First Tee Of Tampa Bay Offers Summer Camps At Terrace Hill Golf Club

Those involved with The First Tee of Tampa Bay program know that it is just as important to perfect a golf swing, as it is to respect others on the course.

“Golf is different from other sports,” said Jeff Leonard, the program’s director. “There really aren’t any referees to tell you what to do out there on the course, how to conduct yourself, or how to respect other players. When you are new to the sport, that can be challenging.”

That’s why The First Tee program stresses more than just golf to the participants. The program uses golf as a way of teaching kids its nine core values, which include honesty, confidence, integrity, courtesy, perseverance, responsibility, judgment, sportsmanship, and most importantly, respect.

“The purpose of the program is multi-fold—to keep kids active, introduce them to a great game, hone skills, and get kids ready for competitive golf opportunities,” said Leonard. “We also introduce kids to The First Tee Life Skills Experience through our Life Skills curriculum.”

The Life Skills Curriculum is made up four levels: par; birdie; eagle; and ace. The par level helps children learn certain interpersonal skills, such as meeting new people, having fun while learning, and dealing with frustration. The birdie level helps those participating learn how to set goals and make better decisions. The eagle and ace levels touch base on wellness and career opportunities.

“The First Tee tries to be very intentional about identifying some of the life skills that golf can help teach,” Leonard added.

Leonard and The First Tee of Tampa Bay have been busy gearing up for the program’s summer camps. These camps are offered at two program sites and five affiliate courses throughout the Tampa Bay area including  in Temple Terrace.

There is still space available for the camps taking place at Terrace Hill Golf Club. Summer camps include half-day instructional camps, afternoon camps, Saturday programs, and developmental tournaments. They are offered on a weekly basis and are geared toward ages 7 through 15, regardless of experience level. 

“One key to learning a new skill is spending time practicing it,” Leonard said. “Summer camps are so helpful to beginners because they have so much time to work on the new skills, which allows to build a solid foundation for future golf development.”

Qualified golf professionals and First Tee counselors lead each camp. Each instructor offers individualized attention.

“It is always beneficial to have a coach or teacher who has been where you are trying to go,” Leonard said.

Leonard has been involved with The First Tee of Tampa Bay for seven years. He continues introducing kids to the sport; it’s something he says he will always enjoy.

“It’s great when I see kids out here learning the game of golf,” he said. “Most of these kids didn’t even have a set of their own clubs when they started, so it is rewarding when I see them starting to pick up on the fundamentals of the game.”

Half-Day Instructional Camps take place Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (early drop-off at 8 a.m.) July 18 to 21, July 25 to 28, Aug. 1 to 4, Aug. 8 to 11, and Aug. 15 to 18. The cost is $100 per week, and the camps are open to all levels, ages 7 to 15. These camps will focus on The First Tee Par level Life Skills Curriculum. Participants in this program can sign up to stay for the afternoon player program.

Terrace Hill “Afternoon Players” takes place Monday through Thursday, 1 to 4 p.m. (late pick-up at 6 p.m.) July 26 to 29, August 2 to 5, and August 16 to 19. The cost is $80 per week, and the camps are open to all levels, ages 7 to 15. Afternoons will include games, alternate formats of play, and contests.

Saturday Program takes place from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. at and 10 to 11 a.m. at Rogers Park. The cost is $10 per class and the programs are open to all golfers 7 to 18.

Developmental Tournaments are offered on the third Saturday of each month. The cost is $15. “The Developmental Tournaments are an opportunity for kids interested in competitive golf to be introduced to tournament golf in a non-threatening, low-pressure environment,” Leonard said. “We can help prepare kids for getting involved with more competitive organizations and high school golf.”