Tee Time

Tee Time

Self-storage professional teaches kids golf basics

By Amy Campbell

About three years ago, AllenPerreault, a former golf pro, again found himself spending a lot of time on thegreen. The installation manager for U. S. Door & Building Components Inc.,an Orlando, Fla.-based supplier of commercial and self-storage roll-up doors,frequently teed off with his pastor from Metro West Church of the Nazarene inCentral Florida.

Around that time, the pastors sermons focused on the meritsof volunteering; and they were an inspiration for Perreault. He thought back tohis childhood, when, at age 10, he learned to play golf from a group of adultvolunteers. I saw good role models and mentoring, things I really liked,he says. It was time for me to do the same thing they did for me when I waslittle. I wanted to get involved with kids, teach them what I know, be a rolemodel and mentor.

Perreaults mission began slowly. Using the church as aspringboard, he launched Future Masters Inc. in September 2001 with 25 students,all children of church members. The group met for an hour every Saturday morning to learn golfin a little field next to the church. The smiles and enthusiasm the kidsbrought with them were very contagious, and a great fellowship began in thegroup, Perreault says.

Future Masters has since grown. The program now has about 160children, ages 3 to 18. The group has also graduated to a larger practice space:Barnett Park in Orange County, which has an official golf-training area.

Perreault has been joined by other members of the church, allvolunteering their Saturday mornings to teach children how to putt, drive andchip. The course is six weeks long. The first four classes are dedicated toteaching the basics of golf. The fifth week is a skills competitiona drive, chip andputt contest. The final week is a chance for the kids to shine in a tournamentdivided by age group.

After the tournament, the students, parents and golfinstructors head back to the churchs dining hall for a well-deserved picnicand awards. During our awards program, we let all of the kids know they areall winners; and by working hard in our program, they will grow and becomechampions, Perreault says. All of the children receive a winners certificate, andwe recognize the top performers with trophies.

The children can stick with the program for as long as theywish. A fresh sixweek course begins every 10 weeks. To encourage children toparticipate beyond their first course, Perreault implemented a Player of theYear program. The kids accumulate points for attending the golf classes,community volunteering and doing well at the tournaments. The child in each agegroup who gains the most points is awarded a plaque and Target Stores giftcertificate. We encourage the kids to stick with the program, and most ofthem have, Perreault says.

A $5 donation to offset the costs of food and awards coversthe six-week course. All of the equipment was donated or purchased with donationfunds. This year, Future Masters received contributions from Target Stores andthe Orlando Orange County Expressway Authority. Perreault also negotiated a dealwith the Orange County National Golf Course to use its course for free ontournament days. Families participating in Future Masters can receive a discountat the golf course.

The childrens program proved to be so successful, a womensbeginners program was launched. Then the dads saw how much fun the moms werehaving, so we started a mens program, Perreault says. Future Masters hasalso reached beyond the church doors. Last spring, 25 kids from a troubled-teensprogram turned out for the six-week course. The program is rewarding for Perreault. Not only does he get to pass on his love for the game to a newgeneration, he gives back what was once given to him. The volunteering aspectand team work, teaching the kids about giving back to the community, tovolunteer, to give of yourself, is what I enjoy, he says.

The venture has also become a family affair. The parentscome and help, and they get involved with their kids, Perreault says. That includes his family: his wife, Kim, and the coupleschildren. Kim also introduced a Life Skills program that helps focuses onsportsmanship, safety, respect, rules of the game and volunteerism.

Although the golf program is for beginners, Perreault hopes toone day offer more advanced classes and possibly a golf course for the students.Plans are already under way to expand the Life Skills program and introduce moreintense tournaments.

While Perreault says running a volunteer program takes a lotof patience, the experience has been very fulfilling. Working with kids is atremendous blessing, he says. They bring their smiles every week, and thatswhat makes it all worthwhile.

If you are interested in obtaining information about startinga childrens golf program or would like to help Future Masters continue to grow, call 407.292.9236.