On a beautiful September evening, right before the Solheim Cup was set to begin, The First Tee of Lake and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Toledo held a grand opening gala to officially open their new joint facility, located on Hill Road adjacent to the Inverness Club.
This one-of-a-kind facility is focused completely on teaching kids and providing skills to help them navigate the world.
To get something this big created in Toledo was a major project and took the efforts of a lot of people. The 43-acre tract on which the new facility resides was obtained in 2016, but it took nearly five years to raise the monies necessary to complete construction. In all, over 250 donors understood the importance for area youth and graciously opened their wallets to raise $7.6 million dollars.
The combined effort came about because The Boys and Girls Clubs were looking to expand their reach and The First Tee already had a site with a plan in place to help with their expansion program.
The Boys and Girls Club of Toledo and The First Tee spent three years discussing exactly how a marriage of the two non-profit organizations could work and finally came up with a plan.
This state-of-the-art training and learning facility for area youth includes a driving range, putting area and short game practice area for golf. For inclement weather a gym and indoor golf simulator will allow the kids to remain active.
There are also classrooms and a curriculum that will teach the kids various vocational skills that can be used to obtain jobs in the community.
Toledo should be extremely proud, It is the only facility of its kind in the country.
Executive Director of The First Tee of Lake Erie, Adam Reny told us,
“Golf can open a lot of doors. I was fortunate enough to be a caddie at Inverness and met several people, who helped me along the way. The main idea for this joint facility is to provide a place to train kids and provide opportunities for them to succeed.”
Watch the full interview with Reny on Back 9 Report TV:
Promedica, a large health care provider in the Toledo area, understands the importance of a healthy lifestyle. They were a major contributor to the creation of this new facility, which will teach kids about correct eating habits and the importance of leading an active life.
CEO of Promedica, Randy Oostra told us,
“To maintain a healthy community involves people eating right and staying active. We must teach kids the importance of a healthy lifestyle and this facility will help in that effort.”
See the complete interview with Mr. Oostra on Back 9 Report TV.
Twenty-five percent of the children in Lucas Country live in poverty and have adverse stress in their lives. Part of the unique concept of this facility will provide children a safe place that is free of stress and help them lead a healthier life.
“By being able to offer golf programs and access to other sports, we will get kids who would not have thought about picking up a golf club involved,” Reny continued. “We hope to serve over 1,000 kids every year.”
Program Director for The First Tee of Lake Erie, Michael Prothe said,
“The Boys and Girls Clubs are really good at working with kids indoors and The First Tee is really good at finding things for kids to do outdoors. This partnership creates a melting pot of activities for children. He added, “Kids who come out to First Tee will be provided with everything they need. We like to say if they get here, we’ll take care of the rest.”
To watch the entire interview with Michael Prothe visit Back 9 Report TV.
Mr. Oostra said one of the key aspects of this facility is to help children reach their dreams,
“We are providing a safe environment, a place for kids to meet adults, who can lend a helping hand, teach sound life values and offer opportunities that might not otherwise be available to them. It’s about helping kids fulfill their dreams.”
In addition to golf skills, The First Tee focuses on “9 Core Values” to teach kids social skills such as, introducing themselves, developing more patience, respect, integrity, and honesty.
The First Tee’s ultimate goal is to make golf affordable and accessible for all children and hopes to reach thousands of children in the greater Toledo area.
“This facility is something the kids can think of as theirs,” Prothe said. “The kids are the members and no one else. I think that is very special.”
The First Tee of Lake Erie relies on donations for equipment, and volunteers to help supervise the activities. Retirees, high school and college students, as well as, PGA professionals are urged to reach out to Reny, or Prothe to become involved.
To contribute or volunteer visit: https://www.firstteelakeerie.org/giving/volunteering/
