First Tee-Howard County

Our mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Located at the Fairway Hills Golf Club in Columbia, Maryland, First Tee-Howard County provides more than 600 Howard County students with life skills, core values and health habits that will last a lifetime through unique programming that uses golf as its tool. Fairway Hills is owned and managed by the Columbia Association. The facility has a First Tee Learning Center, club house, putting green and driving range. Our chapter is one of 196 of The National First Tee organization, a World Golf Foundation initiative dedicated to the creation of new facilities and access to golf, which places a special emphasis on kids who otherwise may not have an opportunity to experience the game. The First Tee program is based on nine core values that are taught through the character education program: responsibility, respect, honesty, judgment, courtesy, integrity, confidence, perseverance, and sportsmanship. The First Tee's Life Skills Experience is a curriculum based program developed by educators. A recent national survey of First Tee parents revealed some powerful data: 74% observed a positive change in their child's communication skills; 74% observed a positive change in their child's display of responsibility; 76% observed an increase in their child's confidence; 52% observed that their child made better grades in school and 66% observed a positive change in their child's social ability. Get involved with First Tee-Howard County by joining our team as a coach, volunteer, donor or community supporter.