tfrank – First Tee – Western New York

Taking a Swing in Monroe County – Why it Matters

It’s no secret that Western New York, especially Rochester, is engrained with a rich golf history and an abundance of golf fanatics. A craving for golf isn’t what makes Monroe County compatible with First Tee of Western NY – it’s the need for quality youth development programs that will have a positive, lasting impact on the community’s next generation. Read More…TFTWNY Blog Post

18 Reasons To Invest in the First Tee of Western NY

Learn about the 18 Reasons to Invest in the First Tee of Western NY

18 Reasons To Invest In The First Tee Of WNY

Local Teen Achieves Top Certification from National Youth Development Organization First Tee

Giavanna Bolognese from First Tee of Western New York among 24 National Ace-Certified Recipients in 2019 Buffalo, NY – Giavanna Bolognese from First Tee of Western New York has achieved Ace certification, the highest level of certification from First Tee, a national youth development organization dedicated to impacting young people by building character and instilling life-enhancing values through the game of golf. Giavanna is one of 24 participants this year, and one of more than 150 since 2006, to achieve Ace certification. Giavanna was recognized for her accomplishment at the Annual Kids First Fundraiser which benefits the First Tee of Western NY Chapter which was held at Park Country Club. Read More…First Tee Of WNY Ace Press Release

Niagara Falls City Schools Adopt National School Program

The First Tee of Western New York to introduce The First Tee National School Program to the Niagara Falls City School District Niagara Falls, New York (February 6, 2019) – The First Tee of Western New York, a nonprofit whose mission is to teach children core values, wellness and life skills through the game of golf, announces the addition of the Niagara Falls City Schools District in its National School Program (NSP) beginning in 2019. Since 1999, the The First Tee of Western New York has been providing educational programs that build character. The First Tee enables students to develop skills including sportsmanship, respect and confidence while learning the game of golf. Programs take place onsite at schools as well as seven green grass facilities including Brighton Golf Course/Paddock Golf Dome, Elma Meadows, Glen Oak, Grover Cleveland, Harvest Hill, Spruce Ridge, and Niagara County. The First Tee of Western New York will now serve close to 13,000 youth through its National School Program. Current school districts already represented in the program include: Amherst Central Schools, Holland Central Schools, Ken-Ton School District, Lockport City Schools, DeSales, Tapestry Charter and Niagara Charter. “The opportunity to teach students, at a very young age, the wonderful art of golf is something that many will benefit from for the rest of their lives. The Niagara Falls City School District is proud to join this growing organization and bring new skills to a large inner city public school.” – Mark Laurrie, Superintendent of Schools, Niagara Falls City School District Official Press Release

National School Program – Lockport CSD and DeSales Catholic School

The First Tee of Western New York and The Chris Maloney Legacy Foundation partner to introduce the National School Program to the Lockport City School District and DeSales Catholic School Lockport, New York (November 1^st, 2018) – The First Tee of Western New York, a nonprofit whose mission is to teach children core values, wellness and life skills through the game of golf, announces the addition of the Lockport City School District and DeSales Catholic School in its National School Program (NSP) beginning this semester and the addition of a new green grass facility at the Niagara County Golf Course. With this expansion, and funding assistance provided by The Chris Maloney Legacy Foundation, the chapter will serve to impact over 2,000 youth throughout the Lockport area. Read More: Lockport And Desales Schools Press Release

Ben Spitz Selected for Pebble Beach Pure Insurance Open

Ben Spitz heads to Pebble Beach for PURE Insurance Championship Impacting The First Tee, which is celebrating its 15^th Anniversary Tournament To Air Internationally on Golf Channel this September Ben Spitz Press Release

2018 Kids First Golf Classic

Thank you to everyone that attended this years Kids First Golf Classic event at Park Country Club. Once again the weather was beautiful and we had a fantastic day for golf. Just about everyone I met with during the event said their favorite part of the event was the interaction with all the youth we had on the golf course and at our clinic. The comments ranged from how respectful the kids were, to how they shook hands, and their wonderful golf skills. This event and our programming is all about the impact we can have on the lives of the kids both at the event and throughout our entire program – in schools, afterschool programs and on the golf course. So far in 2018 we have impacted close to 4,000 kids through all our programs and we have exciting opportunities ahead of us as we move towards a goal of doubling our participation. We will have more announcements coming in the next few months which will shed more light on our participation goals and how we are working towards achieving them. Thank you again for all our youth participants, volunteers, coaches, sponsors and attendees. A special thank you to Melissa Holmes for being our Master of Ceremonies. Melissa co-anchors 2 On Your Side’s Daybreak, each weekday from 6:00am to 7:00 a.m. We are already looking forward to next year… Tim Frank Executive Director The First Tee of Western NY

The Kaleida Health Team with our Clinic Participants

Erie County Department of Parks, The First Tee of Western New York and the Buffalo District Golf Association Partner on Interclub

The Erie County Department of Parks, Recreation and Forestry, in conjunction with The First Tee of Western New York and the Buffalo District Golf Association (“BDGA”), has announced the formation of a First Tee interclub team to play in interclub matches being held on July 3rd at Grover Cleveland Golf Course. Teams from over 30 clubs in the BDGA play in “interclub” events throughout the golf season, bringing the area’s top junior golfers together in a round-robin format with the champion teams in each division, as well as the individual league medalists, competing in a season-ending stroke play overall championship. Read More

Dawson Miller – Wells Fargo Succeeding Together Contest

Buffalo-area student golfer wins national contest and trip to PGA Tour

14-year-old The First Tee winner attending Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte, N.C. BUFFALO, N.Y. – April 24, 2018 – Wells Fargo and The First Tee^® today announced that Dawson Miller, a 14-year-old from East Amherst, was a national winner of the Succeeding Together^SM essay contest, which celebrates the positive impact The First Tee, a national youth sports organization, has on students across the country. Miller, a member of The First Tee of Western New York, is a promising student golfer who mentors and empowers other students living with a rare genetic disorder to succeed in golf competitions.

Author: tfrank