Rachel Kauflin and Caroline Van Bell from The First Tee of Southeast Wisconsin have been selected to compete for the Irwin Cup held at The Jewel Golf Club in Lake City, Minnesota, Wednesday, August 16. The Jewel Golf Club and The First Tee named the event “The Irwin Cup” to honor the designer of the course, long time The First Tee supporter and PGA TOUR Champions Player, Hale Irwin.
Kauflin, of Wauwatosa, and Van Bell, of Whitefish Bay, are two of 16 participants from The First Tee chapters in Minnesota and Wisconsin selected to play in the team event. Each state will be represented by eight players teamed together playing a Ryder Cup format.
“We are excited to send Rachel and Caroline to Minnesota to represent The First Tee of Southeast Wisconsin as Team Wisconsin competes to win the first Irwin Cup,” said David Cohn, executive director of The First Tee of Southeast Wisconsin. “Rachel and Caroline are dynamic leaders who excel in school and on the golf course, exhibiting The First Tee Nine Core Values on a daily basis.”
The First Tee of Southeast Wisconsin will partner with the PHC Classic and the Milwaukee County Parks to host a junior golf clinic at Brown Deer Park Golf Course on August 1. The clinic will take place on the driving range from 4:30-5:30 p.m. and feature some of the top Symetra Tour players competing in the PHC Classic.
There is no cost to attend and the first 100 juniors (18 and younger) will receive a free The First Tee of Southeast Wisconsin T-shirt, courtesy of the PHC Classic.
In addition, The First Tee of Southeast Wisconsin will have junior golf activities and SNAG Golf demonstrations available on the lower range from 2:30-4:30 p.m.
“We are excited to partner with Milwaukee County Parks and the Symetra Tour to host the junior golf clinic at the PHC Classic at Brown Deer Park Golf Course,” said David Cohn, executive director of The First Tee of Southeast Wisconsin. “The Symetra Tour players are some of the best professional golfers in the world and regularly exhibit The First Tee Nine Core Values – honesty, integrity, respect, responsibility, courtesy, sportsmanship, judgment and perseverance – on and off the course. Their experience and insight will be impactful for all junior golfers in attendance.
Sam Kachelek, a participant with The First Tee of Southeast Wisconsin and a senior at Menomonee Falls High School, has been selected to The First Tee Scholars Program. This national distinction is awarded to The First Tee participants who are seniors in high school and excel in academics, leadership, character development, and chapter and community involvement. Sam is one of 82 scholars designated to the Class of 2016-2017.
For Sam, The First Tee has been more than just golf. “Through The First Tee I have grown as a person, learning the Nine Core Values and and implementing those in my life. Golf isn’t always the focus; it’s making yourself a better person and using that in school and in your community.”
Asked what he would tell a someone interested in getting involved in The First Tee, Sam had a few suggestions. “I would tell them definitely get involved. It has more of an effect on your life than you could ever imagine. Learning the Nine Core Values and building on them through volunteer work, your job, in school and within the community has a ripple effect. It’s more than a golf program; it’s a life skills program.”
As a Scholar, Sam is eligible for select named scholarships offered through The First Tee. Scholars are also eligible for events and speaking opportunities through The First Tee Alumni Network.
“We are proud to have Sam represent The First Tee of Southeast Wisconsin as a recipient of The First Tee Scholars designation,” said David Cohn, executive director of The First Tee of Southeast Wisconsin. “Sam is someone who models what it means to be a participant with The First Tee. Sam is making a difference in his school and in his community, and we know he will continue to make an impact in college.”
Sam plans to attend the University of Wisconsin – Madison this fall.
Click here to learn more about national events and leadership opportunities available through The First Tee.
The First Tee of Southeast Wisconsin has announced four new programming locations in partnership with the Milwaukee County Parks golf courses. The Milwaukee County Parks will offer The First Tee Life Skills Experience through its junior lesson programs during the 2017 summer at Brown Deer Park Golf Course, Dretzka Park Golf Course, Greenfield Park Golf Course and Hansen Park Golf Course.
The programs will be led by Milwaukee County Parks’ golf professionals Andrew Barrett, PGA (Brown Deer), Scott Walecki (Dretzka), Matt Ellis (Greenfield), Chet Hendrickson, PGA (Hansen) and David Labinski (Hansen). The First Tee coaches go through the program’s extensive training intended to increase the on- and off-course success of all participants. Coaches are equipped to create positive relationships that inspire young people to look to their future, set goals and discover their individual potential.
“We are excited to continue to grow our programming through the Milwaukee County Parks,” said Tom Gerke, The First Tee of Southeast Wisconsin’s program director. “Milwaukee County Parks has been a great partner and host for our programming location at Noyes Park, and we are excited about the possibilities of impacting the lives of more young people throughout the greater Milwaukee area through these four new locations.”
“The Milwaukee County Parks golf courses are proud to partner with The First Tee of Southeast Wisconsin”, said Chet Hendrickson, PGA, golf services manager for Milwaukee County Parks. “We are committed to junior golf and growing the game in Milwaukee County. Through The First Tee’s Life Skills Experience programming, we will be able to help junior golfers learn important life skills that will help them build confidence and develop responsibility and respect, all while learning the lifelong sport of golf.”
At the core of The First Tee programs are the Nine Core Values – honesty, integrity, respect, responsibility, courtesy, sportsmanship, judgment and perseverance. Program participants work through lessons that incorporate these values and help them become good golfers and even better people.
