The inaugural year of the Sticks for Kids program in China has proven to be a huge success. Rolled out in July, the program was initiated in 30 of China's largest cities, including Beijing and Shanghai.

Getting Sticks for Kids in China, was in large part due to the efforts of Golf Course Builders Association of America (GCBAA) International Member Forward Management Group. One of the largest golf course construction companies in that country, Forward Management Group provided funding and worked in conjunction with the GCBAA Foundation to get the project off the ground.

With support of CITIC Bank, a total of 90 camps are being held across China in 2009 with an estimated 5,000 kids participating. Plans for 2010 include establishing Sticks for Kids at an additional 30 camp sites in China.

Sticks for Kids is a program designed to provide golf instruction to children ages 6 to 15. The program gives youth the opportunity to learn golf fundamentals such as stance, gripping, pitching, chipping, putting and swinging. Participants also learn golf safety, etiquette, integrity, discipline and how to be good environmental stewards. Each hosting program receives 10 sets of golf clubs with bags for the children to use on site.

A pet project of the GCBAA Foundation, Stick for Kids has already been well established in the United States with programs in all 50 states and 8 military bases. Well over 200,000 youth have participated in programs in the U.S. with 100 more programs planned for 2010.