What happens when you provide free programs? The results are game-changing.
With support from Southern Hills Country Club, host of this week’s PGA Championship, First Tee – Tulsa provides free character-building programs to everyone who walks through their door. JP Ray is one of many participants impacted by the program.
BOSTON, Massachusetts – A total of 20 First Tee Massachusetts participants were invited to Fenway Park on November 3rd to hit golf balls with Top Golf. The night out for the kids was made possible by the PGA Tour and Make Golf Your Thing.
“This was such an incredible and unique experience that I know the kids will remember for the rest of their life, I know I will.” said Kyle Harris, Director of Operations for First Tee Massachusetts.
Participants of all skill levels from ages 7 to 14 were able to enjoy this experience, including some of our coaches and volunteers.
Boston’s Franklin Park Par level participant, Finnbar Starosky, stated “I thought it was really cool, I hadn’t been to Fenway Park that often so that was really cool with the bright lights and just such an awesome experience.”
The Make Golf Your Thing initiative is made possible by the PGA Tour. The PGA Tour has been so incredibly supportive of First Tee both at the national level and local level and we are truly thankful. They believe in our life skills curriculum program and creating opportunities that our kids wouldn’t normally have. Being here at Fenway Park, creating experiences, and building character with our kids is wonderful and we can’t thank the PGA Tour enough.
Angelina Camacho, a First Tee parent and long-time supporter of First Tee Massachusetts, said “Experiences like this give our young people access in a way they may not feel they have otherwise. To be here at the iconic Fenway Park with Top Golf, it really expands opportunities for our young people and allows them to see where golf can really take them.”
First Tee of Massachusetts continues to grow and teach children across the state with plans to open two to three more locations in 2022. The work done by First Tee would not be made possible without experiences like this one, our coaches and volunteers.
To learn more about giving back to First Tee Massachusetts, visit: FirstTeeMass.org and don’t forget to follow us on social media, @FirstTeeMass for Facebook and Instagram.
NORTON, Massachusetts – Golfers may have been dressed in several layers for the 15th annual First Tee of Massachusetts Charity Golf Tournament, but the rain and cold didn’t deter their spirits and efforts to support youth golf.
A total of 128 golfers took part in the shotgun start event at TPC Boston, with the proceeds supporting First Tee Massachusetts, which helped raise important funds for the mission to provide golf instruction and life skills to the next generation of golfers. According to Kyle Harris, Director of Operations for First Tee Massachusetts, the tournament has continued to grow each year, and saw a 63% increase in net proceeds from the year prior.
“We had a tremendous response from the golf community,” Harris said. “The word gets out that it’s a good tournament and obviously the venue is incredible. They want to support us, they want to support the kids so much that they’re willing to throw on layers and just go out and play.”
Sarah Forbes, who serves on the Board of Directors for Mass Golf and First Tee Massachusetts, said the proceeds will help expand the program’s reach in more areas so more young people experience the game and learn its inherent values.
“As we move forward, we hope to see us open up a couple more locations, expand the program, reach more kids, continue to spread the word about the program and find more kids out there that could use it and learn about golf as more than just a game, but the life skills and core values,” Forbes said.
Among the participants in the field were standout amateur golfers Shannon Johnson and Herbie Aikens, as well as former New England Patriots linebacker Andre Tippett, and First Tee Lead Coaches Paul Coutomous (Brockton), Dan Moran (Natick), and Joe Eadie (Springfield).
The tournament also got a tremendous boost from its Title Sponsor: LPM Charitable Foundation, one of the largest charitable organizations in Massachusetts. Robert J. Watson, President, and CEO of LPM Holding Co. Inc., founded the organization in 1991 to help support and give back to the communities in which his company conducted business. In addition to health-related organizations, LPM has also supported Massachusetts youth summer camps, including Camp Wing in Duxbury.
The Acronym “LPM” stands for Laurie, Patrick, & Mike; Watson’s wife and two sons.
Patrick Watson represented the organization on Monday and played alongside JP Chouinard, Jack Tannar, and Earl Daniels. Watson said LPM’s support of First Tee is two-fold. One, many of his relatives have worked in public service, including his parents who met each other as juvenile corrections officers. The second is golf as LPM has hosted a charity tournament each of the past 30 years to help raise money.
“We just thought it was a perfect fit,” Watson said. “Helping the youth of Massachusetts has always been kind of their mantra.”
Added Harris: “To be able to partner up with LPM Charitable Foundation is phenomenal. Our missions align closely. They’ve been a great partner in year one, so we’re incredibly appreciative of their efforts and their support of us.”
LPM & Associates has specialized in contract foodservice management and catering for business & industry, schools, healthcare, and cultural / entertainment venues.
