USGA awards $25,000 to Massachusetts First Tee

BROOKLINE, Mass – As part of the USGA’s commitment to grow the game and foster a more welcoming golf community, the association awarded a $25,000 IDEA grant to First Tee — Massachusetts on Tuesday night before a Boston Red Sox game at Fenway Park.

The check presentation was part of a community celebration to welcome the U.S. Open to the Greater Boston region. Cathy Engelbert, a member of the USGA Executive Committee, presented a check to Kyle Harris, First Tee Massachusetts director of operations; Allyson Mollung, First Tee program manager, and two local participants.

First Tee — Massachusetts applied for the annual grant to help attract more diverse coaches and volunteers, particularly in underrepresented communities in Boston, Brockton and Springfield, where participants can join for free. Funds will also be used to offer free or low-cost rounds of golf at William J. Devine Golf Course, a municipally owned course in Franklin Park, and to cover transportation costs for youths to attend free Youth Golf Day events in Norton, Worcester, Dorchester and elsewhere.

An ongoing effort to directly empower programs that foster inclusion, diversity, equity and accessibility at the local level, the IDEA Grant program was launched by the USGA in 2021 with a focus on its championship host communities and for programs delivered through its Allied Golf Association network in every state. First Tee — Massachusetts is proudly supported by Mass Golf, a USGA Allied Golf Association, and its community of over 100,000 members and 340 member clubs.

Since the program’s inception 25 years ago, the USGA has allocated nearly half a million dollars to First Tee programs across America.

Complete list of participants in the pre-game ceremony included:

* Cathy Engelbert, USGA Executive Committee Member

* Christopher Taylor, First Tee Participant, age 14, Boston

https://www.massgolf.org/play/the-first-tee/

www.usopen.com