The First Tee of Omaha Celebrates Grand Opening

Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey recently  joined The First Tee of Omaha CEO/President Steve Hogan and The First Tee Central Plains Regional Manager Guy Garbarino to celebrate the grand opening of The First Tee of Omaha at Miller Park Golf Course. The event began with a nine-hole tournament, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a golf and life skills clinic sponsored by Nationwide Insurance and Financial Services, the umbrella sponsor of the Nationwide Tour. The clinic was hosted by three-time Nationwide Tour winner D.A. Points and 2004 Rheem Classic winner Franklin Langham to benefit The First Tee and area youth.

"Youth sporting opportunities are critical building blocks, not only for young people, but for a city's future growth and vibrancy, so I applaud any effort that opens doors to physical activity, sportsmanship and education," said Fahey. "I welcome The First Tee to Omaha and beautiful Miller Park."

Since 2003, The First Tee of Omaha has administered the Life Skills Experience at Miller Park. Through partnerships with the Omaha Housing Authority, the Ponca Indian Tribe, area schools, and other youth development programs, The First Tee of Omaha has established a community outreach that impacts more than 2,000 young people each year. The Chapter also has the ability to accommodate physically and mentally challenged youth.

"I am especially pleased to introduce The First Tee Life Skills Experience to the young people of Omaha," said Hogan, who was the recipient of the PGA of America's 2003 Junior Golf Leader Award. "We are using golf as a vehicle to teach young people important values that will help them develop in a positive manner."

The First Tee of Omaha at Miller Park features a nine-hole, par-27 course suitable for youth play. The short game area consists of a two-tiered teeing ground with four target greens, which allow players to hit shots ranging from 35 yards to 145 yards. There is also a 10,000-square-foot practice green with a bunker.

"The City of Omaha has been instrumental in making The First Tee of Omaha a reality," said Garbarino. "The City has contributed funding and guidance, providing the young people of Omaha with access to the game of golf and its lifetime values."

In addition to the contributions made by the City of Omaha; the Scott family, Landscapes Unlimited., USGA, and the PGA of America have donated resources and supplies to The First Tee of Omaha.

More than one-hundred participants from The First Tee of Omaha's Class of 2004 were honored in a graduation ceremony during the grand opening. The youngsters took part in the golf and life skills clinic on the short course, with Points and Langham. The pros demonstrated their hitting and chipping ability while interacting with the participants.

This is the fifth clinic hosted by Nationwide this summer, in a series of nine, at The First Tee facilities across the country. The clinics benefit the participating Chapters and support The First Tee's message of bringing character-education and life-enhancing values to youth of all backgrounds through the game of golf.

"The First Tee program affords Nationwide a unique opportunity to engage our associates, agents, producers and business partners in a program that not only speaks to the physical development of golf for young people, but also enhances their life skills for the present and future," said Bob Cunningham, public relations manager for Nationwide.

The First Tee is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation. Since its inception in 1997, The First Tee has opened 155 golf-learning facilities and has introduced the game of golf to over 300,000 participants since 2000. The focus is to give young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop, through golf and character education, life-enhancing values such as honesty, integrity and sportsmanship.

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