LATICRETE Partners with Youth Golf Program at Presidents Cup
BETHANY, Conn. – LATICRETE will partner with The First Tee of Essex County next week in bringing the program’s junior golfers to the 2017 Presidents Cup Golf Tournament at Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, N.J.
The First Tee junior golfers and their parents will experience two tournament practice days at this top-tier international sporting event.
Click photo to enlargeAdditionally, two lucky First Tee participants — chosen based on their commitment to the program, behavior off-course and overall interest in the event — will have the opportunity to attend, along with many of the largest LATICRETE distribution partners and end-users, the much-anticipated final day of the tournament.
The First Tee is a national youth development program that focuses on shaping children’s lives by reinforcing values like integrity, respect and perseverance through the game of golf.
“Part of our culture at LATICRETE is investment in our local communities to help develop a healthy, well-equipped workforce for the future,” said Ed Metcalf, president/COO of LATICRETE North America. “The First Tee very efficiently, and with limited resources, delivers outstanding services to less-advantaged youth, so we are happy to help them however we can.
“Golf can be used as an immensely powerful relationship building tool. It’s wonderful to see kids of all ages and socioeconomic levels exposed to the game and to the mental and physical discipline that can result from learning how to play it.”
The First Tee of Essex County chapter is owned and operated by Metropolitan New York First Tee, which includes five other chapters. Through after-school and in-school programs, The First Tee aims to develop players who can excel long-term in life as well as in a golf career.
The program provides private-school scholarships, SAT tutoring, general school tutoring and more to keep children academically on track. Many players who have entered The First Tee program have left with full-ride golf scholarships to play in college.
“Experiencing a tournament of this magnitude is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our kids and their families,” said Katie Brenny, PGA professional and senior director, player development of The First Tee of Essex County. “Without the generosity of companies such as LATICRETE, The First Tee would not be able to operate.”
The 2017 Presidents Cup will take place Sept. 26-Oct. 1 at Liberty National, near the Statue of Liberty and across the Hudson River from lower Manhattan. The tournament will consist of a series of individual and team matches played between some of the world’s top-rated golfers such as Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, Hideki Matsuyama, Sergio Garcia and Jason Day.
