PAR FORE initiative is a site-based team mentor program designed for at-risk adolescents (low socioeconomic status, poor academic performance, and association with delinquent peers) who are attending middle school and high school.
The mentorship consists of high-risk adolescents and a Stony Brook University graduate student. PAR FORE is working in collaboration with the First Tee Program (http://www.thefirsttee.org).
The mentors are undergraduate and graduate students who come from various social and economic backgrounds. They are positive role models who utilize their past personal experiences and the newly-acquired professional experiences to facilitate healthy performance.
PAR FORE is a year-round program. During the summer months, the mentees meet with their mentors weekly for golf play and lessons. In addition to learning the fundamentals in golf play, the mentors and mentees apply theory to practice. Concepts inherent in the sport of golf are put into practice as mentees and mentors work on service learning projects that benefit the community.
Mentor and mentee engaged in a living skills activity before they hit the golf course.