Shell's involvement as the title sponsor of the Shell Houston Open is well known due to its far reaching impact in the community.

What many people don't realize is that Shell is having an impact on youth across the United States as well through a commitment to The First Tee program. Shell is the Founding Partner of the World Golf Foundation, the parent organization of The First Tee. Without Shell's founding commitment, neither the Foundation nor The First Tee would have been created.

An initiative of the World Golf Foundation, The First Tee's mission is to impact the lives of young people by providing learning facilities and educational programs that promote character development and life-enhancing values through the game of golf.

Through Life Skills Education, participants learn valuable lessons about the importance of maintaining a positive attitude; how to make decisions by thinking about the possible consequences; how to define and set goals; and how to transfer values such as responsibility, honesty, integrity, respect, confidence and sportsmanship from the golf course to everyday life.

The First Tee Life Skills Experience was formulated with the help of academic, coaching and golf experts. Although there are many sports that teach valuable lessons, The First Tee is unique in that it proactively teaches these lessons for life as part of the basic instruction program. A child cannot participate in The First Tee and opt out of the life skills instruction and learning, because these lessons are seamlessly integrated into the physical instruction.

Houston resident and pro Stephen Reed tees off at the Shell Houston Open. (Provided to PGA TOUR)

A goal is to provide the golf learning facilities and the experience that will enable kids from every walk of life to partake of a game that teaches values for life and which can be played for a lifetime.

In Houston, The First Tee of Houston/Redstone is one of the better facilities in the country. The complex includes the Dick Harmon Learning Center - a 6,700-plus square foot structure where the Life Skills program is taught. Designed by renowned golf course architect Rees Jones, a three-hole, par-3 course is available for kids.

While there was no such thing as The First Tee Program when Stephen Reed was growing up, he is an example of what can happen with a proper education in both school and golf.

The 24-year-old received a sponsor's exemption and is playing this week in the Shell Houston Open.

A native of Houston who attended St. Thomas High School, Reed was a four-time all-state golf selection and team MVP. He helped the Eagles win three state championships and quickly became a top local recruit.

Reed than took his swing and success to Texas A&M, where he became the first black golfer in the Big 12 and twice earned all-conference honors.

Golf was always in his blood. His father, Paul, was a golf professional who played in the Shell Houston Open three times and now is the head professional at Gus Wortham Park. Reed began playing the game at age four. By age eight, he had decided that being a golf professional was what he wanted to do with his life.

With a bright future ahead of him, he has not forgotten what it was like to be a youngster watching players at the Shell Houston Open. "I was there once," Reed told the Houston Chronicle after posting an opening-round 76. "I was the little kid waiting behind the rope. And in a way, I'm still that kid. I'm out on the course with guys like Vijay Singh -- guys I look up to -- so that's a neat experience."