Long-time First Tee – Western New York participant and now Junior Coach, Kassy Spitz attended the First Tee Game Changers Academy. Kassy Spitz was selected out of dozens of applicants from across the country to represent First Tee – Western New York to attend this National Opportunity from July 18-22 in Philadelphia, PA. The First Tee Game Changers Academy is the ultimate tribute to Joe Louis Barrow Jr., a fearless champion of change and former CEO of First Tee. Being a game changer has been integrated into the First Tee mission and Kassy states her thoughts on what exactly a game changer is. She said, “a game changer is someone who is open minded and works hard to diversify and better their community for the people around them.”
The Game Changer Leadership Academy consisted of workshops around diversity and inclusion, team building activities like zip lining, the opportunity to meet other First Tee participants across the country, and the chance to play golf and enjoy the facilities at the historic Merion Golf Club. To help facilitate engaging and interactive workshops at this academy, First Tee invited its industry partner, RISE, a national leader in the sports community championing social justice. Kassy participated in important conversations around issues of identity, racism, diversity, equity and inclusion.
Kassy’s experience was impactful and allowed her to engage in conversations that empowered her to become a better individual, ultimately helping to make a positive impact right here Western New York. Kassy is enlightened to apply what she has learned from this academy, “I can use this new perspective to help encourage the younger generation to be accepting, help work towards change, and fight for equality for those who are struggling or oppressed”.
At the conclusion of the Game Changer Academy, Kassy was awarded the Outstanding Participant Award. This award was given out to one person in each of the four groups who represented and stood out in the RISE discussions and showed First Tee core values on and off the course. Kassy made an impression, was actively engaged, and left the Game Changer Academy with new friends she plans to stay in touch with. She describes her experience as, “…important for me to attend because it allowed me to meet so many new people and experience so many walks of life. Being able to understand more lifestyles outside of my own allowed me to expand my perspective.”
The Game Changer Academy is one of several First Tee National Opportunities hosted throughout the year. First Tee is an international youth-development organization that enables kids to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges. All First Tee programs seamlessly integrate the game of golf with a life-skills curriculum to create active learning experiences that build inner strength, self-confidence, and resilience that kids can carry to everything they do. The mission enables First Tee to build game changers using the game of golf as the platform.
First Tee – Western New York successfully finished the Spring PGA Jr League season on June 17. This is the first year First Tee – Western New York PGA Jr League offered teams in both Rochester and Buffalo and it was a great experience for all 51 players. Buffalo had three teams that competed in tri-matches at Bob O Links, Elma Meadows and Brighton Park golf courses while Rochester hosted two teams alternating between the golf courses at Genesee Valley and Churchville Golf Course.
PGA Jr League is part of the PGA Reach Youth Pillar that aims to connect junior golfers – new and experienced – together in a fun, on-course playing environment through friendly team competition. Each team of 9 – 12 participants plays each match in pairs, which includes two players playing together representing their team. The pairs play an alternate shot scramble that enables the pairs to demonstrate teamwork, collaboration and decision making while showing good sportsmanship to others. Each team member receives a jersey like they would on a soccer or basketball team, which creates team unity throughout the match. Players loved the jerseys and many even wore them when they attended the PGA Championship at Oak Hill.
First Tee Coaches walk with each group to help facilitate the life skills that are taught during First Tee classes. Additionally, parent volunteers are great advocates to support the players. During each match, players are expected to maintain adequate pace of play while following the rules of golf and etiquette. First Tee Coaches and Parent Volunteers help guide the players, ultimately fostering a positive and autonomous on course learning experience for all of the youth involved. One parent commented, “I was very impressed with how much the kids were able to discuss as a team and make choices with little to no intervention needed from a Coach.”
Thanks to the continued support and partnership of the Western New York PGA (WNYPGA), First Tee – Western New York is able to offer PGA Jr League at an affordable rate. The partnership continues to strengthen between to two organizations to ensure more youth are being exposed to the game of golf and its inherent life values, while having the increased opportunities of playing on the golf course. Through these efforts, First Tee – Western New York and WNYPGA continue to work together to grow the game and build game changers.
In Western New York and across the country, there has been a decline in youth mental-wellbeing in recent years. Community organizations such as First Tee – Western New York (FTWNY) offer imperative programming that can help improve youth mental wellbeing. Through a curriculum that engages physical, social and emotional learning, participants get a well-rounded learning experience. The integrated curriculum of life skills and golf skills is certainly important to help with growth and learning, but it’s also about who is teaching the youth. FTWNY Lead Coaches and Volunteer Mentors all have a common passion of inspiring future generations to help them grow and become successful as people while also learning about the game of golf. Coach and Volunteer Mentors are trained in youth-development that follows a continuous learning pathway so they can show up for the young people. They are enabling kids and teens to build the strength of character that empowers them through a lifetime of new challenges.
