Golf Pride Teams Up With The First Tee Of the Sandhills To Help Teach Youth Life Lessons Through Golf

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. … Power management company Eaton announced today that its Golf Pride Grips Division has finalized an agreement to become the Volunteer Program Sponsor of The First Tee of the Sandhills through 2018. As part of the partnership, Golf Pride employees will serve as volunteers with The First Tee of the Sandhills, some with after school curriculum programs and others as mentors, connecting their life and work experiences with youth in our communities. Additionally, staff will support the organization’s efforts to recruit and train coaches to conduct its programming.

The First Tee of the Sandhills delivers the Life Skills Experience curriculum to kids and teens in a six county geography. This curriculum, which teaches life lessons and leadership skills through the game of golf, was developed by experts in the field of positive youth development and is delivered by coaches who have trained through The First Tee Coach Program. In addition to learning fundamentals of the golf swing and the game, The First Tee’s character, education and life skills programs are based on the organization’s Nine Core Values and Nine Healthy Habits, helping kids and teens prepare for success at school, at home and in their community.

“We are proud to partner with The First Tee to help introduce more kids to the invaluable life skills and character development lessons that are fundamental to the game of golf,” said Jamie Ledford, president of Golf Pride. “Golf is an integral piece of this community, and it is very important to me personally and to our organization, that we support our local chapter to enhance children’s development and create stronger leaders of tomorrow.”

Jay Biggs, The First Tee of the Sandhills Board President and Senior Vice President of Golf & Club Operations at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club was thrilled to hear the news received from Golf Pride. “Collectively we are working together to make an impact in our communities. Golf Pride has chosen to align their chapter support at the heart of our efforts, our volunteers. As we jointly work together to grow our volunteer strength, we will in turn be able to impact more children through expanded and enhanced program offerings on and off the golf course.”

Eaton’s Golf Grip Division is the world’s largest manufacturer of golf grips, with manufacturing, sales and distribution facilities on six continents. The division’s Golf Pride brand is recognized globally as the number one choice in grips among tour and recreational players, competitive amateur golfers, club manufacturers and club repairmen. For more information, visit www.golfpride.com or visit us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/GolfPride

Eaton is a power management company with 2015 sales of $20.9 billion. Eaton provides energy-efficient solutions that help our customers effectively manage electrical, hydraulic and mechanical power more efficiently, safely and sustainably. Eaton has approximately 97,000 employees and sells products to customers in more than 175 countries. For more information, visit www.eaton.com

The First Tee of the Sandhills (www.thefirstteesandhills.org) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit youth development organization established to positively impact the lives of young people by providing structured educational programs that build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. The Chapter was formed in 2003 to bring the Life and Golf Skills Curriculum to the six (6) counties in the defined service area including, Moore, Cumberland, Harnett, Hoke, Montgomery and Robeson. Since inception, more than 2,300 young people have been exposed to The First Tee curriculum through our registered participant opportunities. These youth are first exposed to The First Tee through the National School Program, which is currently operating in over 60 elementary schools or through outreach programs such as DRIVE and TARGET.

###