Young San Francisco Golfers Hit The Links As U.S. Open Comes To Town
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – While professional golfers and amateur hopefuls are preparing for this week's U.S. Open Championship at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, a group of kids from some of the city's low-income neighborhoods are preparing as well.
Teens like 14-year-old Jeremy, who lives in Hunter's Point. A year ago, he didn't know anything about golf but now he feels like the game has changed his whole life.
"It teaches you a lot of things. It helps you not only in golf, but it teaches you life lessons: honesty and confidence in yourself," he said.
Jeremy and 66 other kids from around San Francisco have signed up for the First Tee Program, sponsored by the United States Golf Association.
KCBS' Jeffrey Schaub Reports:
It's a free program that runs five days a week all summer long.
"The game of golf is nice," said First Tee coach Jarron Jackson. "It's a good vehicle but more importantly, these children need guidance, they need support and they need positivity. So all this energy that they have they can channel to something that's productive."
Jeremy said now, he is looking to join his high school golf team and hopes to eventually get a golf scholarship.
"Golf has inspired me to get better grades in school," he said.
The First Tee of San Francisco has classes at TPC Harding Park and Visitacion Valley Middle School throughout the year.
Through the USGA's "For The Good of the Game" Initiative, a $50 million grant program over a 10-year period, the USGA Foundation has provided start-up and development support to The First Tee as well as grants directly to local chapters.
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