While nationally The First Tee claims a 50% minority membership, there are not that many minorities in the areas served by the Three Rivers Park District, said head golf professional Lisa Masters. So what they do focus on is bringing more girls into the game of golf.

Taylor Partridge of Maple Grove, 15, has been playing golf for a long time, and she has been with The First Tee program since it started at Eagle Lake Golf Center. With golf coach Brian Pabst, she worked her way up through the certification programs, getting through the Par, Birdies and Eagles levels. As she learned about the game and worked on technique, she also gained the life skills that are part of each lesson.

"I think it's really important," said Taylor, regarding the core values learned at The First Tee. "They not only help you in golf, but in life, too. I think it's a great program for kids. It gives an opportunity to have fun and play golf and meet new people."

Taylor golfs every day, she said, plays for the Junior PGA, and expects that golf definitely will be a major element in her life.

Taylor also had the opportunity to attend The First Tee's Life Skills and Leadership Academy last summer in Nashville, Tenn., for five days. This year, about 125 young people from The First Tee program around the U.S. were chosen to attend the academies, which feature workshops, career exploration seminars and golf clinics taught by world-renowned golf professionals.

The young people who go to the national academies need to be certified at the Birdie level, said Masters. They also need to submit an application, which includes an essay and two letters of recommendation. At that point, the advisory staff chooses five and submits those to the home office. For each of the last three years, Three Rivers has been able to send five young golfers to the national academies, all of which are paid for by the national organization.

This summer Mark Waananen of Maple Grove, 13, attended the academy at the University of Richmond in Virginia, and Colton Harding of Maple Grove, 13, attended the academy at Kansas State University and Colbert Hills Golf Course in Manhattan, Kan.

"He really enjoyed it," said Colton's mother, Danielle Harding. She sees that the three of her four sons who are in The First Tee Program are learning life skills as well as sports skills, and she sees them applying those skills to their everyday lives. Colton has been on the B Honor Roll at school for the last couple of semesters, she said, and she feels The First Tee program has helped him with that.

"Not everyone's a leader, but this program helps people be more confident," said Masters. "Sometimes it's the fear of standing out, not the fear of failing."

Another of the program's goals is to instill in the kids the importance of service, and to provide them opportunities, said Masters. They don't make the kids participate, but they show them the importance of service to others, if for no other reason than for their college resumes.

One of the opportunities for public service was an "adopt a highway" clean-up with one of The First Tee's corporate sponsors. And kids have volunteered to do score running, be standard bearers or be driving range attendants at golf tournaments.

There are many facets to The First Tee program. There is a three-day golf camp at Baker Park Reserve, there is a new focus on using the program in schools, and there is a college scholarship program, to name just a few.

A continuing challenge is to raise the funds for the programs and for the "golferships." So The First Tee of Three Rivers Park District is hosting a charity golf event at Baker National Golf Course Tuesday, Aug. 31. They are still taking sponsorships, said Masters. For information, call the tournament director at 952-908-0374.

"The program is here to support kids and families," said Masters. "We're not a social service agency, but we support families. And we have fun."