First Tee - Northern Michigan

ED Kevin McKinley’s office today. Raising funds for the Nick Mazur fund with the Otsego Community Foundation who supported First Tee with a grant in 2023.

About halfway through our summer programming season. We have conducted 116 individual learning sessions with more than 750 individuals in those sessions. When you add up all of the kids in every clinic we’ve given, it’s well over 4000. We’ve been to Harbor Springs, Ga***rd, Kewadin, Mackinaw City, Boyne Falls, Indian River, Charlevoix and Cheboygan. We are impacting the kids of northern Michigan thanks to your support.

Oh yeah, our coaches are more than just golfers. Congrats to Coaches Laura and Tora who showed tremendous grit and perseverance in completing the Mudgirl today. Special props to Coach Peyton…..official team manager.

It’s only week 1 and we saw over 300 individual kids through our camps at The Highlands, PGA Junior League, Indian River, Ga***rd, Cheboygan, Advanced Academy at Harbor Point and Girls Golf. Your support keeps us rolling. Our annual golf outing is this Thursday, June 20 at the Highlands. Click the link in the first comment to sign up or become a sponsor.

Go get em Coach Rachel!

Rachel Fay

Oodles and oodles and oodles of Field Days! We have now interacted with over 9500 kids in their schools. Your support of First Tee makes it possible. Check the comments for ways you can provide support.

Congrats Coach Vaughn on your Regional Championship! Best of luck at the State Championship next weekend!

Thanks Camp Daggett for including us for some golf with the gals!!

The team is starting to assemble. We welcomed Coach Tora to northern Michigan with a trip around the beautiful Hills course at the Highlands. Our students that get to work with Tora are in for a treat this year!

We had a great day partnering with Otsego County Habitat for Humanity at their golf outing in Ga***rd at the beautiful Ga***rd Golf Club. Tanner hit a bunch of great shots. Our own golf outing in June 20 and it’s starting to fill up. Link to the outing sign up is in the comments.

Back at Camp Daggett today for an awesome Mother-Daughter weekend. These gals were competitive and we had a blast! We hope to see some of you this summer in our programs. Link to sign up is in the first comment. Coach Coopers first day of work ever was a good one!

Our last indoor visit of the season was at Alanson last week. We had a blast with kids from 1st grade up to 8th grade. Our programs are nearly 80% full for the year. The link to sign up is in the first comment.....don't wait. Remember, Financial Aid is available..

Great visit to Ottawa and Lincoln last week as we saw well over 500 kids 2 times over the 5 days. Flyers should go home with the kids this week but don't wait to sign them up for summer programming. The link for sign ups will be in the first comment.

We all know we have one of the best Program Directors in the country.....now others are noticing too. Well done Coach Noah!

Coach Noah Slater was recognized at the Level 2 Coach Training in Quad Cities as an exemplary coach by the team of National Trainers. Here is what they had to say:

“Noah brings incredibly positive energy where he goes, and a strong desire to learn and grow as an individual. He is attentive, engaged, and inspires others with his passion for positive youth development. Noah was an active participant in discussions, a collaborative member of his team, and an exceptional role model for youth participants. He knows how to exercise leadership skills in a variety of scenarios and helps make others around him better versions of themselves.

During Sunday’s delivery to youth participants, we got to see Noah really shine as he created such a welcoming and safe environment for the young people of First Tee - Quad Cities. He set a great example for all coaches to follow. Noah is an exceptional coach and representative of First Tee - Northern Michigan and the entire First Tee network!”

It's May and our programs are beginning to get underway. It's time to get your child signed up for FIRST TEE PROGRAMS this summer. Our programs are already at 70% capacity so please do not wait to get signed up. Find the program time and location that fits your schedule best so that we can make a GAMECHANGER out of your son/daughter. https://firstteenorthernmichigan.org/programs/registration/

Golf Season is here and by this weekend, nearly all 39 courses on our Player Card will be open and ready for you. Don't miss another day of not having this card. First Tee Player Cardholders can play any of our 39 courses for as little as $39. Some of these courses have a regular greens fee of well over $100. Purchase today and when you do so, you'll support the First Tee mission.

