You've Been Warned: Golf Channel Joins First Tee Bandwagon

For Immediate Release...

Golf Channel Becomes Proud Media Partner of The First Tee

Tucson, Ariz. (Feb. 21, 2012) – The First Tee announces today that Golf Channel will become the youth development organization’s Proud Media Partner in 2012.

Golf Channel will provide exposure to The First Tee in an effort to build awareness and educate and encourage involvement by its TV and online audience. Golf Channel will support The First Tee through on-air and online programming, plus promotion to support multiple initiatives, including The First Tee Campaign for 10 Million Young People.  The Campaign launched in July 2011 with the goal of raising $100 million to enable the organization to reach 10 million new young people by 2017.

“Golf Channel’s benevolence and desire to see young people positively impacted through golf will create an incredible opportunity for The First Tee—through increased exposure—to further our reach,” said Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., chief executive of The First Tee.  “The relationship is very important to our current strategic plan and our goal to reach 10 million more young people.”

It sure sounds like this is a growing the game initiative, no? Didn't a certain PGA Tour executive remind me recently that The First Tee is a growing diversity program, not a growing the number of participants program? Are we changing course here?