Kettering University’s golf club has not only provided a way for Kettering students to continue participating in the game -- through community outreach efforts, they’ve worked to pass on their love of golf to kids in Genesee County through The First Tee of Eastern Michigan program.

“We got involved with The First Tee program last fall through the IMA Brookwood Golf Club,” said Tyler Phillips, a sophomore from Durand, Michigan, majoring in Industrial Engineering. “It’s a great program that helps create passion for the game at young ages for kids.”

The program was designed to connect young people with mentors, using golf to provide educational opportunities that “build character, instill life-enhancing values and promote healthy choices through the game of golf,” according to the organization’s mission. Andrew Prina, a Kettering freshman and the golf club’s treasurer, is the organizer of Kettering’s involvement in the program and Bill Schaub, a Kettering sophomore, is the club’s events coordinator.

Last fall, Kettering’s team -- which includes both hobbyist golfers as well as golfers who played competitively in high school -- provided coaching and lessons to area youth in the program at IMA Brookwood. This spring, they wanted to expand their involvement with the students they were mentoring and invited them to participate in an event that organizers hope becomes a yearly Flint tradition -- the Battle at Brookwood.

On April 25, Kettering’s team competed against the Mott Community College golf team. Mott’s team, which has long been a powerhouse in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), won, but Kettering’s club gained competition experience as well as involved First Tee students.

“The kids from First Tee were able to follow us on the course, hold scorecards and actually observe how to play the game in a competitive setting,” Phillips said. “We hope to make the competition against Mott an annual thing, and keep the First Tee students involved in it too.”

The golf club will also be participating in the annual Major Sobey Memorial Golf Outing on June 13 at the Coyote Preserve in Fenton. Previously, the outing had been for alumni. This year’s event will be for alumni and students.

Kettering’s club hopes to continue its growth over the next year and also plans to stay involved with First Tee.

“It makes a huge difference for kids to get an early start playing and learning the game,” Phillips said. “Kids adapt and learn faster than adults, so they really pick it up quickly. It’s a great feeling to support them and get them involved in a sport we all love.”

Kettering’s golf club meets on odd week Thursday’s at 12:30 p.m. in the Sunset Room. For information, contact Tyler Phillips at phil8792@kettering.edu.