By Newport This Week Staff | on July 29, 2021
By Alex Malm
FabNewport is teaming up with Button Hole Golf to launch First Tee Rhode Island, part of the national First Tee program to provide more accessible golf experiences to local youth.
To raise money for the program, a fundraiser will be held on Aug. 2 at Wanumetonomy Golf & Country Club in Middletown. The event will kick off with a junior clinic at 11 a.m., followed by a shotgun start at 1 p.m. Golfers can register at fabnewport.org/ golf.
The First Tee program provides active learning experiences for youth that builds their inner strength, self-confidence and resilience, according to its website.
When people think of Fab- Newport, they likely think about the community-based nonprofit maker space and learning studio located in the Florence Gray Center. But that’s not the only thing the organization offers to youth in the community.
The FabGolf program helps teach children golf and provides on-course experiences around the state. Through the program, children ages 11 to 16 meet every morning during the summer to engage in a day of instruction and donated play time at area courses, including Green Valley Country Club in Portsmouth and Button Hole Golf in Providence.
With the donation of a van from A1 Roofing & Construction, children and coaches are able to overcome the transportation hurdle to get to the golfing facilities.
“A1’s support with the van donation has been critical to the successful launch of the FabGolf program,” said Orlando Peace, director of special outreach for FabGolf/FabNewport. “Without the van, we would have had some very high hurdles to overcome.”
The First Tee program impacts more than 3.6 million kids and teens nationally each year.
“The FabGolf program goes much further than just playing golf,” Peace said. “It allows children at an impressionable age to learn about manners, etiquette, coping with challenge and expanding their imagination for future opportunities and life experiences.
“We envision the program to be looked back on as an important asset in how these children furthered themselves later on as adults. We are very proud of it and are looking forward to the First Tee launch coming soon.”
https://www.newportthisweek.com/articles/fabnewport-starts-new-fabgolf-program/