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PAR FORE Utah
On May 26, 2010 the University of Utah Division of Occupational
Therapy launched PAR FORE Utah in collaboration with the University
Neighborhood Partners – Hartland Partnership and the Rose Park
Golf Course staff. Anywhere from nine to fifteen teenage boys
participated in this fantastic opportunity for outdoor fun, education and
friendship. The boys are from a wide range of backgrounds with most
having come to the United States as refugees from Africa. Several of
the boys are of Mexican descent. Funding for the program was
provided through a grant from the United States Golf Association with
additional start-up funds provided by Stony Brook University’s PAR
FORE.
Occupational therapy students from the University of Utah and
Colorado State University provided life skills lessons before the start
of every session. Social work students from the University of Utah
also helped to support the success of this program by working in
mentorship roles with the participants. Life skills training topics
included activities and discussions about the core values of the
program, teamwork, the importance of education, verbal and non-
verbal communication, managing stress, as well as golf etiquette.
After each life skills activity, the Rose Park golf staff provided a one-
hour lesson at the driving range or on the golf course. The kids
participating in the program had no prior experience with golf and
were thrilled to get a chance to learn new skills in an outdoor setting
away from the urban environment where they generally spend their
time.
Over the course of the summer the participants not only learned a
great deal about the game of golf, they learned to work in cooperation
and support of each other and had a really great time. Many lessons
were learned but what everyone remembers best is how much fun we
had!
The program will continue throughout the fall of 2010 and spring of
2011 thanks to the generous support of USGA and Stony Brook
University’s PAR FORE. Plans are in place to not only continue the
program beyond Spring 2011 but to expand the program so that more
teens from the west side of Salt Lake City will be able to participate.
Therapy launched PAR FORE Utah in collaboration with the University
Neighborhood Partners – Hartland Partnership and the Rose Park
Golf Course staff. Anywhere from nine to fifteen teenage boys
participated in this fantastic opportunity for outdoor fun, education and
friendship. The boys are from a wide range of backgrounds with most
having come to the United States as refugees from Africa. Several of
the boys are of Mexican descent. Funding for the program was
provided through a grant from the United States Golf Association with
additional start-up funds provided by Stony Brook University’s PAR
FORE.
Occupational therapy students from the University of Utah and
Colorado State University provided life skills lessons before the start
of every session. Social work students from the University of Utah
also helped to support the success of this program by working in
mentorship roles with the participants. Life skills training topics
included activities and discussions about the core values of the
program, teamwork, the importance of education, verbal and non-
verbal communication, managing stress, as well as golf etiquette.
After each life skills activity, the Rose Park golf staff provided a one-
hour lesson at the driving range or on the golf course. The kids
participating in the program had no prior experience with golf and
were thrilled to get a chance to learn new skills in an outdoor setting
away from the urban environment where they generally spend their
time.
Over the course of the summer the participants not only learned a
great deal about the game of golf, they learned to work in cooperation
and support of each other and had a really great time. Many lessons
were learned but what everyone remembers best is how much fun we
had!
The program will continue throughout the fall of 2010 and spring of
2011 thanks to the generous support of USGA and Stony Brook
University’s PAR FORE. Plans are in place to not only continue the
program beyond Spring 2011 but to expand the program so that more
teens from the west side of Salt Lake City will be able to participate.
