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First Tee hires first-ever Muskegon Area Director

Link to MLive Article About Erik

LINK TO GRAND RAPIDS BUSINESS JOURNAL ARTICLE

  MUSKEGON, MI – June 16, 2020 – Since 2013, First Tee West Michigan has provided youth development and golf programs to young people in Muskegon, Kent and Ottawa Counties.  This spring, First Tee hired Erik Sanford as its first-ever Muskegon Area Director. Erik Sanford is a well-known name in Muskegon golf community, graduating from Whitehall High School in 1995 as a four-time all-state golfer and leading his team to four state appearances. Sanford went on to play golf at the University of Tennessee – Martin, and has won various local golf tournaments since. Sanford’s work experience includes more than fifteen years working for the Department of Health and Human Services in Child Protective Services, Catholic Charities West Michigan, and as a teacher and a behavioral specialist at an elementary school in Reed City. “We’re thrilled to have Erik as our first Director in Muskegon,” said Executive Director Tyler Smies. “His background working with youth from all walks of life, along with his passion and skill for golf make him the ideal fit for this role. We can’t wait to see the impact he’ll make on young people in Muskegon.” First Tee of West Michigan grew tremendously last year in Muskegon County, teaching life skills and its Nine Core Values through the game of golf to 200 students under the direction of Lead Coaches Terri Clock and Greg Heath.  Participation increased 40% between 2018 and 2019. More than half of students in Muskegon County receive scholarships to participate due to family income. The hiring of Sanford was made possible through a generous gift made in honor of Gordy Scripps, a Norton Shores resident and Muskegon Country Club member who passed away in 2019.  Only 10% of First Tee’s operational costs are covered by program fees. The rest is raised locally through gifts from the Muskegon community. First Tee of West Michigan works with more than 1,200 youth annually at 15 area golf courses, including Bent Pine Golf Course, Muskegon Country Club, Oak Ridge Golf Course, Stonegate Golf Club, and University Park Golf Course in Muskegon County.  Registration for summer sessions is currently open, with many sessions beginning this week.  To register a participant between the ages of 7-17, visit firstteewestmichigan.org/register. For more information on The First Tee of West Michigan or to interview Erik Sanford, contact 231-670-6580 or email [email protected].

Junior Coach Spotlight – Aydin Johnson

Junior Coach Spotlight

Aydin Johnson 9th Grade 15 years old Coopersville High School 2nd year as a junior coach

In Their Own Words: 

Aydin’s Favorite Nine Core Value: Perseverance.  It is my favorite because I think it is a very helpful skill to have all your life.  You can have perseverance with everything you do. What is your favorite part of being a junior coach? I like to help the kids get better at golf.  There was one time that a kid was not swinging the club the right way.  I showed him how to grip the club and how to swing.  After that, he was able to make contact with the ball easier.

Aydin’s fast facts, from Coach Tyler:

  • Aydin and his brothers Dakota (16) and Owen (10) are fixtures at The First Tee since they started in 2016.
  • Aydin advanced to the Eagle level (the 4th level in the program) in the spring of 2019.
  • Aydin has a stylish flair on the golf course.  He loves bucket hats and high socks.  He also has a great sense of humor.
  • Aydin’s humor makes him a great junior coach. Younger participants can relate to him easily and enjoy being around him.
  • Aydin and his brother Dakota will receive top-notch individual golf instruction from Golf-Tec’s Ian Hughes this winter, thanks to Ian’s generosity.
  • Trips through The First Tee: 
    • Aydin was selected through The First Tee for the Nancy Tennant Leadership Academy in 2018.  He visited Harbor Shores Golf Course in Benton Harbor, Soldier Field in Chicago, and a host of other places around the midwest through that trip. The First Tee of Benton Harbor graciously hosted Aydin and two other First Tee students for this trip.
  • Outside of The First Tee:
    • Aydin is also a caddie at Kent Country Club, and aspires to be an Evans Scholar.
    • He also will be joining his brother on the high school golf team for the first time this spring, at Coopersville High School.
  Your year-end gift before the close of 2019 will be matched, dollar for dollar by a local donor, to fund the junior coach program in 2020.  Will you make a donation today? 

