Par. Birdie. Hole in one.
Although these words might seem foreign to some youngsters, a group of kids at the Rolling Hills Golf Course knows exactly what they mean.
Since October 2012, six-week sessions and three-day camps have been held at Rolling Hills, 8900 E. 29th St., as an affiliate member of the First Tee of Tucson, which teaches kids the basics of golf.
John Anttonen, 72, a member of the Rolling Hills board of directors, started the program. Anttonen spent 33 years in Alaska holding different positions in the education system.
When Anttonen was 56 and working as director of the school of special education at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, he took up golf. That's when he decided to retire someplace where he could play year-round.
Twelve years ago, Anttonen and his wife, Nancy, moved to Tucson.
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He likes Rolling Hills but said he felt the golf course needed a younger presence.
After the board of directors agreed to his proposal for a junior golf program, he began searching for an organization to help start the program. Upon finding the First Tee of Tucson, Anttonen said, he knew it would be a perfect fit.
The Tucson Conquistadores, a group of businesspeople who raise money for youth sports in Southern Arizona, founded the First Tee of Tucson in 2006.
For an annual fee of $25, children ages 7-17 can learn how to play golf. Summer camps are offered. Each session or camp is $5 per participant after the annual fee is paid.
More than 50 coaches involved are all volunteers, and there are scholarships available.
The First Tee's main location is at El Rio Golf Course, 1400 W. Speedway. Rolling Hills' program is an affiliate program, along with one at The Country Club of Green Valley, 77 E. Paseo de Golf.
According to Ryan Fitzgerald, program and life skills director at the First Tee, the goal is to teach kids life skills through golf.
"As an educator, I felt it was teaching the best values," Anttonen said. "It ... emphasizes a code of conduct that I want to see kids adopt."
Five of Michele Teich's 10 kids are participating in sessions at Rolling Hills.
"A friend of ours told us about this program, and it just sounded too good to be true" because it's so affordable, she said.
In addition to the weekly sessions and summer camps, First Tee participants at Rolling Hills can play at the course Monday through Thursday afternoons for only $1.
Find out more
For more information about the First Tee of Tucson, go to thefirstteetucson.org/club/scripts/public/public.asp online.
Scarlett McCourt is a University of Arizona student who is an apprentice at the Star. Contact her at 573-4117 or starapprentice@azstarnet.com
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