More Than Just Golf: The First Tee Experience
On September 8, 2025 Legacy Blessings - Legacy Hope was able to play in a golf tournament that supported our partner organization, The First Tee of Denver - Colorado Rocky Mountains.
It was a beautiful day enjoying golf and supporting a great cause.
This summer Legacy Blessing - Legacy Hope, Inc. provided scholarships to 20 students, giving each participant the opportunity to benefit from what First Tee Colorado Rocky Mountains provide.
More Than Just Golf
At The First Tee – Colorado Rocky Mountains, we offer a wide variety of youth golf programs in Colorado. All of our programs are structured to teach core values, like sportsmanship, and educate players on a wide array of academic subjects. Youth participants learn valuable lessons including:
- The importance of maintaining a good attitude on and off the course;
- How to make important decisions by considering their potential outcomes;
- How to behave appropriately regardless of whether they win or lose at any given activity;
- And how to transfer the First Tee Nine Core Values (such as responsibility, honesty, etc.) from the golf course into everyday life.
Each First Tee program aims to have purposeful programming for every interaction. At The First Tee of Denver – Colorado Rocky Mountains, we make serious efforts to maintain a high level of instructor retention so that the staff members can continue growing with the players and eventually see them through to college. Part of our vision is for every junior golf student to eventually carry a golf club in one hand and a degree in the other.
Junior golf is a key part of The First Tee of Denver, but it’s not all that we do. Our junior golf programs in Colorado help build and strengthen character, and your children will learn life skills that they can carry with them for the rest of their lives. Through our instruction, we’ll help your children with things like:
- Understanding and managing emotions
- Positively handling conflicts
- Creating and implementing step-by-step goals
- Planning for the future
- Appreciating and respecting diversity
- And more
The message below is from Nick Spykstra, who played in the golf tournament this year, culminating in an amazing full circle moment in his life.
"My time at the First Tee of Denver can be divided into three meaningful stages that have each shaped me personally and professionally. The first began when I was a young child, learning the game of golf and the values that came with it. As a student, I was introduced to the nine core values and what it meant to demonstrate etiquette both on and off the course. Through the program, I learned not only the fundamentals of golf but also essential life skills, how to write a résumé, complete job applications, and prepare for interviews. The instructors modeled professionalism and integrity, using the game of golf as a tool to teach lessons that extended far beyond the sport itself.
The second stage came when I joined the First Tee of Denver as a coach, spending five years giving back to the same program that helped shape me. I had the privilege of guiding young participants through their own journeys, helping them navigate both the challenges of the game and the lessons it pertains within areas of perseverance, honesty, and respect. The final stage has been especially meaningful—coming full circle by playing alongside my father in the First Tee tournament. Through that experience, I was able to help fund and further the organization’s mission, ensuring that the next generation of golfers can continue learning, growing, and living out the values that make the First Tee of Denver such a transformative program.”
-Nick Spykstra
Thank you to all our supporters for making a big difference in the lives of these children and many others.