Golf has played a major role throughout the history of the Rockford Park District, dating back to 1912, when the District’s first nine-hole golf course opened inside Sinnissippi Park.

To ensure that the community continues to enjoy golf for decades to come, the district plans to rejuvenate the game through operational changes, along with new programs and partnerships.

The park district and The First Tee of Greater Rockford have completed a merger that will bring golf and invaluable core values to thousands of 5-to 18-year-olds in the area.

The new outreach program will complement existing fee-based, instructional programs, camps, and clinics.

Under the new structure, the park district will adopt The First Tee program for its outreach and school initiatives, targeting thousands of children in various summer programs, community centers, partner organizations, and local schools.

The First Tee program will be based at Ingersoll Golf Course and Learning Links. Patriots’ Gateway Community Center’s golf facility will also be utilized. The Rockford Park District’s PGA/LPGA program will be based at Elliot Golf Course, and Aldeen Golf Club and Practice Centre.

Alpine Hills Junior Golf Club will be a unique facility designed specifically for youth involved in The First Tee and PGA/LPGA programs. The location will serve as a common-ground gathering place, centrally located in the community, for children and their families to come together and develop their love of the game of golf.

“Through the incorporation of each organization’s mission, vision, and goals, it is our commitment to introduce and develop thousands of lifelong golfers each year through the guiding principles of each organization,” says Mick Hockinson, Executive Director of the First Tee of Greater Rockford/Outreach Coordinator, Manager of Ingersoll Golf Course.

First Tee Greater RockfordBackground Information about the Partnership

A meeting was held last September that included representatives from the park district, First Tee, Winnebago County Forest Preserve District, Aldeen Foundation, Rockford Country Club, Mauh-Nah-Tee-See Country Club, and Rockford Public Schools.

This group was presented with the vision elements developed by the key stakeholders, and was given the task of developing a successful youth golf model.

Meeting last October, First Tee and the park district created a draft vision statement to help guide future work and decisions.

The committee agreed to develop a holistic program that will:

* Have no gaps and leave no child behind

* Have options and opportunities for children and their parents, no matter where they live, how much money they have, and whatever their personal goals may be

“We believe this vision will help reverse current local golf trends, and could serve as a model on the national level. We are committed to growing the game of golf through youth development, offering unique, fun, challenging, and welcoming golf courses for all levels of play,” said Jay Sandine, Rockford Park District Director of Operations.

The new partnership has also led to creating a new golf playday. The first FORE the Kids Golf Playday, presented by Illinois Bank and Trust, will take place on Friday, May 15 at Elliot Golf Course.

The playday will include lunch and dinner, a chance to try out FootGolf and Big Cup golf, along with other surprises. The playday ends with the ninth annual Great Golf Ball Drop, a fundraiser for the Rockford Park District Foundation that began in 2007

Proceeds from both events will benefit The First Tee. Cost and registration details are still being finalized, and will be found online at www.rockfordparkdistrict.org/gbdrop