Open Fairways

Impact Statement

Five objectives guide our mission:
1. Teach honor, discipline, and integrity to at-risk youth through golf.
2. Provide a high quality, sports-based program that directly and positively impacts self-confidence of these youth.
3. Support underprivileged and at-risk youth through positive, mentoring adult interaction.
4. Create opportunities for these youth to develop social competencies and thereby discourage drug use, gang activity, or school dropouts.
5. Offer continued access to golf equipment and facilities for youth to play and practice for FREE (upon signing the Player’s Contract agreeing to stay in school, stay off of drugs, and stay out of gangs).

The Front 9 and Back 9 instruction programs are rooted in these objectives and our training prepares instructors to provide services aimed at achieving our goals. While we maintain a 10:1 instructor to participant ratio, we believe 1-on-1 interaction with the youth is critical and provide this kind of contact on a regular basis. Instructors are mindful to structure 1-on-1 time with each participant and volunteers serve as mentors to each youth in all our programs. As a result of this individual attention, the benefits of our programs to youth range from physical health to communication competency to leadership development, allowing children to have more opportunity of reaching their full potential. Our lessons and interactions are designed to transcend sport and promote a holistic wellbeing for youth.

In 2007, Open Fairways touched the lives of at least 2,000 youth in the Colorado and Wyoming areas. We are striving to reach 2,500 in 2008.

Needs Statement

1) Fundraising. We have a fantastic support network, but growth requires funding.
2) Programming. We have streamlined our programs. We would like to see these continue to grow and be successful in other states.
3) Board Members. Our board is a working board. We need to foster these relationships and encourage active membership.
4) Partner Organizations. Our youth come from other organizations. Follow-through is key - both from them and us.
5) Organization and Business Development for growth

Background Statement

Open Fairways was founded in 1999 as a Nonprofit Corporation in the State of Colorado by Tim and Clare Taylor. They discovered an opportunity to serve at-risk and underprivileged children in the Denver area through teaching the life-skills lessons associated with practice, play, and personal achievement in the game of golf.

During its first year of operation Open Fairways touched the lives of 50 at-risk and underprivileged youth through golf with emphasis on character development and lessons in safety, respect, honor, etiquette, decision-making, and self-confidence. By 2004, Open Fairways served nearly 1,000 youth and expanded its reach to Texas, Utah, and Washington, D.C. By 2005, the number of youth participants impacted by Open Fairways had grown by 50%, totaling approximately 1,500. In 2007, the organization was able to continue offering top-quality programming despite several fundraising setbacks that have since been resolved. Open Fairways recently added new and expanded existing programs, providing sustainable and ongoing opportunities for interested participants.

Executive Director Statement

The game of golf is often viewed by society as an elitist activity. Through continued access by local municipalities, Open Fairways is offering more diverse populations the opportunity to play golf. We offer at-risk and underprivileged youth from various ethnic and demographic backgrounds the opportunity to play golf, and we instill these young people with the values, confidence and integrity around which the game is centered.

The life values and lessons promoted by the game of golf have far reaching influences to today’s at-risk society. Decision-making is at the center of the life lessons we teach to the youth participating in Open Fairways’ clinics. We teach right from wrong, and try to discourage poor decision-making and its negative impacts, while emphasizing the positive results of good decision-making.

Through decision-making, our youth are also instructed and encouraged to use integrity, honesty and patience to develop ethical personalities. We couple our life lesson curriculum with positive adult interaction; our programs develop far-reaching opportunities for troubled youth. Our five programs give the future of our youth the support they need to become quality citizens of our communities. We interact constructively with the youth in order to give them the support and attention they need and crave. The game of golf offers at-risk youth lessons in networking and developing life-long relationships with the people who can offer them support, opportunities, and even jobs in the future.

Board Chair/President Statement

I am proud and honored to be the current chairman of the Open Fairways board. Open Fairways provides a unique opportunity to underprivileged and at-risk children between the ages of 7 and 17. These children are introduced to the lessons learned from playing the game of golf. Children benefit from the recreation, competition, social interaction and mental strengthening provided by a challenging sport like golf. Golf combines mental and physical strengthening in a fun outdoor environment. Our programs can positively effect youth who have been abused or abandoned. We work with kids from local shelters, public housing projects, special schools and other public and private facilities for at-risk and underprivileged kids. Many of the youth participants in our program would have little or no exposure to outdoor recreation if it were not for Open Fairways.

What makes Open Fairways unique is that we absorb all the costs associated with getting at risk youth onto the golf course. We are blessed to have three dedicated full time employees who enhance the program and bring their own gifts to the Open Fairways mission. Jay Anderson, our executive director, brings a wealth of golf knowledge and networking capabilities that have expanded our program. He has an extensive professional background in the golf industry and is well known and respected by key industry individuals. Dana Irwin, our business development person, is one of the most caring individuals I have ever met. She has tremendous passion for our kids. I have received many compliments from individuals who have worked with Dana. She is professionally enthusiastic and energetic about our mission. She is fun to work with. Our program manager, Nick Johnson, is the lucky person that gets to work with our kids on a daily basis. He has had many years of experience teaching golf and working with kids. Nick understands our program participants and the youth respond to his winning, teaching ways. These three are making a real impact on the children in our community. I am very fortunate to be associated with them.

Thank you for your consideration of Open Fairways,

Shawn Hinton
Chairman of the Board Open Fairways