IS THE FIRST TEE PROGRAM READY TO TEE IT UP?

          The progress of The First Tee (TFT) golf initiative
     introduced in November aimed at opening golf to inner-city
     youths, "has been sparse," according to GOLF WORLD.  But TFT
     Exec Dir Tod Leiweke says, "People would much rather hear
     about our first groundbreaking, but we've been working for
     the last several months to staff up and get our internal
     house in order."  The staff now has 13 members.  Leiweke
     added, "We're very close to finishing a national fund-
     development campaign that will allow us, in short order, to
     grant funds as a standard part of our facility package." 
     The report estimates grants to "be as high as $100,000 per
     facility."  TFT is in talks with equipment companies for
     equipment for "the predominantly poor, minority children the
     program hopes to attract."  The Arnold Palmer Golf Company
     has donated 15,000 clubs and 3,000 bags.  A teaching program
     has also been developed by TFT in conjunction with the PGA
     of America and LPGA.  The first project is targeted for
     Little Rock, AR, and other announcements are expected in
     Atlanta, Houston, Detroit, New Orleans, Pittsburgh,
     Philadelphia, Sacramento, San Antonio, Tucson and Hershey,
     PA.  No dates have been set for facility openings, but
     sources "close to" TFT told GOLF WORLD that the goal of
     identifying 100 sites "could be reached as early as the end
     of this year" (GOLF WORLD, 6/5 issue). 
          TIGER'S BEAT: Tiger Jam I at L.A.'s Universal
     Amphitheater, a fundraising benefit for the Tiger Woods
     Foundation, raised more than $500,000 to "assist at-risk
     youth through study and golf programs."  The event featured
     performances by the Eagles, Hootie & the Blowfish and
     Babyface (DAILY VARIETY, 6/10).  One anonymous bidder paid
     $95,000 to play 18 holes with Woods (USA TODAY, 6/10).