Chip Patterson admits he isn't much of a golfer. He'd much rather go camping and enjoy the great outdoors than spend time on the course.

Nevertheless, he is bullish on the new City Park Championship Golf Course that is currently under construction and expected to open either in the fall of 2016 or the first of 2017. As the executive director of The First Tee of Greater New Orleans, Patterson has a first-hand understanding of what this course can do for the underprivileged youth he works with on a daily basis as well as their families.

That's why he's troubled about recent protests, vandalism on the construction site of the course and what he sees as misinformation being propagated in recent weeks by those opposed to the new course.

Patterson said this course won't benefit just rich old guys with more time and money on their hands than they know what to do with. "People aren't wrong to voice their concerns over a project of that magnitude,'' Patterson said. "People don't necessarily have the facts about the new course and about the new development. There is so much misinformation out there.''

Patterson said what the average person should understand is that the course will be public and open to anyone who wants to play.

Second, revenue from City Park golf is expected to raise $3 million a year, a good chunk of which will go to help fund the park. "This course and the golf complex will generate very important operating revenue for the park,'' City Park CEO Bob Becker said at the ground breaking for the facility last month. "And for a park that doesn't get any general tax support, golf here is crucial.''

Other revenue will go to the Bayou District Foundation, which will operate and manage the course for City Park. City Park will receive 75 percent of the first $1.15 million in revenues each year with Bayou District getting 25 percent. After that number is reached, City Park will get 55 percent of revenues and Bayou District 45 percent per year.

The Bayou District Foundation, a non-profit organization, has completely transformed the old St. Bernard Housing Project into a thriving mixed income residential community. The goal cited by the Bayou District Foundation is simple, ''enable children and families to escape the cycle of poverty, build a thriving community and live productive, healthy and fulfilling lives.''

That doesn't do justice to the miracle the Bayou District Foundation has performed at the site, now known as Columbia Parc at Bayou District. Check out their web site (bayoudistrictfoundation.org) or, better yet, take a trip and see the community they've created.

Golf revenue from the City Park course will be vital to helping that community continue to grow and thrive.

Patterson also points out that the footprint for golf is much smaller at City Park than before Hurricane Katrina, which devastated all facets of the park. In fact, the old South Course, given back to green space, houses the Grow Dat Youth Farm.

"Grow Dat Youth Farm is doing a lot of great youth programs on some of the South Course that they've let go back to nature,'' Patterson said. "I think the park board actually did a good job with the redesigned and limiting the footprint of the golf courses.''

Additionally, 96 acres of the old East Course is permanent green space.

Patterson said the new course also will greatly benefit his organization, The First Tee of Greater New Orleans. What the First Tee isn't, Patterson points out, is a junior golf program. It's a youth development agency that uses golf to help primarily low-income children with few after-school options. "If your kid has never touched a golf club, doesn't matter,'' Patterson said. "We're trying to teach them core values, life skills, healthy habits.

"Most of the kids who go through our program are low-income underserved kids. We've got 70 percent minority participants that are going through the First Tee's program.''

And First Tee of Greater New Orleans is growing fast thanks to the work of Patterson, who came here in 2013, and the Fore!Kids Foundation, which helps fund it.

When Patterson arrived in 2013, there were about 60 kids in the program. That number is almost up to 400 this year. First Tee also has programs up and running in about 20 schools, which is expected to rise to 60 by 2016. It also has outreach partnerships with several local agencies like NORDC in New Orleans.

All combined, First Tee and the outreach programs serve over 10,000 youth participants. The goal, Patterson said, is to transition those kids to their "green-to-grass golf facility locations, which will include the new City Park Golf Course.''

The City Park golf project doesn't just include the new course, which will cost $13.2 million to build. The total project is $24.5 million, which includes improvements to the driving range.

First Tee will greatly benefit from that, Patterson said. "To have the new course come on line and redoing the driving range and the practice facilities and have dedicated youth space over there we're going to be able to get 600 kids out there where as right now we work with about 30,'' Patterson said. "It's a big opportunity for us.''

Golf gets a bad rap because of its perception as a country club sport played by rich people and there is truth to that.

But many of those who play and participate in the sport are among society's most generous givers.

Consider LSU sophomore golfer Brandon Pierce, from St. Paul's in Covington, came up with his own charitable foundation in high school called Brandon's Birdies, which benefitted several local agencies and children. He also partnered with Fore!Kids and Chris Paul's CP3 Foundation.

Kelly Gibson, who played on the PGA Tour, has a foundation that has given back countless money and man-hours to the New Orleans area since Katrina's devastating strike in 2005.

Perhaps most striking is that the PGA Tour gives more in charitable contributions to its local communities than the NFL, NHL, NBA and Major League Baseball combined. That should embarrass the NFL, a $10 billion a year industry.

Patterson said he doesn't have a problem with those protesting the new course. But at least know, he said, the potential good it will do for the New Orleans community.

And if those protesting the course would like to do something positive with all that energy, First Tee could always use the volunteer help.

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