AURORA, Colo. -- The gymnasium at Tollgate Elementary in Aurora, was filled Monday with fourth and fifth grade students learning how to putt a golf ball.

"We want to tilt from your hips. There you go," said Elena King, director of instruction for CommonGround Learning Center, while helping a fourth-grader learn the proper stance.

It's the first time most of the students have ever picked up a golf club, making them an attractive target audience for Colorado's golf industry.

According to the National Golf Foundation, growth in the sport has been relatively flat since the late 1990s.

"As we try to bring more kids and people into the game of golf we are finding that we are not having a large spike in children playing golf. We decided that we would go to the schools where they are at on a daily basis and get them to come to the golf course," said Kevin Laura, CEO of the Colorado Open Golf Foundation.

Golf In Schools was created and funded by affiliated Colorado golf associations, including: the Colorado PGA Golf Section, Colorado Golf Association, Colorado Women's Golf Association, Golf Course Superintendents, and the Colorado Open Golf Foundation. In its first year, the program will reach more than 20 Colorado schools, and more than 3,000 students, with the goal of instructing more than 9,000 students by 2015.

"One of the great things about it from the school's perspective is all this is provided free of charge," said Gary Davis, director of instruction for CommonGround Learning Center. "It gives the schools an opportunity to introduce a sport that typically isn't introduced in schools. Typically it's basketball, softball, soccer, those types of activities."

"They bring all the equipment, all the expertise. So it's awesome that it's free," said Laurie Godwin, principal of Tollgate Elementary. "Golf teaches so many life skills, character skills, integrity, honesty, that it fits well with what we do here at school."

For just over $20 per student, the Golf In Schools program provides three instructional sessions during the students' P.E. class, a field trip for instruction at a golf course, and a family fun day.

"As you can see, our kids are very enthusiastic and we hope some of them might, you know, take it up for life. It'd be great," Godwin said.