Columbus area youth reap benefits of golf initiative

(AP) — Five years ago, four Columbus residents came together to make a decision that has touched the lives of more than 5,000 elementary school students in the area.

The national organization began in 1997 in an attempt to grant an inexpensive opportunity for youth in economically challenged communities to learn and play golf.

The SNAG program uses learner-friendly golf equipment such as plastic clubs with magnified heads and colored tennis balls that kids hit at Velcro targets.

Parkside Elementary physical education teacher Kristin Wiley is in her first year teaching in the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. and said she never taught golf until she got to Parkside.

VanDeventer led Green-Grass for the first time last year and said the connection with the SNAG program is important for the continued development of the young golfers.

The AJGA Tournament conducted at Otter Creek every summer highlights the top high school talent from around the country and also features four to five international participants every year.

The tournament allows for the high school students to get recognition from college scouts in hopes of receiving scholarships while also raising local community funds to put back into the elementary schools' First Tee Programs.

Director of Elementary Education Laura Hack said having the First Tee Programs inside the schools is a win-win for everybody because it gives students the opportunity to learn life skills inside a classroom.

What can we do inside the schools to make sure that we're not only developing children, but adults . we're talking about bettering students' communication, bettering their self-management, their goal setting and overcoming challenges.