The premise behind The First Tee National Golf Academy is spelled out quite plainly at Colbert Hills, the championship course used to host the week-long camp. Each of the nine holes on the par-three training course is named for a core leadership value stressed to the 123 teens who represented 93 First Tee chapters from 39 different states. He flipped to a page devoted to the acronym, STAR, one of the many tools camp volunteers used in conjunction with golf to teach life's values. Boone pointed to each initial and its meaning, then recited his notations without looking. I think it's one of the most important things I've learned,'' said Boone, who has played golf for three years in the Richmond public leagues.
S stands for stop and take a deep breath.
T stands for think of the alternatives. A is to anticipate the consequences. More importantly, however, they were encouraged to apply the week's lessons to every facet of their lives. One speaker turned it into a challenge. Earl Woods, whose son Tiger just happens to be the one golfer everyone in the camp idolized, accepted an invitation to return to his hometown and address the youths.