The Keepers held our 8th Annual First Tee Mentoring Outing at Woodmont Country Club with 28 delightful kids from every background you can imagine who participate in the programs of the First Tee of Greater Washington D.C. We had 17 volunteers from our club along with the professional golf staff as our guides doing golf clinics, a picnic lunch, and a couple of hours of course time with the kids.
These kids come every type of background you can imagine and they have gleaned from their First Tee experiences self-confidence, poise, and grace as well as being introduced to the game of golf. It is a wonder to witness the etiquette, course awareness, and basic skills of these 7 to 14 year-olds who attend this event each year.
The almost 50 staff, volunteers, and kids that made this day so special.
Our volunteers provide the smiles, reassurance, and support to help these kids understand how much this game has to offer.
These guys and gals get as much out of this outing as the kids.
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Sometimes the mentoring is as simple as a hug or a pat on the shoulder.
Kommander Keller mugging with Quinn
Marlyn with Sophie and Amanda
Marlene with Nahyun and Hannah
Amanda, Avery, and Hannah with Dale watching over
The mentors share their knowledge and experience of how they have earned their crack handicaps.
Arthur helping Amra with her grip
Andy and Daniel discuss proper takeaway
Jackie gives Carina a little thought on direction
Eddie shares with Dhira the importance of face alignment
Best part is just kickin’ back and watching these amazing kids do their golf thing.
Gail and Bonnie chillin’ on the range
All the kids went through the rotation of three clinics-range, short game, and putting-led by our professional staff.
Konnor and his guys explain the program for the day
Proper technique is proper technique…even if it is on the wrong side
Konnor explains some of the do’s and don’ts of exceptional putting
Some of it was group drills……
….and group observation as well
Then the kids get to show their stuff….as well as their individuality and style.
Akil has no breakdown of the wrist..nice extension in his pitching
Quinn and Isabella observe each other’s technique
Peter is looking for a little clarification or is it reassurance
Skyler has it down as Delana, Iris, Yaphet, and Peter get ready to launch
Hannah, Nahyun, and Sumi are in a high level conversation
Delana, Iris, Yaphet, and Peter are grinding away at proper technique
Obviously satisfied, Daniel is working on this celebration dance
Marlyn and Konnor are appraising the work of Eugene, Sean, Hannah, Nahyun, and Sumin
Anticipation across the line as the balls are off in the lag putt drill
You can work up an appetite at these clinics so they are followed by a break for a picnic lunch where we got to just sit and chat…..healthy sandwiches, real chips, fresh fruit, and some chocolate chip cookies for the big kids. We were all single digit eaters.
Starts with an orderly line….followed by a choice….Tuna or Turkey…..
Circling the wagons….lots of mouths to feed both kid and adult
Amra and Isabella just hanging out and having fun
Quinn and Jayden with the old tomato sandwich trick
Carina, Sophie, and Avery….are these kids cute or what?
Then it was out to the big course to put what they learned to work. It is amazing how these kids handle themselves on the course. Fixing ball marks, raking bunkers, marking their ball properly, and respecting the efforts of their playing partners.
Amanda and Evalyn head out with Kaptin Keith
Dale with Sumin and Hannah are not far behind
Amanda, Evalyn, Sumi, and Hannah setting up approach shots with Keith and Dale
Randy is helping Nahyun and Hannah plot some course strategy
Arthur, Jayden, and Quinn are all smiles on the way out to their designated hole
Akil, Skyler, and Iris on the 11th Green with John and Moe
One last bit of business to thank the volunteers, the golf staff, and the organizers for putting this together. And most important, thanking these adorable and talented kids for being part of this beautiful day, sending them away with a participation certificate and a few goodies to commemorate the event.
Special thanks to Connor Farrell, Steve Keller, John Friedson, Moe Dweck, and Alexandra Uduk and the professional golf staff for all the hard work in assembling this event. Thanks to Woodmont Country Club for graciously hosting this and the First Tee of Greater Washington D.C. for hooking us up with these awesome kids.
Respect-Perserverance-Honesty-Integrity-Courtesy-Responsibility-Sportsmanship-Confidence-Judgement
August, 2017
(Photos provided by Steve Keller, Arthur Blitz, and Melanie Padgett Powers)
If you have any corrections to the captioning please email them to moedweck@comcast.net
moegolf 
very very nice… good work..
Thank you Woodmont Country Club & members, an outstanding opportunity for our future young men and women. The lessons learned at first tee will carry these young members for many, many years. We look forward to your program 2018.