In addition to this year’s tournament, there are many ways you can support the mission of First Tee and help us introduce the game of golf and its inherent values like honesty, respect, and confidence, to kids and teens. Options include: equipment donations, volunteerism, and monetary contributions.
To learn more about giving back to First Tee Massachusetts, visit: FirstTeeMass.org
Chris Towle, a four-year participant in the First Tee program at William J. Devine Golf Course in Boston, packed his bags and headed west this past summer for the first-ever First Tee Leadership Summit out at Arthur Blank’s West Creek Ranch in Montana. First Tee Massachusetts was one of 29 nationwide chapters to host a Leadership Series for its students, and over the course of five weeks, Towle was chosen to represent the local chapter.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
Four volunteer leaders at Mass Golf played alongside four female First Tee participants in Mass Golf’s Mother-Daughter/Member Junior back in July to help bridge the generational gap in the game and over mentorship opportunities for these young women.
Beginning in May 2021, First Tee Massachusetts participants who have reached Birdie level or above and register for a First Tee class at that level became automatically be enrolled into a Youth on Course membership for the remainder of 2021 at no additional charge. Youth On Course (YOC) allows youth 6-18 to play at any of the 29 participating locations in the state for just $5 per round. YOC benefits also include a Mass Golf Membership, as well as access to paid summer internship programs, leadership council, caddie programs, and several more opportunities that will set individuals up for future success.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
Back in February, First Tee Massachusetts expanded by adding Allyson Mollung to the staff as the organization’s Program Manager. Mollung, a former volunteer with the First Tee of Delaware, has overseen programming at the seven on-course locations and has deepened the connection with First Tee participants, parents, and coaching teams. She has also expanded First Tee’s outreach on its various social media channels.
CLICK HERE to learn more.
In 2003, Mass Golf was selected by The First Tee to join its national network with the goal of bringing an affordable junior golf program to youth and communities that did not have them.
Since that time, Mass Golf has introduced seven program locations: D.W. Field Golf Course (Brockton), William J. Devine GC at Franklin Park (Boston), Hyannis Golf Course (Cape Cod), Cranberry Valley Golf Course (Harwich), Fenway Golf Center (Springfield), KOHR Golf (Natick) and The Links at Mass Golf (Norton).
As part of the curriculum, the children progress through a series of golf lessons where they are introduced to the different aspects of a golf course including the green, tee, fairway, rough, bunkers, and water hazards. The participants are also introduced to the basic elements of the game of golf and the swing including distance and accuracy control, course management, how to score, pace of play, honor, and proper, grip, stance, and posture.
In addition to golf, the participants are introduced to the nine core values inherent to the game including honesty, integrity, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, sportsmanship, judgment, respect, and courtesy. The life skills experience was the platform used in getting the participants to become comfortable with introducing themselves to others, meeting new people, learning something new, setting goals, and dealing with conflict. The life skills learned are useful for the participants both on and off the golf course.
First Tee is an international youth development organization focused on introducing the game of golf to youth, while also tying in the inherent values that come with the game to its participants. Mass Golf and First Tee have been partners for nearly 20 years with seven on-course locations across the state for children and teens to learn. Through its nine core values and healthy habits, First Tee is committed to helping children and young teens learn the game of golf, while also building game changers. The program develops life skills that last well beyond the golf course and develop more confident and goal-oriented individuals.
Similarly, Youth on Course aims to provide affordable golf course access to young golfers throughout the Bay State. Golfers between the ages of 6-18 can obtain an annual membership for $15 that allows them to play at any of the 29 participating golf courses in the state for just $5 per round. A membership with Youth on Course also includes all the same great benefits as a Mass Golf membership. YOC helps young golfers develop well beyond the green with expanded opportunities aside from affordable golf course access. Through YOC, participants can become involved in paid summer internship programs, leadership council, caddie programs and several more opportunities that will set individuals up for future success.
Through the new partnership, First Tee participants will have the opportunity to get on the golf course and practice the skills they are learning, all while maintaining an affordable price.
“I think this is just a perfect marriage for two quality, successful programs that complement each other,” said Jesse Menachem, Mass Golf’s Executive Director/CEO. “We’ve been with First Tee for almost 20 years, and adding Youth on Course just a few years ago, it was for the reasons to support juniors, to support our First Tee participants, and to provide access where they may not have it for a very affordable price point.”
Under the umbrella of Mass Golf, Youth on Course and First Tee are fully supported by the association. Youth on Course, the newer of the two programs, has seen tremendous growth in participation over its short existence.
When the program came to Massachusetts in 2019, 400 participants played over 1,000 rounds of golf. Last year, those figures jumped to 2,000 participants playing 6,000 rounds of golf.
