JOE LOUIS BARROW, JR., TO BE HONORED AT 2010 MGWA NATIONAL AWARDS DINNER

The First Tee CEO, Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., to be Honored at the
2010 MGWA National Awards Dinner

Elmsford, NY (April 27, 2010)—Joe Louis Barrow, Jr., the chief executive officer of The First Tee, a youth development organization that fosters the growth of junior golf while teaching life skills and core values, will be recognized for his outstanding leadership and achievements by the Metropolitan Golf Writers Association at their 59th National Awards Dinner on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown, New York.  Barrow will receive the Gold Tee Award, the MGWA’s highest honor.

Barrow joins an elite club of distinguished individuals who have received the Gold Tee Award that includes Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, Byron Nelson, Sam Snead, Patty Berg, Nancy Lopez, Annika Sorenstam, Bob Hope and President Gerald R. Ford.

The First Tee began in November 1997 as an initiative of the World Golf Foundation with the support of its founding partners: the PGA TOUR, USGA, LPGA, PGA of America and the Masters Tournament.  Former President George Herbert Walker Bush serves as Honorary Chairman.  The focus of The First Tee is to give young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop, through golf and character education, life-enhancing values such as honesty, integrity and sportsmanship.

Barrow, the son of boxing legend Joe Louis, took over the reins of The First Tee in 2000.

His charismatic leadership, dedication, communication skills and enthusiasm have led to significant growth of this enterprising youth initiative that teaches important life skills.  Today, The First Tee has 204 chapters, 712 program locations and has reached 3.5 million participants in all 50 United States and four international locations.   Barrow himself embodies the core values The First Tee imparts and through his personal commitment has helped make a difference in the lives of countless youngsters.  

The MGWA’s National Awards Dinner is the largest (and longest running) golf dinner held annually in the U.S.  All of golf’s governing bodies actively support the dinner—the USGA, PGA of America, LPGA, PGA Tour and Champions Tour—and some 700 industry leaders and local golfers attend.  Proceeds from the dinner are distributed to the Metropolitan (New York) area caddie scholarship programs and the MGA Foundation.  More than $1 million  has been raised over the years for the association’s charitable endeavors.

For advance table and ticket sales reservations or additional information, please contact Kate Keller (914) 347-4653 or kate@metgolfwriters.org.  Tickets also may be obtained online with a credit card at www.metgolfwriters.org. 


Media Contact:  Pat Norton (203) 454-4401