The First Tee of North Florida and THE PLAYERS have a long history of working together to use golf as a platform to make an impact on the local community, and the nonprofit organization will once again be recognized as a “charity of the day” during the first round on Thursday, March 13.
“We’re one of the longest standing charities THE PLAYERS has been associated with, and that’s something we’re proud of,” said Jeff Willoughby, First Tee of North Florida executive director.
According to Willoughby, being a “charity of the day” provides a little bit more exposure to all those in attendance with the organization’s logo on the scoreboard and other signage around visible around the grounds of TPC Sawgrass.
This will especially be vital marketing as they are currently accepting registration for their summer camps and other programs designed to get kids involved through the nonprofit.
“We understand that we’re not here and able to do what we do without the community’s support,” Willoughby said.
According to Wiloughby, the First Tee of North Florida raises roughly $1.6 million a year to keep more than 100,000 children in North Florida in its programs offered.
Fans during the week of THE PLAYERS can also take part in the 17th Hole Challenge next to the fan shop, which for years now has been associated with First Tee of North Florida and raises money for it.
“At the end of the day, a lot of golfers know and are aware of what we do, but there’s even more behind the programs than just what’s on the golf course,” Willoughby said. “We hope that our students can become a better person, it’s just a bonus if they can play some good golf as well,” “We want to promote leaders in the community, and we want them to want to give back to the community that gave so much to them.”
The events the First Tee of North Florida has throughout the year is how they get even more exposure and reach people in the community who could be possible donors.
Some of the events coming up include the Fourth Annual First Tee Women’s Classic on April 7 beginning with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. at the Slammer & Squire golf course at World Golf Village.
The golf tournament was created to be a celebration of women in the game of golf and in the community and its goal is to raise money to create more pathways for girls and youth to discover golf and its opportunities.
Another fun event will be the 20th Taste of Golf, which is a foodie event that will feature about a dozen chefs from local golf clubs and will be held at the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse on April 23 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
“The same way we try to work with the kids about diversity, they also have to know that there’s different ways to find that path that suits them,” Willoughby said. “We try to put the kids in front of the donors because it shows firsthand what these kids have become through the program.”