“We’re seeing an incredible trajectory. We’re seeing that the program works, it’s vibrant and we’re hoping to continue to build off of that,” Menachem said. “That ties into First Tee growth, where we have our sights set on adding program locations in different pockets of the state to make sure we’re able to keep up with demand and interest and ensuring that it truly is a statewide program.”
Parents who are interested in getting their children involved in either First Tee or Youth on Course can read more about both programs on MassGolf.org . 
By Sara Wright, PGA TOUR
Henry Mentzel was just seven years old when he was first introduced to First Tee. His parents had been searching for some basic golf lessons for their son and stumbled across First Tee — Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Little did they know, this program would end up providing so much more. First Tee would be one of the most influential programs in young Henry’s life and would prove a catalyst for his personal growth throughout the years.
“I have been active in multiple sports throughout my childhood,” Henry explained. “I played soccer, basketball, baseball, just trying to figure out which I enjoyed the most. First Tee introduced golf in a way that allowed me to learn how to play the game, but also taught me life skills that I was able to apply across many areas of my young life. In the end, golf is the sport I enjoy the most.”
Henry is currently at the Eagle level, but it was during his time in the PAR level that he learned a valuable lesson on perseverance and how to succeed in golf by continuing through bad breaks and his own mistakes. This lesson also helped him in other aspects of his life.
“I applied the perseverance lesson in school, specifically, in Latin,” he said. “I struggled to understand the different parts of Latin grammar and the new vocabulary. My school required Latin, so I had to figure out how to persevere through three years of an unspoken language that did not make sense to me. I made a lot of vocabulary lists, agreed to get a tutor, and started staying after school for help nights. After applying myself, despite some not so great grades on assignments, I started making progress and now, in my third year, I have an A in the class.”
Not only do these lessons shape Henry’s life, but they have had a big part in shaping others’ lives, as well. Coached from early on by Tom and Melissa Briner, they not only helped him discover his love for the game of golf, but also gave Henry the opportunity to coach other young golfers at First Tee.
“Being able to introduce my friend Will Abel to the game of golf was very meaningful to me,” Henry reflected. “First Tee has given Will the opportunity to begin to learn the game of golf and me the opportunity to teach and play with him. I enjoy that we now both have another common interest that we enjoy doing together.”
This friendship between Will and Henry was one of the reasons he was recently awarded with the 2020 Heart of First Tee Award. This award given by First Tee — Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky recognizes individuals who embody the “Heart” of the First Tee through giving of time, talent or treasure; by demonstrating and living one of First Tee values; or by going above and beyond to promote or further their missions.
“We are all living in extraordinary and trying times that have tested all of us in ways we couldn’t even imagine nine months ago,” Rosie Abel wrote in her nomination of Henry. “Despite these challenges, Henry – acting upon the values of the First Tee – found a way to make a difference in our son’s life. My son, Will, who has Down Syndrome, is not unlike most sixteen-year-olds — very outgoing, social, and full of energy. But the pandemic has proven to be particularly frustrating for him especially when Ohio shut down in March. His sense of isolation grew as the effects of the pandemic spread.”
“When First Tee classes resumed in the summer, Henry continued to be that go-to person for Will,” Rosie continued. “He supports Will at the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati’s Buddy Walk and even invited Will to play a round of golf with him, knowing that Will was not as experienced as himself. Will is not the only recipient of Henry’s friendship. Many coaches and staff have witnessed his kindness and refreshing take on life, feeling joy in other’s successes. We suspect there are many other people who have been touched by Henry and consider him to be on their “go-to team.”
Henry currently caddies, is a member of HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) and Books For Kids (a club where students write and illustrate a book imagined patients at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital) he also regularly volunteers with his family at a soup kitchen. During the summer, Henry volunteers in First Tee classes where he is a positive role model for the younger kids in the program.
“The core values the First Tee teaches are very important for kids and teens today,” Henry continued. “I really believe these core values build kids to be better, stronger, and smarter on and off the golf course each day. First Tee also teaches kids social and mental skills on how to interact and bring out the best in themselves and their teammates. First Tee teaches how to set specific goals and, more importantly, what it takes to achieve them. These essential skills help prepare kids for their future and provide tools for success.”
As Henry prepares for his future, one of his immediate goals is to place in the top 10 in one of the golf tournaments he plans to compete in this summer. He is also striving to achieve the A honor role during his freshman year at Walnut Hills High School. His long terms goals are to play college golf and get into medical school.
“First Tee has taught me that to achieve these goals I will need to be confident, honest, and persevere through challenges,” Henry added. “Through this program and the coaches who mentor me, I always feel that I can do whatever I set my mind to do. It has helped me understand that a bad day on the course (or in school or in life, in general) is just that – one bad day. Tomorrow is a fresh start.” 