DAY IN THE LIFE : Helping children learn about life, golf
Posted on Monday, November 5, 2007
ROGERS — Tim Pschierer kind of stumbled his way into living in northwest Arkansas, and since he has been here, he has gotten married and went to work for a nonprofit agency helping children.
Or maybe a different explanation is that Pschierer found his true calling: He found a church home at The Church of Pinnacle Hills, he met Debbie at the First Baptist Church of Springdale and married her, and he founded the nonprofit agency The First Tee of Northwest Arkansas as a way to give something back for all of the good fortune he has found in his life.
Either way you look at it, Pschierer has reason to feel blessed because all of these things are tied together helping him become the man he is today. When Pschierer talks about his job as executive director of First Tee and what the program means to the hundreds of kids in Washington and Benton counties who have joined the organization, he describes how the life and golf skills taught by the agency have also affected his life.
The organization’s goals are simple: First Tee is designed to teach young people golf and character skills. In Pschierer’s mind, the two go hand-in-hand.
He points out that traits like confidence, sportsmanship, respect and honesty are important both on and off the golf course. Good judgment, being courteous, showing responsibility, having integrity and preserving are values that transcend sports and have meaning in the game of life.
Those are the nine core values First Tee strives to instill in the kids who take part in their program.
“ We’re not just teaching golf skills, ” he said. “ We’re teaching life skills. That’s why I do what I do. It does make a difference in their lives. ”
That is the theme that goes into just about every work day for Pschierer.
Like with many professionals in northwest Arkansas, Pschierer doesn’t work a traditional 8 a. m. to 5 p. m. shift. One day he might be on the road early to a site in Washington County, and the next day he may meet with sponsors that include Heinz and General Mills in Benton County.
There are many day and night events penciled onto his itinerary each week.
On Halloween night, First Tee had an event at the All Star Sports Center in Springdale. Other evenings, he may be at some outdoor driving range working with children or talking to a group of mentors.
Pschierer begins his week with a “ lesson plan” where he charts out where he’ll be and what goals he has for each session, event or meeting.
“ It is all about keeping relationships going, ” he said.
While First Tee has no religious affiliation, the principles taught in the program have an impact on Pschierer and how he views life.
“ These are core values for golf and for life, ” he said.
First Tee takes children, helps them set goals, and then works with them to achieve their goals. It really is that simple. And it is something adults can also learn from, he added.
In the agency’s first year in 2005, there were 95 children involved. In 2006, the number jumped to 277. There currently are 413 children in the two-county area swinging golf clubs through First Tee.
The current season ends Dec. 8, and a new program begins in March.
When children sign up, they and their parents agree the children will follow the conditions and guidelines of the program. The goals are set and the work begins.
It costs $ 25 a year for a child to take part in the program. Scholarships are available. First Tee provides all of the equipment for children who don’t have golf clubs.
Pschierer’s journey to northwest Arkansas came when a golf job in Florida fell apart. But fate intervened and without many options, he came to Bella Vista to stay with his parents, who had retired to the area from Rochester, N. Y.
As sometimes is the norm, one thing lead to another, and he started attending a church in Bella Vista. That church didn’t have many people his age, so Pschierer began attending First Baptist Church in Springdale.
It was there he met Debbie. They married a year later. They now have two sons, Jackson and Preston.
Some days, as he heads to his home in Bella Vista, Pschierer realizes how tired he is, but he knows the fatigue will have to wait.
When he gets home, his two boys always meet him, and they expect to be played with, he said.
“ I always know I have to muster up a few more hours of energy, ” he said.
The First Tee of Northwest Arkansas is always looking for people who would like to volunteer their time or help with gifts to the program. There always is a need for coaches, mentors and administrative assistance.
Pschierer said his agency is looking for 40 acres that can be developed into a place for agency use.
To volunteer or to offer help, call Pschierer a 685-8017.
For more information, visit www. thefirstteenwar. org.
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