Saturday, Oct. 31 marked the end of the season for the Firewheel Ladies 9 Golf League and they celebrated with a Halloween themed event complete with costumes, food, drinks and a fundraising raffle.
Event co-coordinator Sharon Christie described the Firewheel Ladies 9 Golf League as a ladies’ “fun” league” and said that they play nine holes Thursday evenings April – October. There is also a golf clinic in March before the season begins in April.
“It’s all in the spirit of socializing, having fun and enjoying the game of golf regardless of your golf skillset,” she said.
The league is primarily for women who want to learn to play golf in a relaxed atmosphere. The group was started six years ago at Sherrill Park in Richardson and moved to Firewheel three years ago. Approximately 20 women participate each week.
Half of the funds raised throughout the season as well as the half of the proceeds from the season ending event and raffle are donated to a different charity each year. Last year, the North Texas Food Bank was the recipient. This year, The First Tee program was the beneficiary.
The mission of The First Tee is “To impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices thr
ough the game of golf.”
It’s more than a youth sports program. According to the website, it is an “international youth development organization introducing the game of golf and its inherent values to young people. Through after school and in school programs, we help shape the lives of young people from all walks of life by reinforcing values like integrity, respect and perseverance through the game of golf. And it’s making a difference. Our research-proven programs are having a positive impact on participants, their families and their communities.”
Since 1997, the program has reached 10.5 million youth and 19,000 volunteers have been involved.
In addition to learning fundamentals of the golf swing and the game, the program stresses character building and the development of life skills. The kids learn self-respect, respect for others and respect for their surroundings. In addition, and there is a code of conduct that must be followed by all participants.
The golf and life skills curriculum focuses on how to manage emotions; how to set goals; how to resolve conflicts; and how to communicate with others