First Tee internship 'experience of a lifetime', says Lake State student

This summer, Isaac Lennox had what he calls “an experience of a lifetime”. The Lake Superior State student-athlete had the opportunity to intern for The First Tee of Northern Michigan at Boyne Highlands Resort as a junior golf instructor. 

The First Tee is a non-profit youth development organization with over 1200 locations across the United States and worldwide that teaches the game and values of golf to juniors. With the goal to make golf available for everyone, The First Tee of Northern Michigan offers free golf club rentals to youth, along with financial aid in certain circumstances. 

“I was able to identify professional standards that a junior golf instructor should abide by, while teaching in a socially distanced environment due to COVID-19,” he said. “I improved my communication skills with youth by learning how to attend to different personality types, interests and skill levels. I was also able to experience the beautiful Harbor Springs area and play a lot of golf.”

After multiple interviews, virtual and face-to-face, with the program director and executive director of The First Tee, Lennox received confirmation that he got the job and was beyond ecstatic.

“I was very excited to get started and felt very fortunate that I was still able to intern during COVID-19,” he said. 

The internship- which lasted from June 8 to August 7- was especially enjoyable for the 21-year-old because of his passion for working with kids. 

“Once I graduate from LSSU I aspire to become a paediatrician, and this was a wonderful opportunity to have the chance to inspire youth and further my admiration for this demographic. Also, as a college golfer, the idea of teaching golf all summer at Boyne Highlands, which has been ranked as a ‘Top 100 Resort’ by GOLF Magazine sounded like the absolute ideal way to spend a summer,” Lennox said. 

As far back as his early high school years, Lennox has enjoyed working with youth while teaching the basics of golf. He has assisted with junior golf camps in the twin Saults, notably at Crimson Ridge, The Sault Golf Club, and LSSU junior golf camps in Michigan. 

“From these experiences, I learned that I truly love introducing youth to the wonderful values that the game of golf can provide. I still remember attending junior golf camps as a kid at Crimson Ridge and looking up to the instructors as role models. Whenever I have been provided with an opportunity to teach, I keep this thought in my head and try to inspire the next generation,” he said. 

“I would like to thank the golf community of Sault Ste. Marie for providing me with fond memories ever since my dad took me to Crimson Ridge for the very first time as an 8-year-old,” he said. “Learning the game of golf in the Sault gave me inspiration to give back to the next generation of youth over my last few summers. Although I do not aspire to a career in the golf industry, I still look forward to hopefully inspiring junior golfers in the Sault area. I’d also like to thank Logan Paquet and Melissa Hoglund at the First Tee of Northern Michigan for providing me with an experience of a lifetime.”