First Tee - West Michigan

First Tee is a youth development organization that teaches kids valuable life lessons through the game of golf. Our life-skill curriculum centers around our Five Key Commitments, Pursuing Goals, Growing Through Challenge, Collaborating With Others, Building Positive Self-Identity, and Using Good Judgment. Our 6-week golf classes incorporate both golf fundamentals and our life-skill curriculum. What sets us apart from traditional youth sports leagues is that we embed life lessons into our weekly classes and give our students a hands-on approach to learning, while surrounding them with positive adult role models. 

Speaker Bio: 

I've worked for First Tee for four years, after spending 10 years at Herman Miller. I graduated from Hope College in 2011 with a Business Management degree. While I loved my time at Herman Miller, I always knew I wanted to work in the community development space. When this role at First Tee popped up, I knew it was something I couldn't pass up. It combines two things I'm very passionate about. I get to improve the lives of the youth in our community through a game I love, and brings me so many great memories. I'm a dad of three boys under 6 years old, my wife works at Holland Hospital, and my parents live in Holland and are heavily involved with First Tee. My life is kids, golf, and family. I couldn't ask for more. In my little free time, I enjoy cooking, fly fishing, and spending time up north at the family cottage.