Tiger’s School Could Land at Anaheim Course

The Tiger Woods Foundation plans to build an educational center where children would take computer classes, be tutored and learn the finer points of golf next to a course somewhere in Southern California.

The $25-million center would be privately funded and is designed to expose children from less-privileged backgrounds to a game often associated with wealth and exclusivity.

“We want to introduce the game of golf to kids who otherwise wouldn’t have an opportunity to play,” said Greg McLaughlin, executive director for the Los Alamitos-based foundation. “We hope this would enhance a community and help a lot of kids.”

Among locations in the running for the Tiger Woods Learning Center are the H.G. Dad Miller Golf Course in Anaheim and an unidentified site in Long Beach.

The idea of leasing the Dad Miller driving range to Woods’ foundation was raised by Cynthia P. Coad, chairwoman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. The county flood control district owns the driving range and a portion of the 18-hole course. The current lease between the county and city expires Sept. 19.

Building the center in Anaheim would be fitting for Woods, who attended Western High School in Anaheim and frequently played the Dad Miller course in the mid-1990s. In the years since, he has become a sports phenomenon, considered among the greatest athletes in the world.

The center would be the foundation’s first permanent location. Woods, who lives in Orlando, Fla., has for years held traveling clinics for inner-city kids--25 clinics in 25 cities as of this year.

No deal has been struck with Anaheim, but negotiations are continuing, said Tom Coad, Cynthia Coad’s husband and advisor. “She’s given it her full support and cooperation,” he said.

A spokeswoman for Long Beach Mayor Beverly O’Neill said her city’s staff also has been talking to the foundation about possible sites and “we’re very excited about the opportunity.”

Anaheim Councilman Tom Tait said he wants Anaheim to land the center.

“To bring Tiger Woods’ name and on top of that, the $25-million [investment] would just be wonderful,” he said.

“We’re very optimistic,” added Assemblyman Lou Correa (D-Anaheim), a graduate of Anaheim High School. “I love to see stories of a local boy who does well and comes back and invests in his community for the next generation.”

Plans call for a two-story, 30,000 square-foot learning center next to a driving range and putting area. The first floor would house a pro shop, administrative offices and classrooms. The second floor would have computer classes with up to 200 terminals, a library and space for tutoring in reading and writing.

The center would be for children ages 8 to 17. Renowned golf architect Tom Fazio would design its playing facilities.

A sticking point has been finding an urban golf course with enough land to accommodate the learning center without displacing golfers.

Courses in other parts of the country have expressed interest “where land is not an issue,” McLaughlin said, but Woods wants the center built close to home in Southern California.