Welcome to the 2010 The First Tee Junior Golf Program at Moccasin Creek Country Club & Lee Park Golf Course!

 proudly sponsored by

     Moccasin Creek CC & Lee Park GC are proud to be flagship affiliates of The First Tee of South Dakota.  The First Tee, a worldwide initiative of the World Golf Foundation, has as its mission to impact the lives of young people by providing learning environments and educational programs that promote character-development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf.
   Sports have been traditional vehicles for teaching life lessons, but today, sport at its highest levels is played in an atmosphere where we have a preponderance of athletes who deny they have responsibility to be role models, let alone idols to the young. 
   There is, however, a sport that not only continues to teach positive life lessons, but also depends on an adherence to them for its very existence.  That sport, of course, is golf. 
   It is a game where there are no officials to call a breach of the rules.  It is a game where only the individual participants know if the score he or she hands in is the score that was actually shot.  It is a game with a rich history and timeless traditions that invites respect for the old and wonderment of the new.  Most of all, golf is fun.  The game is never solved, perfection is never achieved; there is always the opportunity for improvement and success.  It is also a game where the raw beginner can play a competition match with the most seasoned expert.  It is a game where youngsters can delight in playing with each other and it is a game suited to the young and old playing together.
   Our goal is to provide golf learning facilities and the experiences 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.

Dean Zahn & Ted Zahn                 Gary Nelson & Kurt Drube           Amanda Young
PGA Golf Professionals                 Golf Coaches                                  Program Director
Moccasin Creek Country Club     Lee Park Golf Course

Click here to be connected to the Aberdeen Parks & Recreation website to learn more about golf opportunities at Lee Park.

The First Tee Life Skills Experience  

   Through the Life Skills Experience, participants learn valuable lessons about the importance of maintaining a positive attitude, how to make decisions by thinking about the possible consequences and how to define and set goals from the golf course to everyday life.  Participants learn about themselves and others through a range of experiences enhancing their golf skills as well as their fundamental values for life. 
   All participants receive The First Tee Yardage Books so their progress can be observed as they advance through The First Tee certification levels of PLAYer, Par, Birdie, Eagle, and Ace.  Each stage introduces young people to different aspects of golf and life skills.
   Our program starts with the first level of certification, PLAYer.  We want everyone who completes this program to have acquired basic golf skills and to be able to demonstrate certain fundamental life skill concepts.  We anticipate it will take most juniors at least two seasons to become certified at each level.  Juniors are not required to go through certification to participate but we certainly encourage it.  More information will be given to parents prior to the first classes, and juniors will be asked to demonstrate life skills outside of the golf course with parent involvement.  You can learn more about The First Tee Life Skills Experience at www.thefirsttee.org or our chapter website at www.thefirstteesouthdakota.org.

No young person shall be turned away from The First Tee programs because of inability to pay (contact Amanda Young or Dean Zahn for more on financial assistance)!  And, all juniors are welcome regardless of who they are or where they are from.  Juniors do not have to be a member of either golf course to participate.  ALL ARE WELCOME!  

PLAYer Level Lesson Program for Juniors 8 to 17

This program is designed for beginner and intermediate golfers ages 8 to 17.  Indicate on registration form your session preference.  80 students maximum in each session.

* Session 1 ~ 8:45 to 10:15 (MC3 ONLY)
* Session 2 ~ 10:30 to 12:00 (Both LEE PARK and MC3)

At Moccasin Creek:  Starts Thursday, May 27 and continues every Thursday until July 15 and also includes Monday, June 14.  An additional one hour of on-course play time will be offered after Session 1 and prior to Session 2.  Juniors will be supervised during these times by adult volunteers. 

At Lee Park:  Starts Wednesday, May 26 and continues every Wednesday until July 21.  There is also a Youth Golf League offered on Mondays from June 7 to June 28 from 9am-11am.  Register at Lee Park.  Juniors will be supervised and there is no cost to participate.

PLAYer level certification days (optional attendance) at Moccasin Creek on June 29 from 10am-12pm & July 17 from 9am-11am. 

Birdie Level Lesson Program for Juniors 12 to 17
at Moccasin Creek CC

This program is designed for intermediate and advanced golfers ages 12 to 17.  Juniors who have been certified in the PLAYer & Par levels and those with advanced skills are invited.  This level will focus on advanced golf skills and goal-setting life skills. 

10:30 to 11:30   *Fridays*   May 28, June 4, 18, 25, July 2, 9

Little Linkster Lesson Program for Juniors 5 to 7
at Moccasin Creek CC

A fun and safe introduction to golf using The First Tee Target program.

11:00 to 12:00   *Saturdays*   May 29, June 5, 19, 26

Click here to fill out the Junior Golf Lesson Program Registration Online or download Registration Form here and mail in!

The First Tee Adult/Junior Tournament - June 27 at MC3
Any adult can play with any junior (2-person alternate shot) in this fun 9-hole event.  Sponsorship opportunities available.

CLICK HERE FOR ADULT/JUNIOR ENTRY FORM AND INFO

Junior Club Championship
This finale for the MC3 Junior Program will be played on August 5.  All juniors that are involved with the MC3 Junior Lesson Program or are members of the Club are welcome to participate.  There is no entry fee and trophies will be awarded in many different age categories.  The low 18-hole boy & girl will be declared the overall Junior Club Champions.

SDGA Junior Golf Tour - June 28 at MC3
Additional events in Watertown, Arlington, Pierre, Huron, Brookings and throughout the state.  Entry deadline for all Tour events is May 25.  Log on to www.sdga.org for more info. 

SDGA Parent-Child Championship - July 18 at Fox Run GC in Yankton
Log onto www.sdga.org for more information.

SDGA State Junior Championship - July 19-20 at Fox Run GC in Yankton
Log onto www.sdga.org for more information.