Bob Edelblut
Sunday, October 29 was the date for this year’s MPMGA sponsored First Tee of Tucson golf outing held at the MountainView Golf Course. The First Tee organization is an international youth development organization sponsored by the PGA and the LPGA. It introduces the game of golf and its inherent values to young people through school and after school programs. It works to reinforce values like integrity, respect and perseverance through the game of golf.
This year 29 kids participated in the golf outing. Each had a volunteer host, most of whom were either MPMGA or MPWGA members. Check-in started at 1:00 p.m. and by 1:45 everyone had located their host, had loosened up on the range, had collected their bag of golf balls and were waiting on the putting green for an official welcome and, of course, major picture taking. Golf was just around the corner and you could tell that all were eager to start the fun!
The general format was the same that had been so successful in prior years. It was a nine-hole tournament with a shotgun start, tees and hole distances designed to accommodate the ability of each kid, and a special skills putting challenge. Yep, the kids kept score. The buzzer sounded at 4:00 p.m. and everyone left the course and headed directly to the ballroom for pizza, refreshments and continued laughter and fun. By the way, these kids were good!
Once again Vicky Gonzalez, Volunteer Service Director, for the First Tee and Tim Koch of the MPMGA were the primary organizers and Landyn Lewis, Program and Life Skills Director, for the First Tee and Tim Benjamin of the MPMGA provided major operational support. Thank you, thank you! A special thank you must be given to the 30 odd volunteers who spent the day making each kid happy and also to Phil Gray, Tom Young and Bill George whose contributions put the event over the top. Thank you.
Bob Eder, President of the MPMGA, in his closing remarks, reminded all of the contributions (greens fees and range balls) that RCI continues to donate for the First Tee events. He also presented to Vicky Gonzalez a donation to the First Tee in the amount of $650 from the MPMGA.