The Collaborative Center for Social Innovation released a report in May 2023 titled, “Ideating Programs to Support Teen Mental Wellbeing: Insights from Focus Groups in WNY.” The focus groups were centered around effective programs and initiatives in Western New York – with a close emphasis on Erie County – that fosters and enhances mental wellbeing among youth, specifically teens. According to the report, “overwhelmingly, responses from teens, parents/caregivers emphasized the importance of supportive relationships and an accepting, non-judgmental environment.” Supportive relationships can be prevalent between child and parent, student and teacher, and even athlete and coach. FTWNY uses golf as the catalyst to connect life skills with golf skills and is taught by caring coaches whose main priority is positive youth development.
Caring Coaches Make a Difference
Ron Langhorne, or simply known as Coach Ron, has been with FTWNY for 18 months as Lead Coach. As someone who loves the game of golf, Coach Ron is able to give back to his community as a First Tee Level II Lead Coach. What exactly does it mean though, to be a Lead Coach and to create meaningful relationships with young people? It means to encourage, to support, and to allow young people to be themselves. Coach Ron learned at a young age to never give up. Ron reflects on how his golf experience taught him perserverance and how he wants to pass that life-lesson along to more kids and teens, “Some of my most memorable birdies came from some of the worst tee shots. Having the ability to believe in oneself in spite of the situation is invaluable.” Coach Ron’s students know that he believes in them and he helps them discover how they can believe in themselves. “Coaching these young kids has definitely changed me for the better. It brought me to the realization that some of them look up to me, and I have the opportunity to raise the bar, believe in them, and watch them raise the bar even further. Making a difference in others’ lives is just awesome” he added. Making a difference is achievable because of the trustworthy relationship between coach and athlete that is centered around youth empowerment.
Within the Collaborative Center for Social Innovation report community leaders focused on creating safe and inclusive environments, being supportive role models, and facilitating connections and support for teens.
FTWNY enables the opportunity for positive coach-athlete to develop because of the safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment that classes are designed and set up for. Coach Cathi Ullenbruch started out with First Tee about 7 years ago. After retiring from a 30 year career in the education sector, Coach Cathi knew she wanted to continue working with young people and states, “being involved with First Tee involves two things that are important to me – golf and teaching life and social skills to kids”. Coach Cathi has been involved in a Volunteer and Lead Coach role and helps with many of First Tee’s Girls in Sports programs. Coach Cathi shares that she’s most pleased with “…seeing girls come to First Tee and meet other girls, developing friendships and golf partners.” Watching girls have this opportunity today makes Cathi excited because when she was 10 years old, there were not a lot of opportunities for girls to play golf nor does she remember seeing many female golfers in general. Fostering a learning environment that is inclusive of everyone allows for connection and mentorship relationships that can help increase self-esteem, ultimately improving mental wellbeing.
While the importance of positive mindset and a sense of fulfillment is also recognized across the board with all three groups emphasizing social emotional growth, teens view this more as a result of a new experience.
What is the difference between a Coach and a Volunteer? Their impact is the same!
Like coaching, volunteering has been an important asset in allowing FTWNY participants to achieve success. A common impact that both coaching and volunteering has is giving back to the community. A great way for anyone to give back to the community is volunteering with FTWNY. Debra Ketchum is a volunteer who’s goal is to get each participant to understand the importance of the core values and how to apply them in their everyday life.
Deb started volunteering in the summer of 2021 and FTWNY has made an impact and inspired her to watch, listen, and learn. Deb says, “using these three skills gives you knowledge which facilitates understanding on how to prepare for coaching. The program safety training was an incredible awakening to “real life” outside of my circle. It was an education in and of itself.” Golf within itself is a challenging sport. Both Deb and Cathi see the satisfaction of seeing the kids improve with their golf skills and utilizing the core values. Deb utilizes the core value of honesty when she volunteers with FTWNY. She says, “Honesty is almost magical. I believe it paves the way to the additional core values: respect, integrity, accountability, sportsmanship, confidence, responsibility, perseverance, courtesy and judgment”. Whether you want to become a coach or volunteer, the impact that is made on the participants is the same. Coaches and Volunteers help build positive coach-athlete relationships that can help improve youth mental wellbeing as kids feel they’re supported and encouraged.
First Tee – WNY Coaches and Volunteers strive to inspire the next generation to become the best version of themselves. If you’re interested in becoming a coach or volunteer, please fill out an interest application form today!