2024 Player Cards Now with 39 Amazing Northern Michigan Courses Participating - Sale begins DECEMBER 1st

We're ushering in golf season with our annual visit to Petoskey Schools. This past week, we visited Central and Sheridan Elementaries and saw over 200 kids each day. We worked on Putting, Chipping and even played a little BATTLECHIP with the 4th and 5th graders. The kids deserve a ton of GOLF CLAPS...there is some skill in Petoskey. Get them signed up for summer programs before they fill up. Sign up link in the first comment.

Last week we were in St. Francis Xavier School it was an awesome visit and we saw some familiar faces!

Join us at the Odawa Casino Swing in the Season event til 4! Coach Noah, Coach Onika and Coach Kevin representing!!

This visit was an absolute blast! Thank you so much St St. Francis Xavier School

Had a great week at North Ohio Elementary in Ga***rd. We are less than a month away from the first night of gajuga and the PGA Jr League deadline. We saw so many kids that for sure should be golfers!! Sign up links in the comments.
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Last week we were in Ga***rd North Ohio for an amazing school visit. While we were there we received a ton of notes from the students there. Had our coaches feeling like celebrities! Thank you Ga***rd North Ohio Elementary for an amazing visit!

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MASTERS CONTEST - When you purchase a FIRST TEE PLAYER CARD before the Green Jacket is placed on the Champ on Sunday, April 14th, you'll be entered to win a twosome at Hidden River Golf and Casting Club. Get yours now and save thousands on golf this summer with discounts at 39 courses. https://firstteenorthernmichigan.networkforgood.com/events/63734-2024-player-cards

Coach Spotlight! Meet Coach Tora! Tora is a First Tree Greater Portland Alumni and currently attends Northwest Nazarene University in Idaho. When asked what First Tee meant to her Tora said:

“When I think of The First Tee, I immediately think of the words encouragement, creators, and innovators. The First Tee isn’t just helping create kids to become the best golfers they can but also to become wonderful people. What the First Tee means to me is a space filled with enjoyment, education, and new friends, all helping set you up for your future. A space where anyone and everyone is welcome with opened arms. Where the students get the full experience and more. It doesn’t just help you with your golf game, but with your life game too. Teeing it up with the First Tee was one of the best choices I could make!”

We are so excited to have you this coming summer Tora and thank you for all that you do for us!

A little birdie told me that the temps are going to climb into the 50's this weekend and the 60's next week and ANTRIM DELLS is open. Don't wait to purchase your PLAYER CARD and when you do it you support our ability to connect with the students of northern Michigan and various special needs groups throughout the area at no cost to the schools or those organizations. Click here to get yours today and please share with your golfing friends. https://firstteenorthernmichigan.networkforgood.com/events/63734-2024-player-cards?utm_campaign=dms_email_blast_3240647

Coach Spotlight!: Meet Coach Peyton! Peyton is a collegiate golfer at Alma College. He is very passionate about the sport and is very excited to be joining us this summer as an intern. When asked what a First Tee means to him, Peyton said:

“What The First Tee means to me: The First Tee is an amazing organization that not only fosters the growth of golf but also nurtures the development of kids into more capable and accomplished individuals for the future. I’m thrilled to have this opportunity to expand the reach of a sport I’m passionate about and demonstrate to others the transformative impact it can have on their lives.”

We are so excited to have you this summer Peyton! Thank you for helping us build Game Changers.

Our first post SPRING BREAK visit was to none other than Ga***rd St. Mary Cathedral School. We've had a great time this week with K all the way through 12th grade. We have some talented golfers on our hands. Coach Noah and Coach Kevin are happy to get back at it to start off what will be a busy April and lead us right into Golf Season. Ga***rd area residents, sign up links for the programs nearest you will be in the comments. Sign up quick as spots are filling fast. We'll see the kids at North Ohio Elementary next week.
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Coach Spotlight!: Meet Coach Mark! Coach Mark joined us last year and is a retired gentleman that summers in Ga***rd but is from Florida. Mark has been an amazing addition for us and is even more excited this year to join us on the range! When asked what First Tee means to him Mark answered:

“The First Tee is not only an organization that helps foster love for a game that can be enjoyed for a lifetime, but it presents opportunities to grow as a young person in several ways. Not just the challenges of the game itself.“

Thank you for all that you do Mark and we are excited to have you back!

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