.
Eagle Fundamentals:
Course-Management

Scoring well requires good decision-making and avoiding areas of the course that can cost strokes.  In this lesson we will learn the factors that go into making the right decision.

Every choice you make on the course has a consequence. As in everyday life, the right decision leads to success, and the wrong decision often leads to a penalty.

Club selection is at the heart of making a good choice, but several factors must be considered before deciding what club to hit.  

Factor #1: Target Selection
What is your target?  How far away is it? If you hit club x well, will it reach your target?  If you mishit the shot, where could it end up?
Factor #2: Trouble areas
What area(s) do I want to avoid?  Bunkers, water hazards, and out of bounds are the top three areas to avoid.  We want to select a club and shot that will keep us away from these.

Factor #3: Lie
Every shot after the tee ball has a different set of challenges.  Rarely do we get a perfect lie in a flat fairway.  The more grass surrounding the ball, the more loft you will need to escape. For tall grass, you might select a Pitching Wedge or 9-Iron.  For medium rough you might get away with a middle-iron like a 7.  We also need to factor in uphill lies that will naturally add loft to your club, and downhill lies that decrease it. In addition, for a ball above your feet you will need to grip down to shorten the club length, which shortens the distance you can hit the shot.  A ball below your feet requires a longer club.

Factors #4: Weather
Weather conditions play a big role in club selection.  Golf balls tend to move in the same direction as the wind, so adjust accordingly.  Wet conditions decrease the amount of roll after the shot, while dry conditions increase it.  

There are often other things to consider such as obstacles in your path, but a general understanding of what you need to do in various circumstances will lead to fewer strokes during your round.  While the number of factors seems overwhelming at first, taking some time to make the right decision will help you to gain valuable experience in Course Management.