First Tee’s Girls Golf Day at Vitense Golfland: Giving more girls chance to play

MADISON, Wis. — The nonprofit organization First Tee – South Central Wisconsin (SCW) started Girls Golf Day at Vitense Golfland to provide more girls with the opportunity to participate in golf. The third annual event  will take place on Wednesday, May 11, with 125 girls participating.

“We had so many positive remarks from last year’s event that we had to close registration after only five days,” says Jenny Wartinbee, Director of Development for First Tee – SCW.

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Girls Golf Day is open to all girls ages 5 to 18, and is free for all participants. “The older ones may be more technical and ask more questions. They all seem to have a great time,” says Jenny. Although “many golf classes typically have more boys than girls,” First Tee has seen that “girls are excited to experience golf with other girls interested in the sport. It’s a great way to open the door to a child who is considering joining golf or taking lessons. Girls of all skill levels are welcome to join us.” Several girls have signed up for First Tee – SCW’s summer programming after attending the event.

“We partner with our local Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) to put on the event,” says Jenny. “We’re also grateful to partner with Vitense, which provides girls the opportunity to experience the driving range, putting area, mini golf and other activities.”

First Tee – SCW offers a golf experience to introduce the game of golf to all community youth, providing golf instruction, advanced coaching and core value lessons.

“One message that we like to share is that First Tee is more than golf,” says Jenny. “While golf is a primary focus of First Tee chapters across the world, our chapter focuses on using golf as a recreational tool to teach core values, for academic remediation, and to close the opportunity gap in Wisconsin. We have teamed up with MMSD, local educators, community centers, and charter schools to offer a program in Wisconsin that helps youth in improving their reading and math skills. Through after-school and in-school programming, the organization provides opportunities “for all kids, regardless of color or socioeconomic background.”

The goal of Girls Golf Day is to empower women and strengthen the community through the game of golf, and to that end are various activity stations that encourage health, safety, and support for female golfers. The stations are based on the LPGA’s 5 E’s: Enrich, Empower, Engage, Energize, and Exercise. Activities include practice with First Tee – SCW’s golf pro at the driving range upper deck, short game at the putting green, mini golf, exercising with personal trainers, and hearing from female police officers.

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