Drive Shack has partnered with the First Tee of Central Florida and 2nd Swing to bring in the Drive 4 Change campaign. Beginning on Earth Day, April 22, your used golf clubs can be donated to benefit the First Tee. In return for donating your golf clubs, you can earn free BayPlay and more from Drive Shack.
Dan Kirby, popularly known as Danno, is the General Manager of Drive Shack in Orlando. Danno stated that one of the most important aspects of Drive Shack is to partner within the community. He has worked with First Tee in the past, and he agrees with their mission to positively impact the lives of young people through the game of golf. Some kids might not have the opportunity to play golf, so First Tee is able to come in and teach these children and help them to be able to play the sport.
The first start-up for the campaign began April 22. 30 students of the First Tee organization received 30 golf club sets, including bags and other accessories. Another huge partner in this campaign comes from the PGA Tour Superstore, who supported the cause by giving great deals to Drive Shack. They also donated gloves, balls, hats and other accessories.
The First Tee of Central Florida is a chapter of the First Tee organization, and is a non-profit youth development organization that uses the game of golf as a context or tool to teach life skills, core values and healthy habits in young people. Every lesson they teach has a core value that is implemented into their lessons that the children learn while they play golf. The First Tee of Central Florida has existed for seven years, and as an organization, the First Tee is 21 years old. Tom Lawrence, Executive Director of the First Tee of Central Florida, has been with the First Tee for 13 years and is in his second chapter.
“Quite honestly, this has been one of the coolest experiences I think I’ve ever had to see… Now there’s 30 kids that can practice outside of our class setting and play games and golf is such a great game, a game they can play for a lifetime, so hopefully this really gives them a kind of head start on that as well,” stated Lawrence.
Anela Weaver, one of the 30 recipients of the golf clubs, is an 11-year old student with the First Tee and has been a member for about a month. She is really interested in the sport of golf and has learned a lot from her lessons. A very bright, enthusiastic young lady that didn’t just know about the game of golf, but the rules of the course and good sportsmanship too. Anela now feels more connected to the sport of golf, and is really happy to actually have her own set of golf clubs now. Anela says that one day she’s going to be close to Ian Poulter or Tiger Woods. Way to go, Anela!
If you are looking to donate any of your old golf clubs, Drive Shack is running their campaign through May 8. Get rid of your unwanted clubs and in return you can get free BayPlay! One to three clubs donated will get you one free hour, four to six clubs and you can receive two hours, over seven golf clubs and you can get up to four hours of BayPlay. They are even giving a two-hour RoboGolfPro lesson for donations of 14 plus golf clubs. There’s no restrictions or requirements for the donation of your old clubs and all of the donated clubs will proceed to the First Tee organization.
