Fourth-grader Eugene Choi practices his putting skills as Salem’s fourth- and fifth-graders end their golf program with a visit to the First Tee of Chesterfield.

Salem Elementary’s fourth- and fifth-graders hit the links on Thursday, November 6, practicing their chipping, putting, and driving range skills at the First Tee of Chesterfield, marking a culmination of their month-long golf program at the school.

“This was a great program,” says Laura Buyalos, P.E. teacher at Salem. “We did lessons during our P.E. classes in October and the kids have all really enjoyed it. So many of the kids have a natural ability that they never even knew about.”

In its first year of what they hope to be many, the golf program at Salem was provided by the First Tee of Chesterfield as one of their efforts to provide youth programs in the schools.

“We had someone come out a few years ago who did a couple of lessons and the kids really liked it, so we decided to see if we could do it again,” says Buyalos. “Before I could contact them, Travis Atkins at the First Tee contacted me to see if we wanted him to come in. It was at no cost to us and is right in our neighborhood, so it was a no-brainer. I wish everything was this easy.”

As part of the program, Atkins visited the school each week in October to do golf activities with the fourth- and fifth-graders. Students played golf baseball to practice their driving, chipped into a chipping net, and had their school’s gym transformed into a putt-putt course to practice their putting.

“Travis has been great and so dependable,” says Buyalos. “He gave them all kinds of things to remember, like going pocket-to-pocket for chip shots and foot-to-foot for putting. Plus the kids really appreciated learning the rules and etiquette of the game and how to respect themselves, others, and their surroundings.”

In addition to learning golf skills, students also learned self-discipline, conduct, character building, and the habits and techniques of learning through golf.

“Our youth program is all about growing kids up to get them ready for college,” says Atkins, Assistant Golf Professional and First Tee Coach. “It’s something that they can use now and will hopefully help prepare them for life.”

The lessons seem to have stuck with most of the students. As they hit balls on the driving range or practiced their putt on the putting green, they showed off what they learned on and off the range.

“The kids have been very kind to one another and encouraging to each other. They have jumped to help clean up when they are finished,” says Carol Lewellyn, principal at Salem Elementary. “It has been a very positive experience for all of them.”

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