Click here to Donate Today!

 

Two teen golfers selected for The First Tee Champions Tour Challenge in Florida

Contact: Tyler Smies Executive Director Office: 616-965-6633 Email: [email protected] FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE GRAND RAPIDS, MI – February 13, 2018 – Two local teens are getting away from the winter cold and bringing their golf clubs to compete in The Golf to Paradise – First Tee Champions Challenge in Naples, Florida. Robert Butler, a junior at East Grand Rapids High School and Lindsay Reens, a junior at West Catholic High School are being sent by the local non-profit The First Tee of West Michigan. The First Tee teaches students values and life skills through the game of golf and has had Butler as a participant since 2015 and Reens since 2013. In conjunction with the Chubb Classic, a Champions Tour event, 12 affiliates of The First Tee from across the country have been invited to participate. The Challenge will be hosted at The TwinEagles Club in Naples, Florida on February 15-18. Butler and Reens were two of just 24 students from across the country selected for this event. They will compete in three different playing formats against pairs of students from other First Tee chapters. “We worked with 900 students at The First Tee of West Michigan in 2017, and Robert and Lindsay are two of our finest young people. They are strong golfers, but more importantly exemplify the Nine Core Values we teach, especially the value of perseverance. We are ecstatic that they will represent our chapter on a national stage while also getting to meet Champions Tour players and other students from around the country,” said Executive Director Tyler Smies, who will accompany the students. Butler and Reens will compete against nine other teams from Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia throughout the weekend. For more information on The First Tee of West Michigan, contact 616-965-6633, email [email protected] or visit firstteewestmichigan.org. ###  

Participant Spotlight: Spencer Schaffer

Words From Spencer’s mother, Jennifer

“As a parent, it is my goal to help my children grow up to be adults with integrity, who value and respect life and those around them.  So you can imagine my surprise and excitement one year ago when I opened up the Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation flier and read the line “character building through golf”.  You see my son Spencer, had tried many sports and never really enjoyed them enough to want to stick with one.  Iwondered if golf would be a good fit.  I also liked the idea of character building!  I love the idea of Spencer becoming a young man with character and integrity. IMG_1261

I signed Spencer up for the spring session and went to the parent orientation.  All I could say was WOW!  This is an amazing opportunity, an amazing organization! This is more than just swinging a club.       

This is where Spencer’s journey in the world of golf with The First Tee began.  Who knows where it will take him.  This is truly the FIRST time he has stuck with something, stayed excited and interested in something, other than legos or video games.  He has learned the importance of honesty, respect, integrity, sportsmanship, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy, and judgment.  He has been taught the importance of making right and healthy life choices.      

I appreciate the mentors involved.  They model the attitudes, values, and behaviors I hope to see grow in Spencer.  The mentors encourage Spencer to do what is right.  The mentors show interest in Spencer, in his schooling, life, and attitude.  Spencer needs men in his life who will do this.  I so appreciate it!        

If you know of a young person who needs some direction, who lacks positive role models in their life.  If you want to support young people to grow in character and find a place to learn.  The First Tee of West Michigan is a great place to look for this direction. 

Whether you send your child or support The First Tee with a donation, this is truly a youth development program.  Giving youth direction, life skills, and encouragement to be the best young person they can be. IMG_0756

Words From Spencer:
I enjoy learning and playing golf.  I have learned about honesty, integrity, courtesy, and more.  One of the core values I use every day is perseverance.  Perseverance is when you keep going and don’t give up even when things are hard.   I use perseverance at school when I have a math test and don’t really understand.  I keep trying and don’t give up on it.  I use perseverance at home when homework is hard and I want to give up.  I remember that it is better to keep trying and I ask for  help from my Mom. I use perseverance with my friends too.  Sometimes my friends ignore me or won’t let me play a game with them.  I persevere and choose to find someone else to hang out with instead of getting angry and giving up.  The First Tee helps me learn about things like perseverance.  The First Tee is AWESOME!  

