The First Tee Lehigh Valley at Marvine
Golf Director: Tom Fenstermacher, PGA Professional
The First Tee Lehigh Valley at Marvine served 295 youth opened in 2006 and served just under 300 youth in 2009. The program serves area youth ages 8-16, runs after school in April and May, and during the summer in June, July, and August. Sessions run for one and a half to 2 hours.
The program seamlessly integrates The First Tee life skills education and core values curricula into golf instruction. Golf instruction includes chipping, putting and full shot golf skills. The facility includes a novel three-hole Birdieball Course, nine-hole pitching course and putting green. The indoor pavilion includes full swing, chipping, pitching and putting stations and areas for teaching life skills and core values as well as the basics of nutrition, the ‘Science of Golf’, related art projects and a gang prevention component.
As youth gain golf and life skills, they are transported to local golf courses that partner with the program. The First Tee Life Skills program focuses on fundamental communication and self-management skills, goal setting and group interaction. Experienced instructors conduct a baseline pre-test of golf and life skills. At the end of the program written, verbal and observational tests are conducted to identify progress through Par, Birdie and Eagle modules.
The success of the program is determined by retention of participants during the program; retention from year to year; improvement in golf skills, sportsmanship and etiquette; improvement in life skills; changes in attitude and self-esteem; EYD provides transportation for agency youth who cannot walk to the facility. The facility was developed to address the need identified by the Bethlehem Housing Authority for a structured sports and life skills education program at the Marvine Housing Development which serves between 800 and 900 children and youth, ages 8-16.
Key partners are the Bethlehem School District’s ASPIRE program and local youth agencies. The facility located at 1380 Fritz Drive, Bethlehem, PA 18017. For more details about our facility and programs, please contact our offices at 610-868-5290 or email us at
embraceyourdreamslv@yahoo.com.
Click here for additional information on The First Tee Program.