The sport of golf is often referred to as “a gentleman’s game.” This moniker stems from the fact that the game requires a certain amount of fair play, integrity, and honesty. Those who would take the “ungentlemanly” route, say, by kicking a dropped ball to a more favorable lie or fudging their scores, are derided for thumbing their nose at the unspoken rules of conduct that dictate each game’s play.
Krista Dunton instructs a golf student at Berkeley Hall. .
It seems like a badge of honor that any sport would wear, until you take a closer look at the term “gentleman.” Just by virtue of its gendered language, this moniker excludes roughly 50% of people who might pick up a club. As the LPGA has proven over the decades, golf is far more than just a gentleman’s sport. Some of the most exciting players around today aren’t gentlemen. But they still honor the fairness and discipline of the sport.
To better serve local female superstars in the making, First Tee – The Lowcountry has partnered with LPGA*USGA Girls Golf for a special class just for girls.
“It’s a very welcoming atmosphere in these classes,” said Aaron Immel, First Tee – The Lowcountry program director and lead coach. “There are a bunch of female coaches, and it’s a place for girls to establish their role in a sport that’s often male-dominated.”
Leading the charge on this new class is Krista Dunton, a board member at First Tee – The Lowcountry and instructor at Berkeley Hall. She had been running Girls Golf courses in partnership with the LPGA for some time when she floated the idea of bringing those classes under the First Tee umbrella.
“Krista is one of the top 50 teachers in the nation, and No. 1 in South Carolina, so with her being on our board and the passion she has for teaching these girls and bringing them together made this a perfect fit,” Immel said. “We have a lot of girls in our programs, and this is something parents have been asking for. Partnering with them is a great way to help these girls learn the game of golf.”
Spring sessions for these LPGA Girls Golf courses run from February 7 to March 22, held at venues from First Tee’s Gumtree Road campus to Berkeley Hall and Bluffton’s The Zone. It all culminates with an April 15 field trip to the RBC Heritage presented by Boeing. Like most First Tee – The Lowcountry classes, these courses will balance instruction in the game’s fundamentals with thought-provoking discussions centered on self-improvement.
“It’s similar to First Tee, but a little different,” Immel said. “But they have the same dedication to life skills. They have the Five Es (Empower, Enrich, Engage, Exercise, and Energize) while we have the nine core values (Honesty, Integrity, Sportsmanship, Respect, Confidence, Responsibility, Perseverance, Courtesy, and Judgment).”
Essentially, these classes show girls that they don’t need to be a gentleman to show the boys how it’s done. All sessions are $180. To register, email Krista Dunton at girlsgolflowcountry@gmail.com or download the LPGA Girls Golf app.