  

Homework and Hitting – new opportunities

Our two most well-used locations are open 4 nights a week from November through March!
  • The Highlands (2715 Leonard St. NW, Grand Rapids)- Tuesday & Thursdays, 4:30-7:30 pm
  • Fellowship Greens (3450 36th St. SE, Grand Rapids) – Mondays & Wednesdays, 4-6:30 pm
New Opportunities at Homework & Hitting in 2015!   Maple Hill GC
  • Located in southwest Grand Rapids, Maple Hill hosted over 100 of our participants in 2015.  Now, we’re partnering with them for their fantastic indoor facilities.
  • Students in the Par, Birdie, or Eagle levels at The First Tee have access every Tuesday to one of two areas:
  • Indoor simulator: Our participants are using two simulators, playing on a course on one, while working on their swing in the other.
IndoorSimulators
  • Heated hitting bays
  • When the snow flies, our participants will still be able to hit outside in Maple Hill’s heated hitting bays.
Screenshot2015-12-1714.07.13 This space is open to Par, Birdie, and Eagle participants every Friday afternoon throughout the winter. Coach Tom Koert partners with Nick Holtrop and Tyler Smies from The First Tee staff to provide swing instruction to up to 10 kids every Friday.RcM Heath & Fitness Series – sponsored by the McCahill Group This five class series is working with 10 of our students throughout the winter.   Students will learn strength and flexibility exercises that are specific to the game of golf.  Series is led by supporter and coach Ryan McCahill in East Grand Rapids, MI. Screenshot2015-12-1714.16.07First ever Muskegon Location! In a special partnership, The First Tee of West Michigan has partnered up with the Boys & Girls Club of Muskegon Lakeshore to provide our first Homework & Hitting location in Muskegon. Hosted at Nelson Elementary School (550 W. Grand Ave, Muskegon, MI), The First Tee is retrofitting an unused classroom with two hitting nets, and a variety of putting stations. This location will be open 3 hours a week on Wednesday evenings.  

Sixth Annual Golf Outing

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4 Person Scramble

Monday, August 1, 2016

Thousand Oaks Golf Club

thousandoaks

12:30 PM Shotgun (11:30 AM Registration)

Join us for The First Tee of West Michigan’s 6th Annual Golf Outing held at our new venue Thousand Oaks Golf Club located at 4100 Thousand Oaks Dr, in Grand Rapids. Play in the outing! (click here to register for more info)
  • Sign up and fill a foursome for $800.  
    • 12:30 pm afternoon shotgun
    • A foursome includes free range balls, goodie bag, 1 round of golf, a chance to meet our students, 2 meals, and a live and silent auction following play.
  • Play as a single for $200
    • We will pair you up with other friends of The First Tee! 
  • Email [email protected] for more details
  • Part of your payment is tax-deductible – The First Tee of West Michigan is a 501c3 nonprofit! 
Sponsor the outing!
  • We are still looking for a Eagle Sponsor for the event.  Email [email protected] for more details! 
  • Hole Sponsorships start at just $300! Get your company to sponsor today!
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Volunteer for the outing!

  • We can use your help! We have volunteers stationed at various points throughout the course, and helping in different ways.  We have participants on the course, meeting and greeting our players, and sharing what they’ve learned. 
  • We are looking for volunteers for the following shifts: 
    • 10:30 am – 1 pm
    • 1 pm – 5 pm
    • 4:30 pm – end of event (adult only for auction)
  • Email [email protected] if you’re interested in volunteering! 
All proceeds from the event go to provide scholarships for The First Tee of West Michigan students.  Your participation is essential to our mission: to impact the lives of young people by providing educational programs that build character and promote healthy choices through the game of golf. Outing Contacts: Executive Director Tyler Smies Phone: 616-965-6633 Email: [email protected] Intern Event Coordinator Hadley Cunningham Phone: 231-838-4147 Email: [email protected]