The First Tee, to be sure, is run by good people and does good work. Former President George H.W. Bush is its honorary chairman. Its "Founding Partners" are the United States Golf Association, the Professional Golf Association of America, the PGA Tour, the Ladies Professional Golf Association and the Augusta National Golf Club. In 2002, Joe Louis Barrow Jr., its executive director, told the House Committee on Education and the Workforce that The First Tee was "created for the purpose of providing affordable access to golf to kids, who otherwise might not have exposure to the game and its positive values."
The First Tee is associated with 158 golf facilities around the country where children, mostly ages 8 to 18, can enroll in a "Life Skills Experience" curriculum and golf for free or a minimum charge. The curriculum teaches young people golf while also instructing them in life skills (i.e. "goal-setting") and core values (i.e. "honesty") associated with the game.
The First Tee says the federal grants it has received were directed to this Life Skills program. They funded training books and materials, research programs and program development, technology and personnel. Some of the money from Justice funded a study of the program's effectiveness. (It showed "74 percent of parents observed a positive change in their children's display of responsibility.")
But The First Tee has demonstrated its ability to raise money from non-government sources. In fiscal 2003, in addition to the $1.5 million it received from the federal government, it also received $2.8 million in donations from its "Founding Partners" and $5.8 million from corporations and individuals. Proceeds from the First Tee Open will be donated to the national The First Tee organization and its local chapter in Monterey County.
Each year, The First Tee holds a breakfast on Capitol Hill for members of the House and Senate. In 2002, Jack Nicklaus attended (The First Tee got its first $1.5 million). In 2003, Arnold Palmer attended (The First Tee got another $3 million). This year, Tom Watson attended. The First Tee wants $3 million more; Congress should just say no.
With a $422 billion deficit, it is irresponsible for Congress to spend money on unnecessary programs, and there is no "golf" clause in the Constitution. But just as importantly, this type of expenditure is unfair. Why should taxpayers who cannot afford to golf themselves, let alone take their own kids golfing, pay for someone else's kid to golf for free?