PGA TOUR Superstore Announces Grants to Bay Area Chapters of The First Tee

EAST PALO ALTO, Calif., April 3, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- PGA TOUR Superstore has announced a $5,000 grant to The First Tee of Silicon Valley and a $5,000 grant to The First Tee of San Francisco to deliver educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf.

PGA TOUR Superstore is presenting the awards today as part of its Friends and Family Grand Opening event at the new store. The 47,000-square-foot superstore is located at 1751 East Bayshore Road, former site of Best Buy. Young people from The First Tee of Silicon Valley and The First Tee of San Francisco will participate in the event, and the public is invited to attend.

"The First Tee transforms the lives of young people through character education and the Nine Core Values," said PGA TOUR Superstore President and CEO Dick Sullivan. "We are excited to team up with The First Tee of Silicon Valley and The First Tee of San Francisco to expand opportunities for young people."

The First Tee chapters of Silicon Valley and San Francisco conduct programs in the schools and during after-school, weekend and summer periods for more than 12,000 young people annually, including 75 area elementary schools enrolled in The First Tee National School Program.

East Palo Alto is PGA TOUR Superstore's 16th retail location. The superstores are owned and operated by Golf & Tennis Pro Shop, Inc., whose controlling owner and chairman is Arthur M. Blank, retired Home Depot co-founder and owner of the Atlanta Falcons. Blank became a Trustee of The First Tee in January 2012, committing $1 million to the youth development organization.

In partnership with The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, PGA TOUR Superstore associates support The First Tee chapters reaching young people in East Palo Alto, Atlanta, Chicago, Paramus, Dallas, Delray Beach, Denver, Myrtle Beach, Naples and Phoenix. PGA TOUR Superstore has announced that it will open a store in Irvine, California, later this year.

In addition to grants, PGA TOUR Superstore provides young people with access to state-of-the-art teaching, club fitting and training.

About The First Tee of Silicon Valley
The First Tee of Silicon Valley (www.thefirstteesiliconvalley.org) is a life skills program that builds the character of youth to help them succeed in life. Over 19,300 youth have been impacted by the program since 2005. They make the game of golf accessible to all youth, regardless of background. Participants learn to appreciate diversity, resolve conflicts, build confidence and set goals for their future. Programs focus on four life skills categories – interpersonal, self-management, goal-setting, and resilience – and Nine Core Values – honesty, integrity, sportsmanship, respect, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment. The First Tee of Silicon Valley is located at Rancho del Pueblo Golf Course in San Jose, Palo Alto Municipal Golf Course, and Gavilan College Golf Course in Gilroy. Classes are offered in the spring, summer and fall for an hour and a half a week over a nine week period. The cost is $80 for each class session. Scholarships and Sibling Discounts are available upon request

About The First Tee of San Francisco
The First Tee of San Francisco (www.thefirstteesanfrancisco.org) is a unique youth development program that uses the sport of golf to teach students LIFE SKILLS. Values inherent to the game of golf: integrity, honesty, self-control and self-reliance are also explored both on course and in a classroom setting. The program's mission is to have each student leave the program with the self-management, goal setting, and conflict resolution skills necessary to compete and contribute in their respective communities. First Tee students lead both on and off the golf course. Founded in 2004 as part of the renovation at Harding Park, The First Tee Of San Francisco is a unique collaborative effort between The PGA Tour's TPC division, San Francisco Park and Recreation and The First Tee of San Francisco. Since its inception in 2004, The First Tee of San Francisco has introduced over 20,000 kids to the golf of game and its life skills curriculum.

About PGA TOUR Superstore:
PGA TOUR Superstore is operated by Golf & Tennis Pro Shop, Inc., a subsidiary of AMB Group, LLC, headquartered in Roswell, Georgia.

As the PGA TOUR's exclusive off-course/off-airport retail partner, PGA TOUR Superstore provides customers with access to the same technology and expertise that card-carrying TOUR pros use each week in the TOUR Vans that accompany them. All stores are staffed with teaching professionals and have multiple state-of-the-art swing simulators, practice hitting bays, a putting green and chipping area. There is also an in-house club making and repair facility. Many stores are equipped with a full-size tennis court and a tennis professional on staff for lessons and clinics.

Along with equipment and accessories, PGA TOUR Superstore has an unmatched selection of men's, women's and juniors' apparel and footwear for golf and tennis.

For more information, visit www.pgatoursuperstore.com.

PGA TOUR Superstore.  If it's on TOUR, it's in here.

SOURCE PGA TOUR Superstore