Miniature golfers

Most visitors to the FDR Golf Course at 20th and Pattison come there — naturally — to play golf.

So it seemed a little strange at first when a group of kids started playing baseball at the course Friday afternoon.

But this wasn’t the typical baseball game. It was a modified version called SNAG (Starting New at Golf) baseball. Instead of hitting off a baseball tee, the players used a plastic golf club to hit a tennis ball off a golf tee, which also served as home plate.

Before they took the field, instructor and pitcher Don Leuthy advised, "Don’t kill the ball. Just make contact and have fun."

It’s just one of the ways the First Tee Philadelphia program introduces ages 8-18 to golf. The program, which began in April, is an initiative of the World Golf Foundation that focuses on giving youths of various backgrounds the opportunity to play golf while building character and confidence. The 4,000-square-foot First Tee Learning Center, complete with a computer lab, is located adjacent to the FDR Golf Course clubhouse.

Learning the meaning of such terms as "par" and "birdie" was just a small part of Friday’s introductory 90-minute class. The youths will meet once a week through the end of August and, by summer’s end, they’ll complete a minimum of six life-skill lessons and six golf-skill lessons. Leuthy lets the class choose the week’s core value or life lesson from a wall display.

Last week’s class was all about respect, which, the youths learned, can be demonstrated with something as simple as a handshake. Ten-year-old Nia Berry, of Southwest Philly, caught on quickly.

"I learned how to respect others and how to hit the ball," she said after the class.

The group also learned some common-sense tips, such as the importance of leaving the golf course when thunder and lightning strike as well as moving out the way when a golfer yells "FORE!"

The World Golf Foundation created First Tee in November 1997 as a way to bring golf to youngsters who otherwise would not be exposed to the game and its positive values. Donations from First Tee, the United States Golf Association, the Scholastic Golf Association and Champions Tour member Jay Sigel, from Berwyn, Pa., help cover the operating costs of the free programs and provide equipment.

The Greater Philadelphia Scholastic Golf Association initially considered basing the Philadelphia First Tee chapter at the Northeast Philadelphia Airport, but using a public golf course is ideal. John McDonald, the executive director of the nonprofit GPSGA and First Tee Philadelphia, researched the feasibility of a Philadelphia location and settled on FDR.

"By the end of the summer, I think we’ll have a core group of kids really interested in pursuing golf," McDonald said. "We can make them good players."

The youths started to enjoy SNAG baseball even more after Leuthy showed the group the key to a successful swing — lining up the bull’s-eye on the golf club with the arrows on the tee. With a little flexing of the knees and a proper swinging technique, 12-year-old Memphis Diaz was able to smack a two-run homer.

"My first swing, I wasn’t concentrating that much," said Diaz, of Seventh and South streets. "[My swing] just came naturally."

Berry, who started playing golf with her uncle a few years ago, was so excited when she got a hit that she started running to the first hole with the golf club in hand. Her knowledge especially showed in the classroom, as she was the first to answer about the different types of par. Berry plans to pursue her game — possibly all the way to a pro tour.

"I want to learn how to play golf and hopefully become as good as Tiger Woods," she said.

Unlike Berry, many of the students are picking up a golf club for the first time, which makes the program’s educational aspect even more valuable.

"We’re not trying to make them the next Tiger Woods, as much as a well-rounded person," said Leuthy, who has 30 years of experience as a golf teacher, including with blind players. "Some of them have never touched a golf club, so [First Tee] is giving them the opportunity to experience it if nothing else."

First Tee also will team up with the School District of Philadelphia as golf returns as a varsity sport. The program will help high-school students develop into competitive golfers. McDonald said First Tee also will attempt to work with feeder schools to identify golf enthusiasts.

The recreational nature of the sport — enjoyed by so many adults — isn’t lost on the kids.

"I just like having a place where I can come out, practice to get better," said Jamison Kenney, 11. "Hopefully I will get good at it so it’ll be more fun."

And those that get really good, like Sean Foster, find themselves with scholarship potential. The 16-year-old member of the First Tee program will head to Kansas City, Kan., from July 25-26 to play in the First Tee National Qualifying Tournament at Colbert Hills Golf Course. The finalists, tentatively set as the top 16 males and top four females, will play in September’s First Tee Open at Pebble Beach.

Foster, a La Salle High senior who lives at 18th and Bigler, also plays in the Catholic League, but sees the First Tee Scholars Program as a possible ticket to college.

"There are a lot of colleges that can give me a scholarship or financial aid," he said.

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To register a child for the First Tee Philadelphia program, call 215-873-9110.