Partners Fore Golf rounds the one-year mark Partners Fore Golf rounds the one-year mark (November 18, 2005)

Non-profit promotes character development through golf
by Rebecca Guyon

While golf is popular, especially in Pleasanton if the numerous golf courses are any evidence, not everyone has access to the game. The reality is, after you add up the cost of golf clubs and green fees, golf turns out to be an expensive sport.

"It's a sport that, because of cost, is prohibitive to a lot of people and we wanted to open it up to people who possibly couldn't afford it," said Laura Hadley, executive director of Partners Fore Golf. Partner's Fore Golf is a relatively new non-profit in Pleasanton with a mission to increase access to golf, mainly for youth, but also for seniors, the disadvantaged and the disabled living in the Tri-Valley. The organization provides many golf related-activities throughout Pleasanton including the LPGA-USGA Girls Golf Program, Pleasanton Golf Center Summer Camp and Junior Club and supporting the Special Olympics and local middle and high school golf teams.

"Being a police officer for 17 years, I have been involved in a lot of programs in the community, involving youth in particular, and when we do youth programs, especially with DARE, we advocate positive alternatives," said Captain Dave Spiller of the Pleasanton Police Department who serves on the Board of Directors of Partners Fore Golf. "Thinking under that umbrella, I thought working with Partners Fore Golf was a great way to contribute a little more to the community."

Partners Fore Golf started in December 2004 and now, as it is about to celebrate its first anniversary, it is also celebrating its new partnership with First Tee, a non-profit organization that promotes character development in youth through golf. First Tee has 165 chapters nationwide and Partners Fore Golf will serve as the Tri-Valley chapter.

"The mission of First Tee's focus on youth was a good match with our organization," Hadley said.

Even with this being the organization's first year, many community members have gotten involved with Partners Fore Golf. The summer camp served about 300 youth and more than 80 girls participated in the LPGA-USGA girls program.

Through the Junior Club, any youth can come to the Pleasanton Golf Center and, for a small annual fee, they'll get a reduced green and range fee any time they play. Now that Partners Fore Golf is working with First Tee, youth will also have access to golf classes, which are scheduled to start in the spring. Each middle school in Pleasanton has a co-ed golf team and both comprehensive high schools have a boys and girls golf team. Right now, Partners Fore Golf helps fund the girls teams at both the comprehensive high schools and hope to be able to branch out to help all of the teams in 2006

To fund these activities, Partners Fore Golf held a charity golf tournament Aug. 29, bringing out 149 golfers to Castlewood Golf Course and garnering sponsorships from 40 companies.

"I am very impressed with how supportive this community is, and how tirelessly the people on the board give to the community and youth," Spiller said. "I am very proud to be part of this group."

While Spiller loves the game, he admits to being a "struggling golfer," although he still sees the value the sport has for everyone, but especially youths.

"Honesty, integrity and sportsmanship are key principals of the game," he said. "Through understanding and playing the game, youths can also learn these principals."

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